'So He Doesn't Think He's Gone Crazy': Actor Recounts First Meeting with Uļjana Semjonova

Latvian actor Kārlis Arnolds Avots shares the story behind his upcoming film about the legendary basketball player Uļjana Semjonova, detailing his initial inspiration and his first encounter with the sports icon.

Avots, who was a student at the time, was deeply inspired by Semjonova, having heard stories about her from his mother. He initially envisioned creating a play dedicated to her, driven by a desire to tell her story truthfully. He meticulously researched newspaper archives, starting from the 1990s, to gather information about Semjonova's career and public life.

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The first meeting was quite comical. I was a student, I think I was 20 or 19 years old. I had written a letter to Uļa saying that I really wanted to create a play about her, that I remembered her from childhood. My mother had always told me about her. Her personality inspired me so much, I had combed through all the newspapers, starting from the 90s, that began writing about her in the Latvian press. I wrote how important it was to me, I felt that I could be very honest in this story.

His first attempt at reaching out involved writing a letter to Semjonova, expressing his admiration and his intention to create a play. However, upon reviewing the letter with dramaturge and director Krista Burāne, Avots was advised that his heartfelt message sounded more like a love letter and needed to be more formal.

This initial idea for a play eventually transformed into a film, which is slated for release in Latvia in September. Avots describes his first meeting with Semjonova as quite comical, recalling his youthful enthusiasm and perhaps a touch of naivete when he first approached her with his project.

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I showed it to the dramaturge and director Krista Burāne. She read it and said that I had gone a little crazy. She would rephrase it as a love letter. It needs to be made a little more formal.