Leyla Badirbeyli, a prominent representative of Azerbaijani theater and a unique figure of our national cinema, People's Artist, recipient of the State Prize of the USSR and the Republic of Azerbaijan, was born in Baku on January 8, 1920.

Her mother, Bika Khanum, the daughter of the Shamkir Khan Musa, and her father, Agalar Bey, came from the village beys of the same region. She spent her entire childhood in Baku- Icheri Sheherin. Leyla Badirbeyli had a sibling who was 18 years younger. The mother of Leyla Badirbeyli, Bika khanum, played an important role in introducing her to art. Working as a nurse (later a deputy director) at the medical facility of the Women's Club named after Ali Bayramov (Central Peasant House), Bika khanum enrolled her oldest daughter Leyla in the dance section of this association. Dance was the first area where the future famous actress showcased her talent. Leyla watched the rehearsals of such actresses of this club as Jeyran Bayramova, Ayna Sultanova and Hokuma Sultanova with great admiration. 8-year-old Leila's interest in the stage was noticed by the director of the association, Ali Sattar Babayev, and she was offered to play her first role as Joshgun's sister in the play "Joshgun".

She began her acting career at a very young age. For the first time she tried herself as a film actress in the role of a pioneer in the documentary "Three Songs about Lenin" directed by the renowned filmmaker Dziga Vertov. The second film she starred in was "A naughty bunch", directed by the first female director Gamar Salamzade.

In 1940, the young Leyla Badirbeyli took her first serious step in the field of professional cinema and was invited by director Huseyn Seidzade to play the main role in Anvar Mammadkhanli's film "Ayna".

In 1937-1942 Leyla Badirbeyli worked as a solist of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the  Azerbaijan State Philarmonic. In this ensemble, the young soloist masterfully performed “Naz elama” (Don't flirt), “Tarakama” and many other dances. “Toy” (Wedding) and Alibaba Mammadovs “Bir danasan” (You are unique) dances were specifically designed for her. During the years of work at the Philharmonic, she starred in the film “Ayna”, then in the film “Lights of Baku”.

In 1941, she was offered a position at the Azerbaijan State Academic Drama Theatre. Since 1942, Leyla Badirbeyli has been working in cinema, theater and radio. Zahra's role in Mirza Ibrahimov's play “Love” is her first professional role in the theater. This was followed by Pari in the play “Fairy witch”, Gulnar and Khuraman in “Vagif”, Mehriban in “Khanlar”, Sara in “Pale flowers”, Almaz in “Almaz”, Dilara in “Morning of the East”, Indji in “Happy ones”, Gumral in “Aligulu marries”, Goyarchin in “Peasant girl”, Zahra in “Sheikh Sanan”, Angelica in “Distant shores”, Desdemona in “Othello”, Lisa in “Living corpse” and other performed roles.

1945 was the most significant year in her life. She was chosen for the role of Gulchohra in Uzeyir Hadjibeyli’s film “Arshin Mal Alan”( The Cloth Peddler). She was selected and endoresed for this role from over 50 other actresses. “Arshin Mal Alan”s renown soon crossed borders,  the whole cast and crew, including Leyla Badirbeyli, were presented with the Stalin Award in 1946 (later renamed the USSR State Award). The actress received letters from many countries following her portrayal of Gulchohra. The film brought universal popularity to the creative team, including Leyla Badirbeyli, who played the role of Gulchohra. The actress received letters from all around the world regarding the character Gulchohra. In 2013 the movie has been restored and coloured, following the initiative of and with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

L. Badirbeyli, who worked at the film studio for many years, starred in such films as “Indomitable Kura”, “Sevil”, “Meeting”, “His Big Heart”, “The Word of a Man”, “Dervish Blows Up Paris”, etc. She appeared in approximately 50 feature films, television films, and short films, and through her work, she always embodied the artistic image of women with high moral qualities. Through her work at the national theatre and cinema, as well as in the acting department of “Azerbaijanfilm” studio, L. Badirbeyli has contributed to the growth of young talent and to the development of Azerbaijani arts and culture.

The work of an outstanding actress has always been highly appreciated by our state. Leyla Badirbeyli was awarded the Order of Independence for her selfless service in the development of Azerbaijani cinema, as well as for enriching the national cinema with a number of roles important from the point of view of promoting spiritual and moral values and shaping audience taste.  On December 29, 2019, President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on celebration of 100th anniversary of Leyla Badirbeyli.

Leyla Badirbeyli, a talented actress who successfully carried on the traditions of her predecessors and wrote new chapters in the history of Azerbaijani culture, passed away on November 23, 1999 and was buried in the Alley of Honor.

Recommended literature:

1. B. Adil. (Babayev Adil Qafar oğlu). Leyla Bədirbəyli /B. Adil. - Bakı: Azərnşr, 1970. - 80 s.
2. Bədirbəyli, Leyla Ağalar qızı. Ömrümün nağılları /Leyla Bədirbəyli; Red.: S. Həbibzadə, T. Muxtarova. - Bakı: Gənclik, 1998. - 76 s.
3. Qurbanlı, Ramilə. Leyla Bədirbəyli /R. Qurbanlı; baş red. G. Cəfərova; red. N. Cabbarlı ; buraxıl. məsul S. İsmayılova ; dizayner Z. Abbasov. - Bakı: Şərq-Qərb, 2017. - 127 s.