Inara Alexandrovna Guliyeva was born on 4 January 1950 in Moscow. Her father was Azerbaijani, her mother Russian. Her father lived in Baku and served as an officer. Although she had many relatives in Baku, after her grandfather and grandmother divorced the actress lost contact with her Azerbaijani relatives. In 1972 she graduated from the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS). Since 1994 she has held the title of Honoured Artist of Russia. Inara Guliyeva was a soloist at the Moscow Operetta Theatre. Having obtained the qualification of "musical theatre director" in 1978, I. Guliyeva is today the author of a number of popular programmes on Russian television channels. Inara Guliyeva has staged a great many musical theatre productions. She has appeared in a number of feature films. She created memorable characters in films popular across the Soviet Union, such as State Border and The Light of Fading Stars. She has taken roles in several Azerbaijani feature films. She was first invited to film in Azerbaijan by her close friend Oktay Mirgasimov. The director invited her to play the role of Irada in his film about Rashid Behbudov, The 1001st Tour. Inara Guliyeva is remembered by audiences for the role of Afat in Mother-in-Law and for the role of the teacher in An Apple Resembles an Apple. Inara Guliyeva has played numerous roles in operetta productions. The last operetta she directed was Strauss's classic operetta The Gypsy Baron. She currently also teaches at a theatre school. She is the author of a number of musical programmes on Russian television. She is currently working as a director in various theatres across the country and continues her successful career at the Moscow Operetta Theatre. She is married to opera singer Vitali Mishle.
