Natasha Rostova

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Audrey Hepburn as Natasha Rostova.

Countess Natasha Ilyinichna Rostova (born 1792, according to the book) (Russian: Наташа Ростова, named Natasha Rostov in the Rosemary Edmonds version) is a central fictional character in Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace.

At the start of the novel in 1805, Natasha is a 13-year old girl, the daughter of count Ilya Rostov and countess Natalya Rostova. She has fallen in love with Boris Drubetskoy, who lives with his mother in the Rostov estate. She becomes close friends with count Pierre Bezukhov, who frequently visits the Rostovs. When Boris leaves to pursue a career in the staff of General Mikhail Kutuzov, their friendship evaporates, and at her first ball, Pierre introduces her to Prince Andrey Bolkonsky. They fall in love and become engaged, but Andrey's father objects as he feels that Natasha is not a suitable party for his son. He forces Andrey to postpone the marriage for a year, in which he should stay in a resort abroad to better his health. A visit to Andrey's father ends in a falling-out between Natasha and countess Marya, Andrey's sister. During Andrey's absence, Anatole Kuragin takes advantage of the situation by courting Natasha, even though he is already married. She succumbs to his charms, and tries to elope with Kuragin. Although this is thwarted by Natasha's aunt, Andrey ends the engagement, after which Natasha falls seriously ill.

As Napoleon advances in Russia, the Rostovs are forced to evacuate their estate and retreat to their Moscow residence. When Napoleon threatens to capture Moscow, a great number of wounded soldiers are given refuge at the Rostov's. When the Rostovs plan to evacuate Moscow, her parents use the carts for transportation of the wounded soldiers, and not for their household belongings. When she discovers that Andrey is among the wounded soldiers, she devotes all her time in providing care for him. At first, Andrey seems to respond well to his treatment, but he takes a sudden turn for the worst and dies.

After Napoleon is forced to leave Moscow, Natasha again meets Andrey's sister Marya. Natasha and Marya nurse Andrey together upon his death bed, and their grief draws them together. They are reunited with Pierre, who has become a widower, and is now free to pursue his romantic feelings for Natasha. Eventually, they marry and have four children.

[edit] Film adaptations

The character of Natasha Rostova is difficult to portray on film or television, because she ages from a 13-year old girl in book one to a 28-year old mother of four at the end of the novel. Several actresses have portrayed Natasha Rostova to critical acclaim.

In 1956, Audrey Hepburn was cast as Natasha in King Vidor's War and Peace. She was nominated for a BAFTA Award for best British actress and for a Golden Globe Award for best actress in a drama production.

Other notable performances are that of Morag Hood in the 1972 BBC miniseries with Anthony Hopkins as Pierre, and that of Lyudmila Savelyeva in Sergei Bondarchuk's adaptation.