Margarita Levieva
A Russian-born actress whose compelling portrayals of complex, often resilient women span from indie dramas to major superhero franchises.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American actress·Birthday: February 9·Generation X
Biography
Margarita Levieva brings a grounded intensity to every role, an ability to convey deep resilience and vulnerability often hidden beneath a composed exterior. Born in Leningrad and immigrating to the United States as a child, she studied economics and worked as a financial analyst before pursuing acting. This late start perhaps informs the thoughtful precision of her performances. She first gained attention in the NBC drama 'Vanished,' but it was in independent films like 'The Invisible' and 'Adventureland' where her nuanced presence truly shone. Levieva has consistently chosen challenging parts, from a Russian mail-order bride in 'The Lincoln Lawyer' to a cunning con artist in the TV series 'Revenge.' Her athletic background—she was a competitive gymnast in her youth—lent authenticity to her role as a fighter in 'The Blacklist.' This versatility has led her to major franchises, including 'Star Wars: The Acolyte,' proving her skill at anchoring both intimate character studies and expansive genre worlds.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Margarita was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Margarita Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Margarita's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the complex dual role of Amanda Clarke/Emily Thorne's ally and rival, Victoria Grayson, on the hit ABC series 'Revenge.'
- Played Mother Koril, a powerful witch, in the Disney+ Star Wars series 'The Acolyte,' entering a major global franchise.
- Starred as the female lead, Gina, in the critically acclaimed indie film 'Adventureland' directed by Greg Mottola.
- Landed a series regular role as Heather Glenn in the Marvel/Disney+ series 'Daredevil: Born Again.'
- Delivered a praised performance as a Russian immigrant in the film 'The Lincoln Lawyer' opposite Matthew McConaughey.
Did You Know?
She was a nationally ranked rhythmic gymnast in her youth after moving to the United States from Russia.
Levieva holds a degree in Economics from New York University and worked on Wall Street before becoming an actress.
She is fluent in both Russian and English.
She trained extensively in martial arts for her role as a former Soviet spy on 'The Blacklist.'
“I look for the human truth in a character, no matter the role.”
