From screen to stage

Outside of filming, Dmitry balances several pursuits. He is a partner in a fitness club chain in Russia while also continuing to read extensively on acting theory and biographies of great performers.

But his main artistic goal now is to join a theater company.

That ambition grew stronger last May after he watched Canadian international students perform an opera adaptation of Thunderstorm, the classic drama written by Cao Yu in 1934.

"They crossed cultural boundaries and expressed pain, passion, and conflict with such sincerity that the audience burst into applause," he said. "I was completely captivated."

The performance made him think more seriously about theater. Unlike film, theater allows no retakes or editing. Everything depends on the actor's voice, timing, and direct connection with the audience.

Dmitry said he hopes to further develop his improvisation skills, voice control, and stage presence, and to better understand China through its classic works.

"Acting is no longer just my job. It is part of who I am," he said. "I cannot imagine my life without it."