Varvara Ryzhova was a notable Russian actress of Maly Theatre in Moscow. She was born Varvara Nikolaevna Ryzhova on January 27, 1871, in Moscow, Russia, into the Borozdin-Muzil family of renown actors. She studied acting together with Yevdokiya Turchaninova under A. Lensky at Moscow Theatrical College, graduating in 1893 as an actress.