Semen Horov Reveals the Origin of His Pseudonym

Semen Horov, a prominent Ukrainian director, music video creator, and the mastermind behind cult musicals such as 'Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka,' 'Cinderella,' and 'The Sorochyntsi Fair,' as well as the film 'The Adventures of Verka Serdyuchka,' recently opened up about the reasons behind his pseudonym in an extensive interview with the host Slava Dyomin. Horov confirmed that his real name is Serhiy Yehorov and explained why he decided to adopt the name Semen Horov.

During the interview, Dyomin expressed curiosity about Horov's choice of pseudonym, prompting the director to share an intriguing story from his student years. 'This is my creative pseudonym — Semen Horov. It is my official artistic name. I registered this name as a trademark. For some reason, I was called Senya in school since childhood. Some called me Serhiy, some Senya. And so it went, Senya, Syoma. I really liked it,' he recounted.

Horov reminisced about his time at university, where he worked as an assistant director at the Lesya Ukrainka Theater. 'We were premiering a new production, and the head of the literary department asked how to list me on the poster. I noticed that everyone was using initials, like D.Y. for so-and-so, but I thought, I’m still young, why use a patronymic? So I simply wrote S. Yehorov. He thought that the 'Y' was my patronymic, and thus the poster came out with S.Y. Horov. I liked Horov so much,' he noted.

When asked about his feelings towards his real name, Semen Horov stated that he views it 'normally.' He also mentioned that some friends, who enjoy teasing him, occasionally call him Serhiy. 'For example, Andriy Danilko might quietly say on set: 'Seryozha.' That’s what my late mother used to call me. Sometimes government officials might use it as well. My wife doesn’t call me Serhiy. I met her when I was already Semen,' he added.

In sharing the story of his pseudonym, Semen Horov also offered a glimpse into his life, making him even more relatable and understandable to his fans. His journey to success, from childhood to the present day, illustrates the importance of staying true to one's identity, even if it means changing one's name on stage. Horov continues to create and delight audiences with his new projects while remaining loyal to his roots.