A prominent Soviet and Russian actor, famous, in particular, for his role as Professor Preobrazhensky in the TV film Heart of a Dog, Yevgeny Yevstigneyev was born in Nizhny Novgorod, worked here at the Krasnaya Etna plant and graduated from the local theater school. You will notice at once the shining nose of the sculpture, which is rubbed as a superstition to bring good luck. It is also a sort of talisman for the Nizhny Novgorod Theater School (now named after Yevgeny Yevstigneyev, by the way), as its students come here to rub the famous actor's nose hoping for luck during exams. It is also a favorite tourist tradition to have a seat on the bench next to the adored actor’s sculpture.