 After graduating from the Moscow State University in 1952, she entered the Moscow Art Theatre School, from which she graduated in 1955.In the same year, Irina Skobtseva made her cinematic debut as Desdemona in the film "Othello" by Sergei Yutkevich.The picture won the Best Director award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival, and was given diplomas and prizes at other international film festivals.