[1][2] Yuliya Snigir was born in Donskoy, Tula Oblast, Russian SFSR.

She was teaching English in the nursery school, when a friend showed photos of Yuliya to a representative from a Moscow modelling agency.

She was offered a contract with a leading French jewellery brand and was planning to move to France when a casting-director saw her at the modeling agency and invited her to an audition.

[2] She appeared in film A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) alongside Bruce Willis.

[3] In 2015, Channel One released a 12-episode historical television series Catherine the Great, in which the actress played the title role.