Potapenko was born on the Crimean peninsula in the former Soviet Union. In 1994 she came with her mother to London. Since she was twelve, she plays theater, first in a small Russian Theatre and later at the Volksbühne Berlin among others in productions by Frank Castorf. She was known primarily through the role of Catherine in the award-winning movie princess. The film was nominated for best revenge Foreign Language Film Academy Award. She also participated in radio dramas.