Soviet and Russian actress. Laureate of the USSR State Prize (1981). Honored Artist of Russia (1993). People's Artist of Russia (2005). In 1964 she graduated from the Ryazan Music and Pedagogical College (accordion class). She worked for a year as a teacher in a music school, then entered GITIS for P. V. Lesli's course. In 1969 she graduated from the State Institute of Theater Arts named after A. V. Lunacharsky. Since 1969 she worked under contracts, since 1979 — actress of the Gorky Film Studio.

The film "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears" was a huge success and won a huge number of awards. After the role in the film, little changed in Raisa Ryazanova's film career. She continued to act regularly, playing the same "women of the people." In the difficult 1990s, in the absence of roles in cinema, she earned money by driving. She won the "Auto Lady 2003" cup in competitions of Moscow female motorists. In recent years she actively acted in TV series.