Born on July 4, 1981 in the town of Krasny Kut, Saratov Oblast, into the family of veterinarian Aleksandr Petrovich and schoolteacher Zoya Grigoryevna Zimina. For a time the family lived in the settlement of the Krasnokutsk Veterinary Technical College, five kilometers from Krasny Kut. Her sister Elena is the director of a folk choir.

From second grade, Yuliya studied at a music school, which she graduated with honors. Even in childhood she firmly decided to become an actress. In 1999 she entered the acting faculty of the Saratov Conservatory (Rimma Belyakova's course). She finished her studies in 2003, having played several roles in graduation performances.

She worked at the Klassny Teatr in Moscow.

In 2004, among 200 contenders, director Rauf Kubaev chose Yuliya to film the role of Carmelita in the TV series Carmelita. After another screen test, Yuliya was approved for the main role of Carmelita.