Jiřina Jirásková

Jiřina Jirásková (17 February 1931 – 7 January 2013) In 1951, aged 20, she moved to the Prague's Vinohrady Theatre, where she spent her entire career. From 30 May 1990 to 30 June 2000, she was also the director of the theatre.

Jirásková began to appear in TV in the 1950s; she played in the first Czechoslovak TV series Rodina Bláhova (Bláha Family). She got her first on-screen opportunity in the spy drama Smyk, directed Zbyněk Brynych. She appeared in Every Penny Counts and Look Into His Eyes, and also worked with comedic director Zdeněk Podskalský.

In the 1970s, during the period of Czechoslovak "normalization", she was forced to leave acting. According to her own words, the ban was caused by her attitude during the reform period of the 1960s. She returned in 1983 for Karel Kachyňa's film Nurses. She appeared in more than 140 roles over 40 years.

She was the Goodwill Ambassador and President (2002–2011) of the UNICEF Czech Committee and, in 1999, tried unsuccessfully to run for the Senate representing the Civic Democratic Party.

Personal life She was married for two years to the actor Jiří Pleskot, and spent 27 years with Zdeněk Podskalský. She had no children.

Awards 1969 – Finále Plzeň Film Festival Audience Award for Most Popular Actress 1998 – Thalia Award 2006 – Medal of Merit

Notable theatre appearances Jirásková spent major part of her career in Vinohrady Theatre, Prague.

Source: Caesar and Cleopatra (Cleopatra) The Government Inspector (Anna Andreyevna Skvoznik Dmuchanovská's governess) Richard III (Queen Margaret) The Diary of Anne Frank (Anne Frank) Much Ado About Nothing (Hero) Twelfth Night (Olivia) Ivanov (Anna Petrovna) Nora (Kristina Linde) The Full Monty (Jeanette) The Cherry Orchard (Charlotte) Henry IV (Marchioness Matilda Spina)

Selected filmography 1965 – Ninety Degrees in the Shade as Věra 1967 – Hotel for Strangers as Marie 1969 – Světáci as Marcela 1969 – Já, truchlivý bůh as Mrs. Stenclová 1970 – Case for a Rookie Hangman as Tadeásová 1970 – On the Comet as Ester 1981 – The Hit as Script 1982 – Jak svět přichází o básníky as school director 1984 – Slunce, seno, jahody as Hubičková 1984 – Vinobraní as Albína Brousková 1984 – Jára Cimrman Lying, Sleeping as Mother 1985 – Sestřičky as Granny 1989 – Slunce, seno a pár facek as Hubičková 1991 – Slunce, seno, erotika as Hubičková 2005 – Angel of the Lord as Abbess Magdalena 2006 – Rafťáci as Dany's granny