Lucia Sturdza-Bulandra

Lucia Sturdza-Bulandra (25 August 1873 – 19 September 1961) was a Romanian actress and acting teacher. She is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Romanian theater.

In addition to her acting career, she played an important role in shaping an entire generation of Romanian actors and directors, her students including the likes of George Calboreanu, Dina Cocea, Haig Acterian, Radu Beligan and Victor Rebengiuc. She is the namesake of the Bulandra Theatre in Bucharest.

Early life She was born on 25 August 1873 in Iași, the daughter of Emil Sturdza and Magda (nee Diamandy). She was a descendant of the aristocratic Sturdza family, which held great political power in Moldavia and later Romania.

She initially planned to pursue a career in education, but after graduating from the faculty of Letters and Philosophy of the University of Bucharest, she became interested in acting. She was forbidden from using her family name in the theater by her paternal grandparents, but ignored the order.

Sturdza-Bulandra was awarded the Benemerenti medal, 1st class; the , 1st and 2nd class; the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia); the , 1st class; and the Order of the Star of the Romanian People's Republic, 1st class (1953).

Personal life

She married fellow actor . She died in Bucharest în 1961, as a result of an accidental fall.

Legacy

The ”Lucia Sturdza-Bulandra Prize for Best Performance by an Actress” is named for her.

Streets in Cluj-Napoca and Iași bear her name.