09-01-2013

Obituary: Jirina Jiraskova

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    Photo via: Nova.cz Photo via: Nova.cz
    PRAGUE: Czech film, TV and stage actress Jiřina Jirásková died 7 January 2013 at age 81.

    Her screen career began in the 1950’s with the first Czechoslovak TV series, Rodina Bláhova (The Blaha Family). She had an ongoing role in the TV series Life at the Palace which ran from 1995-2000. Her numerous film roles included Karel Kachyna’s 1995 drama Fany, and the upcoming film by Jiři Menzel Suknickári
    (Skirts),
    currently in post-production.

    Jirásková joined the Vinohrady Theatre in Prague in 1951, shortly after graduating from acting school, and stayed with the company for her entire career, becoming a director there from 1990-2000.

    From 2002-2011, she was the Goodwill Ambassador and President of the Czech UNICEF Committee. In 1998, she received the country’s leading theatre award, the Thalia, and in 2006 she received the Czech Medal of Merit.