Quick Facts
Biography
Jiřina Jirásková (17 February 1931 – 7 January 2013) was a Czech actress. She was born and died in Prague, Czech Republic.
Biography
She studied at the Prague Conservatory and later at DAMU. After graduating, she spent one year in a regional theatre in Hradec Králové. 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 - Pilsen Film Festival Audience Award for Most Popular Actress
- 1998 - Thalia Award
- 2006 - Medal of Merit
Death
Jiřina Jirásková died on 7 January 2013, aged 81.
Notable theatre appearances
- 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
1960s
- 1961 - Every Penny Counts (Každá koruna dobrá) ... Music Teacher
- 1961 - Skid (Smyky) ... Luisa
- 1961 - Pohled do očí ... Olga Valentová
- 1964 - The Chintamani Carpet and a Swindler ... Translator
- 1964 - Courage for Every Day ... Olina
- 1964 - Einstein kontra Babinský ... Typist Dáša
- 1964 - Kdy brečí muži ... Maminka
- 1965 - Tales About Children ... Mother
- 1965 - Ninety Degrees in the Shade ... Věra
- 1966 - Searching ... Helena Hrabáková
- 1967 - Hotel for Strangers ... Marie
- 1967 - Grandpa, Kylian and I ... Mother
- 1967 - The House of Lost Souls ... Dr. Dvořáková
- 1968 - Sňatky z rozumu ... Hana
- 1968 - Jak se zbavit Helenky ...Viki
- 1969 - Flirt se slečnou Stříbrnou ... Mrs. Blumenfeldová
- 1969 - Světáci ... Marcela
- 1969 - Já, truchlivý bůh ... Mrs. Stenclová
1970s
- 1970 - Case for a Rookie Hangman ... Tadeásová
- 1970 - Devilish Honeymoon ... Alzbeta
- 1970 - Na Kometě ... Ester
1980s
- 1980 - Julek ... Sword Eater's Wife
- 1980 - Dnes v jednom domě ... MUDr. Frýbová (8 episodes)
- 1980 - Útěky domů ...Herecka
- 1981 - The Hit ... Script
- 1982 - Jak svět prichází o básníky ... School director
- 1983 - Bota jménem Melichar ... Moutelíková
- 1984 - Barrandovské nocturno aneb Jak film zpíval a tančil ... Singer
- 1984 - Křtiny ... Secretary Karolína
- 1984 - Katapult ... Anna
- 1984 - Slunce, seno, jahody ... Hubičková
- 1984 - Vinobraní ... Albína Brousková
- 1984 - Jára Cimrman Lying, Sleeping ... Mother
- 1985 - Egy kicsit én, egy kicsit te ... Eva Anyja
- 1985 - Sestřičky ... Babi
- 1986 - Klobouk, měšec a láska ... Enenke
- 1987 - Stačí stisknout ... Chairwoman Macková
- 1987 - Arabesky ... Sefrnova
- 1988 - Kdyz v ráji pršelo ... Dočkajka
- 1988 - Muj hříšný muž ... Jeníkova
- 1989 - Twins at the Zoo ... Josefina
- 1989 - Slunce, seno a pár facek ... ridici Hubičková
- 1989 - Příběh '88 ... Zdena
1990s
- 1990 - Motýlí čas ... School Director
- 1990 - Muka obraznosti ... Artlova
- 1991 - Slunce, seno, erotika ... Headmaster Hubičková
- 1993 - Jedna kočka za druhou ...Lanlady
- 1994 - Zámek v Čechách ... Countess
2000s
- 2005 - Dobrá čtvrt ... Mrs. Svobodová
- 2005 - Anděl páně ... Abbess
- 2006 - Rafťáci ... Dany's granny