Branka Veselinović

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Branka Veselinović
BrankaVeselinović.jpg
Veselinović in 2012
Born
Branka Cosic

(1918-09-16) September 16, 1918 (age 102)
Stari Bečej, Kingdom of Serbia
Education
OccupationStage and screen actress, ambassador
Years active1938–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1948; died 2012)​
AwardsSterija Award for Achievement in Acting (1964)[1]

Branka Veselinović (Serbian Cyrillic: Бранка Веселиновић; born 16 September 1918) is a Serbian actress. Her acting career, including 100 stage performances and 50 film and television productions, spans more than 80 years. She is the oldest living actress in Serbia, still performing aged 102, and a UNICEF ambassador.

Personal life[]

Branka Veselinović was born Branka Ćosić on 16 September 1918 in Stari Bečej, Serbia.[2][3][4] She was the sixth child of Aleksandar, a librarian, and his wife, Jovanka (née Monašević), a teacher.[3][5] Her parents were accomplished in the artistic field, and she learnt to play the piano at an early age. She was also able to write verses and recite them with ease. She has six siblings.[4][5]

Veselinović speaks Russian, English, German, Czech, Hungarian, Slovenian, and Macedonian.[4] She married actor and translator Mlađa Veselinović on 30 September 1948.[2] They remained married until his death in 2012.[1] She was a close friend of poet Desanka Maksimović and actor Mija Aleksić.[6]

Career[]

Veselinović studied acting at National Theatre in Belgrade from 1936 until 1938. At the age of 19, she trained at the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, where she made her debut as a stage actress in the play Charles' Aunt. She earned a reputation for her humorous and satirical roles. In 1940, she moved to Belgrade.[5][7][8][6]

From 1940, she began to make a name for herself by appearing in numerous stage performances across different theatres in Belgrade. Between 1940 and 1978, she was cast in several performances at the Art Theater (1940–1942), the National Theater (1944–1947), and the Yugoslav Drama Theater (1947–1978), with over 40 stage performances at the latter. On 3 April 1948, she appeared in the first stage performance at the Yugoslav Drama Theatre, in the play King Betajnova. In the US, she played the main character in the English-language play Mother Courage. In 1964, she received the Sterija Award for playing the role of Gina in Branislav Nušić's Bereaved Family.[2][4][1][9] In 1970, she appeared in Mel Brooks's film adaptation of The Twelve Chairs.[10] She has had over 100 stage performances and 50 film and television productions.[11]

Veselinović turned 100 in September 2018.[3][12] She is the oldest living actress in Serbia and still performs aged 102.[7][13] Veselinović is a lifelong ambassador of UNICEF.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Savanović, Dunja (16 September 2020). "Torta i cveće za legendarnu glumicu: Branka Veselinović napunila 102 godine" [she received the "Sterija Award" in 1964]. Telegraf.rs (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jovanović, Zoran T (2003). Branka Veselinović: na dnu smeha leže suze [Branka Veselinović: There are tears at the bottom of the laughter] (in Serbo-Croatian). Beograd: Savez Dramskih Umetnika Srbije. ISBN 978-86-902447-8-2. OCLC 163535378.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Стоти рођендан Бранке Веселиновић" [Branka Veselinović's 100th birthday]. Politika Online (in Serbo-Croatian). 17 September 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Oprijan, Bojana (13 November 2017). "Branka Veselinović humanošću i dobrotom prkosi godinama" [Branka Veselinović has been defying humanity and kindness for years]. Al Jazeera Balkans (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c Strugar, Vukica (2 February 2015). "Branka Veselinović: Neka vam Bog da moje godine" [Branka Veselinović: May God give you my age]. NOVOSTI (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Branka Veselinović napunila 102 godine" [Branka Veselinović turned 102 years old]. Politika Online (in Serbo-Croatian). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Branka Veselinović – stoljeće velike glumice i humanitarke". Vox Feminae (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  8. ^ Panić, Anita (15 November 2010). "Brankina zemlja čuda" [Branka's wonderland]. NOVOSTI (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Yugoslav Drama Theatre Timeline". Yugoslav Drama Theatre. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  10. ^ "The Twelve Chairs (1970)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Branka Veselinović: Sa čašću primam nagradu "Mali princ"". B92 (in Serbo-Croatian). 20 September 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Велико срце за век доброте". NOVOSTI (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Posećuje domove za nezbrinutu decu i izvodi lutkarske predstave: Branka Veselinović proslavlja 102. rođendan". Novosti (in Serbo-Croatian). 16 September 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  14. ^ Tošić, Saša (27 February 2016). "Branka Veselinović: Nadam se da ću doživeti stotu" [Branka Veselinović: I hope to live to be a hundred]. Glossy (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.

External links[]

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