Duša Počkaj
Duša Počkaj, the brightest star of modern Slovenian theatre, was born on 16th November, 1924, in the so-called Tomka House in Dolnja Lendava, which at the time was designated by the regime as the “residence” for the family. Due to her father’s profession, the family had to move, so she attended primary school in the Serbian city of Niš.
After graduating from secondary school, she enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Ljubljana, and in 1945, she was one of the first female students to enrol in the Academy of Theatre, from which she graduated four years later. Počkaj first appeared on the stage of the Slovenian National Theatre in 1946, was contracted by them from 1951 onwards, and remained loyal to the central theatre until the end of her life. During her career, she took on several film roles, for which she received the highest accolades, but deep down, theatre always held the most important place in her heart.
With her outstanding performances in both theatre and film, and her diverse roles in which she embodied complex characters and fates, critics consider Počkaj to be one of the most renowned Slovenian dramatic actors of the modern era. The actress, who made her debut in the play Jara gospoda written by Janko Kersnik, is considered by many to have reached the peak of her career with her dramatic role in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, while others have respected her for her performances in Slovenian cinematography, but she also had memorable stage performances as a chanson singer. Over a hundred theatre and film roles are connected to her name, as well as numerous radio plays.
Duša Počkaj died on 24th June, 1982, at the age of 57 while she was working, right after the performance of a play entitled The Forest. The actress's influence and legacy continue to be present in the Slovenian cultural sphere. She is still considered an inspiration to many actors today, as well as an icon of Slovenian theatre and film. A bust commemorating the brightest star of modern Slovenian theatre was unveiled in her honour in a ceremony in 2024, next to the Lendava Theatre and Concert Hall.
Bibliography:
https://www.kl-kl.si/hu/honismeret/muveszeti-arckepcsarnok/pockaj-dusa/
