Nevenka Urbanova


Nevenka Urbanova was one of the most famous Serbian actresses.

Theatre

She passed the audition in 1925, in front of Milan Grol and Milan Kašanin and was admitted as a member of drama in the National Theatre in Belgrade. Made more than 150 roles, and in 1936 became a First Class Actor of the National Theatre. She worked at the National Theatre until retirement in 1959. She last appeared on stage on 21 April 1965, as a guest of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre, in the world premiere of Sławomir Mrożek's Tango. That day, on the scene of JDP, the ensemble cast consisted of: Ljubiša Jovanović, Blaženka Katalinić, Nevenka Urbanova, Snežana Nikšić, Slavko Simić and Nikola Simić and Marko Todorović.
Some of the major roles that she played are:
She was considered to be one of the most desirable and gorgeous Serbian actresses, before and after the Second World War. Among theatrologists and colleges, like her friend and BITEF selector, Jovan Ćirilov, she was much praised:
She was married to sculptor Dušan Jovanović, son of the Serbian royal photographer Milan Jovanović and the nephew of the painter Paja Jovanović. In 2002, Nevenka Urbanova donated two of her father's statues of King Petar I Karađorđević made by her husband to Prince Aleksandar of Serbia. That occasion was her last appearance in public.

Movies

In the last decades of her life, she wrote memoirs. In 2000 she published the book Fireflies that shine with letters, in her own edition, and in 2006, the second edition. During April and May 2006, in Belgrade University Library was the exhibition devoted to Hugo Klain, and during the lecture "Actors about director Hugo Klajn" on 4 May 2006, she participated in a written statement that was read by Predrag Ejdus.

Awards

Nevenka Urbanova was awarded the Serbian government for his role of Rina in Nušić's "Pokojnik", then first prize at the Festival of Radio and TV dramas in the Ljubljana for radio mono-drama "Lipton tea" in 1964. One of the most prestigious Serbian acting awards "Dobričin prsten" received in 1984. One of the winners of the Academy Award Ivo Andrić for 2005. year.
In 1994. in the gallery of SANU opened the exhibition on the occasion of 125 anniversary of the National Theatre.

Trivia