Beautiful Czech film actress Jana Brejchova
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Beautiful Czech film actress Jana Brejchova

Beautiful Czech film actress Jana Brejchova
Post-war cinema star, beautiful Czech film actress Jana Brejchova

Beautiful Czech film actress Jana Brejchova
Born 20 January 1940 in Prague, Jana Brejchova is one of the biggest stars of post-war cinema who played in about 70 films. Married three times. First, to the director Milos Forman (1958-1962), then actor Vlastimil Brodsky (1964-1980) and then, German director Ulrich Thein. Awarded a medal for merit of the II degree (2004) and the Czech Lion prize (2010) by the Czech Film Academy for her many years of contribution to the development of cinematography.
According to Brejchova, she became a movie actress quite accidentally, in 1953, at the age of thirteen. However, not for long, and just for one movie. One day a young man came to the school where she studied, Ladislav Helge (now a well-known Czech film director). He was looking for a girl for the film “Leaded Bread” by Jiri Sequens, and his choice fell on Jana.
In 1954, the released film surprised everyone, and in particular, the role of Pidyalka, a poor girl from the suburbs of old Prague. Jana Brejchova, a lanky teenager with lean, ridiculous pigtails played the role with enviable skill, showing her clearly talent.

Czech actress Jana Brejchova
Czech actress Jana Brejchova

Meanwhile, about three years passed. Jana managed to finish school and worked as a typist at one of the Prague enterprises. Suddenly, the invitation from the film studio “Barrandov” changed her life. After the first “adult” role in the film “The Fault of Vladimir Olmer” followed the new ones. In particular, Maria in the “Golden Spider”, the frivolous student Markova in the “Puppies” … Noteworthy, the film by Jiri Weiss “The Wolf’s Pit”, won in Venice at the 1958 film festival, and brought Jana Brejchova wide popularity. Critics, however, shook their heads: photogenic, sincerity is, of course, good; Jana is sweet and direct, she has undoubted abilities, but still she is not a professional artist. What will happen to her next? Jana readily agreed to enroll in special acting courses.

1961 film 'The Fabulous Baron Munchausen'
1961 film ‘The Fabulous Baron Munchausen’

According to Jana, “a difficult but fascinating study started”. And then again movies. Now she is already an artist with experience: she played more than seventy roles, such a solid list.
One of the most remembered films of her youth became “May stars” by S. Rostotsky (1959). In the lyric novel about spring, the first day of peace and a short meeting of two young people, she played a young teacher, almost a girl, shy and slightly mischievous. The image remained in memory for a long time, it was not either complex or deep. Nevertheless, it captivated others: the naive charm of an immature, just beginning to live a soul, a sweet wickedness, tenderness, and kindness, glowing in the eyes. The premonition of love, the sadness of parting – all fascinated with their fleetingness.

1974 film 'Shall we be together, darling...
1974 film ‘Shall we be together, darling…

And next, we saw Jana Brejchova in the film “The Highest Principle” (1960) – one of the most significant works of contemporary Czechoslovak cinema. This is a film about the war, staged by the wonderful director Jiri Krejchik on the story of Jan Drda. The film is courageous, restrained and angry. With external modesty, plot and graphic, it possesses inner energy, an indifferent glance of attention, precision of characters. The actress did not face the danger of causing emotion. The sober style of the film made it possible to find out what was covered in the “May Stars” by the poetic veil: ordinary, human mediocrity, pretty, young, and touchingly defenseless heroine.

1974 photo of Jana Brejchova
1974 photo of Jana Brejchova

Unoubtedly, Czechs are proud of the film by Jiri Krejchik. Shown in many countries with success, demonstrated at international film festivals, the film received the award of the International Film Federation in Locarno (1960). Besides, Jana received the highest award – “Silver Sail” – “for the naturalness of the image she created”.

Beginning actress Jana Brejchova
Beginning actress Jana Brejchova

However, the best roles of Jana are those where she can be herself. The “Aspiration” by Vojtech Jasny, “Doomed for Life” and “The Heart Labyrinth” by Jiri Krejchik, “The Adventures of Baron Prashil” by Karel Zeman gave the actress a grateful opportunity to work in different genres.

Blonde beauty, Jana Brejchova
Blonde beauty, Jana Brejchova

In fact, she is good in any genre, dramatic or comedic, bringing joy to the attentive viewer’s eyes. Just look closely, and you will see in her game a variety of shades, feel the purity and succumb to the charm of her spiritual modesty and kindness.

Directed by Hoffman film 'Gripsholm Castle' (1963)
Directed by Hoffman film ‘Gripsholm Castle’ (1963)

Beautiful Czech film actress Jana Brejchova

Brejchova in 'Higher Principle' (1960)
Brejchova in ‘Higher Principle’ (1960)
Courage for every day, 1964
Courage for every day, 1964
Divinely beautiful actress Jana Brejchova
Divinely beautiful actress Jana Brejchova
Early photo of Jana Brejchova
Early photo of Jana Brejchova
Film actress Jana Brejchova
Film actress Jana Brejchova
Fragment of film 'The Fabulous Baron Munchausen' (1961)
Fragment of film ‘The Fabulous Baron Munchausen’ (1961)
Gold Spider
Gold Spider, 1956
Gorgeous Jana Brejchova
Gorgeous Jana Brejchova
Gripsholm Castle (1963)
Gripsholm Castle (1963)
Higher Principle (1960)
Higher Principle (1960)
In the castle and near the castle, 1981
In the castle and near the castle, 1981
In the dust of stars, 1976
In the dust of stars, 1976
Jana Brejchova, film star of post-war period
Jana Brejchova, film star of post-war period
Jana Brejchova, one of the biggest stars of post-war cinema
One of the biggest stars of post-war cinema, Jana Brejchova, 1964
Journal 'Actors of foreign cinema'. 1964. Moscow. Jana Brejchová
Journal ‘Actors of foreign cinema’. 1964. Moscow. Jana Brejchová
Milosh Forman and Jana Brejchova
Milosh Forman and Jana Brejchova
Movie 'Higher Principle' (1960)
Movie ‘Higher Principle’ (1960)
Postcard photo. Jana Brejchova
Postcard photo. Jana Brejchova
Poster to the film 'May Stars'
Poster to the film ‘May Stars’
Scene from Soviet-Czechoslovak film 1959
Scene from Soviet-Czechoslovak film 1959
Shall we be together, darling... 1974
Shall we be together, darling? 1974
Soviet magazine 'Sputnik kinozritelya' (Sputnik of cinema viewer). October 1976
Soviet magazine ‘Sputnik kinozritelya’ (Sputnik of cinema viewer). October 1976
Still from Soviet-Czechoslovak film 1959 May stars
Still from Soviet-Czechoslovak film 1959 May stars
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1961)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1961)
The Fault of Vladimir Olmer, 1956
The Fault of Vladimir Olmer, 1956
Theater and film actress Jana Brejchova
Theater and film actress Jana Brejchova
Tikhonov and Brejchova in May Stars
Tikhonov and Brejchova in May Stars
USSR-Czechoslovak film 1959 May Stars
USSR-Czechoslovak film 1959 May Stars
Vyacheslav Tikhonov and Jana Brejchova
Vyacheslav Tikhonov and Jana Brejchova
Young Jana Brejchova
Young Jana Brejchova

Sources:
Magazine Actors of foreign cinema, 1974
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