Emília Vášáryová

Emília Vášáryová is a Slovak actress who has been active in the film industry since the early 1960s. She is best known for her work in the films of the Czech New Wave, such as Daisies (1966), The Ear (1970) and The Firemen's Ball (1967).

Born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) in 1941, Vášáryová was raised in a family of actors and theatre professionals. Her father, Ladislav Vášáry, was a director and actor and her mother, Jarmila Schlesinger, was a theatre artist. From a young age, Vášáryová was exposed to the theatre and began performing in school plays and amateur productions.

In 1961, Vášáryová graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and made her professional debut in the film Křídla Vánoc (Christmas Wings) in 1962. The following year, she gained greater recognition for her performance in the film Žít a nechat žít (Let Live and Let Live).

Throughout the 1960s, Vášáryová continued to act in both films and theatre. In 1966, she starred in the critically acclaimed film Daisies, directed by Věra Chytilová. The film was one of the most iconic and influential films of the Czech New Wave and was praised for its subversive themes and bold visual style.

In the 1970s, Vášáryová appeared in a number of films, including the science fiction film The Ear (1970), the comedy The Firemen's Ball (1967) and the drama The Fifth Horseman Is Fear (1968). She also appeared in several television series and plays, as well as a number of short films.

In the 1980s, Vášáryová continued to act in films, including the award-winning drama The Shop on Main Street (1965), the drama Closely Watched Trains (1966) and the comedy My Sweet Little Village (1985). She also became more involved in politics and served as a member of the Slovak National Council from 1990 to 1992.

Throughout her career, Vášáryová has received numerous awards for her work, including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Shop on Main