Zuzana Vačková

Zuzana Vačková (born 12 February 1969) is a Slovak actress.

Zuzana Vačková
Born	Zuzana Vačková 12 February 1969 Nitra, Czechoslovakia
Occupation	Actress, voice actress, moderator, pedagogue
Years active	1981 – present
Children	Jakub (1992), Maruška (2004)

Background

Vačková was born in Nitra, a historical town in Western Slovakia. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to Previdza, another city in region of upper Nitra. She just started attending school when they moved again, this time to the capital city – Bratislava.[1] In the end Zuzana finally settled down with her own family in a house, which was built near Bratislava at the place called Čierna Voda.[2]

Youth

Zuzana became an actress by accident. She wanted to improve her knowledge and skill in using her native language, and tried to enroll in a grammar course in the Central house of children and youth, located in the beautiful Grassalkovitch Palace (today serves as the Presidential Palace), but accidentally enrolled in a drama course.[1]

Shortly after she started attending the course, it was visited by Štefan Uher, a well-known Slovak director, who was looking for a hard headed, posh, self-important and pampered young girl to play a role in his new movie Mowing of Hawk Meadow (1981). From all the adepts she was the most suited, which meant that she got her first role, Anny, in a movie directed by an admired and respected figure, whose name is connected to the Czechoslovak New Wave filmmaking art.[3] She went on to act alongside many famous Slovak (Jozef Kroner, Viliam Polónyi, Karol Spišák, Emília Zimková) and Czech actors (Rudolf Jelínek, Věra Tichánková, Sylva Turbová). Her performance opened a lot of new opportunities not just from the world of movies, but also television. Only a few months later she starred in her first television movie Throb of our Universe, which first aired in 1982.[4] This movie also marks the first time she met her future husband, Rastislav Rogel. However, at the time they had no idea that their paths would ever meet again.[2]

Studies

While making movies, Vačková also managed to finish secondary school, she graduated from the gymnasium on Ladislav Sára street, and was accepted into the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU).[1] Before she started studying acting at the Academy in 1987, she starred in movies directed by well-known Slovak (Dušan Rapoš, Martin Ťapák and the previously mentioned Štefan Uher), Czech (Otakar Kosek) and Russian directors (Konstantin Khudyakov).[5] From this time period, the most striking movie is A Great Summer (1987), which was filmed in the Czech portion of the republic. This unusual movie dealt with many social issues, which were considered a taboo at the time. These issues included abortion, corruption, nepotism, generational differences, a lack of intimacy, honesty and love in familial and human relationships. The movie focuses on two friends (Slávka, Magda) and their coming of age story. We can also find parallels between the plot of the movie, and the actress's personal life, divorce, abortion and fear of falling in love again.[2][3][5]

Creative work

After starting her studies in acting at the Academy, she also added theatre plays to her ever-increasing repertoire. While attending the first grade, she already performed as a stand-in, in an already premiered play by Maxim Gorky The Summer Guests, where she played the role of the determined, brash, bold and honest Sona, daughter of the doctor Mária Lvova. Her next role was that of Petra in An Enemy of the People by Henrik Johan Ibsen. Later she portrayed, as a stand-in, young Lisa in the play Woe from Wit by Alexander Sergeyevich Griboyedov. For this portrayal she was already being noticed by reviewers.[6] One review states: “…The character of young Petra, with her hard-headed determination to defend her father's truth, was portrayed by Natália Hasprová. Zuzana Vačková, her stand-in, showed a softer and girl-like side of the character…”[7] A different one says: “From all the well-acted roles, it is necessary to mention the playful and mischievous Lisa, portrayed by Zuzana Vačková, a student at VŠMU…”[8] She also had a medium-sized role in the play Tango, by the Polish playwright Sławomir Mrożek. “The young stand-ins, Michaela Mikulášová (an author's note by Čobejová) and Zuzana Vačková, portray Ala with the natural charm of youth…”[9]

At the Academy, her classmates included: Zuzana Mauréry, Dagmar Bruckmayerová (originally Bajnoková), Szilvia Varga / Silvia Vargová, Henrieta Mičkovicová, Ingrid Hanzelová (originally Slobodová), Eva Vavrousek (originally Vicianová), Roman Pomajbo, Rastislav Rogel, Dezső Rancsó, Roman Matisko, Peter Mankovecký, Jozef Domonkoš, Maroš Tvarožek.[2] They all graduated in 1991, some of them with the graduate performance of the play The Bald Soprano, where Vačková played the role of Mrs. Martin. “After reading the script, I couldn't imagine how we could possibly perform this play, it made no sense. We went through an interesting development, during which we tried many variants, picked out the best ones, and finally arrived at this final one, which is, hopefully, the best one.”[10] The performance, directed by Juraj Vaculík, was such a success, that the theatre Astorka Korzo ´90 incorporated it into its regular programme.[10] During that same year actress married her biggest love, her classmate Rastislav Rogel. A year later she gave birth to her first child, Jakub. Because of familial responsibilities, she would be seen less on theatre stages, TV screens, and in cinemas. This situation was also worsened when her husband gradually drifted away from the acting profession, and started associating himself with various extremist groups, which she couldn’t identify herself with. After having spent six years together they parted, which meant that Zuzana had to do everything on her own. She acted in a few TV movies, and dubbed various famous actresses. She also worked as a waitress in a family owned business in the thermal spa Vincov les in Sládkovičovo. Later she worked for a short time in a flower shop in Dlhé Diely.[3] While working there she again fell in love, however, she was more careful this time and refused to marry. The almost ten-year relationship, during which she travelled the world – mainly the USA, rewarded her with her daughter Maruška. She perfected her English, which could be the reason why she agreed to baptise the study book “In English with Zuzana Vačková”.[11]

She has been teaching the art of acting at the Conservatory in Bratislava for three years already.[12] She has also participated in the television show Tvoja tvár znie povedome, where she won one episode with The Shoop Shoop song by Cher.[13] When currently not teaching, she also finds the time to edit end correct dialogues for voice-overs. She has also been a moderator of various shows since a very young age, e.g.: Triangel, Zone D, Studio Contact, Cooked and baked (Varený a pečený).[5]

Vačková is a member of various charity groups, such as Parasport 24, which helps handicapped sportsmen in Slovakia, while focusing mainly on high schools. For the last couple of years she has regularly moderated the event “A mile for mum”, which takes place every year on mother's day in Senec.[3] She is also a member of the board of directors in the Linaje Foundation, which was founded on 27 September 2010, and deals with autistic and abused women. Members of this foundation have released a book titled Fairy tales from the Eighth continent. With the resources gained from the sales of this book, they also want to build a residential facility, called The Eighth continent and located in Borová, for children and adults with autism.[14] The actress and her daughter also added a story into the book, about the time they saved little birdies when they fell out of their nest. “And ever since then, whenever the girls would lay on their bed and talk and hear birds beautifully singing from behind the windows, Maruška and mum would smile happily, while Minka would friendly waggle her tail.”[15]

Vačková has performed in various plays (see the chart below) on the stage of the author-based theatre La Komika, ever since its establishment in 2015. The director, manager and playwright of the theatre is Karol Vosátko, who had this to say about his theatre: “…The quality is also determined by all the people participating in the theatre. We are a small and informal group, which is almost like a family. It is, however, rare to meet with people who are so passionate about their craft, yet are such big professionals at the same time!...”[16]

Vačková has worked with many notable actors and actresses, such as Emília Vášáryová, Božidara Turzonovová, Zdena Studenková, Kamila Magálová, Mária Kráľovičová, Martin Huba, Milan Lasica, Milan Kňažko, Stano Dančiak and Dušan Jamrich. She also acts in many television series, her most famous role is that of the cheerful Alica from Panelák.[17][18]

Published works

Filmography

Title	Movie Type		State	Year of production	Director	Role
Mowing of Hawk Meadow / Kosenie Jastrabej lúky	Fiction film		CSSR	1981	Štefan Uher	Anička (Anny)
Throb of our Universe / Pulzovanie nášho vesmíru	Television movie		CSSR	1982	Viliam Gräffinger	Zdena
The False Prince / Falošný princ	Television movie (Fairy tale)		CSSR / FRG	1984	Dušan Rapoš	Court lady
Fourth head of the dragon / Štvrtá hlava draka	Television movie (Fairy tale)		CSSR	1985	Ľubomír Vajdička	Veronika
A common day / Obyčajný deň	Television movie		CSSR	1985	Ľubo Kocka	Jarka
Is that you Anne? / To si ty, Anna?	Television movie		CSSR	1985	Peter Jezný	Petra, girl from course
The Sixth Sentence / Šiesta veta	Fiction film	CSSR		1986	Štefan Uher	Oľga (Olga)
Successor / Nástupca	Television movie	CSSR / USSR		1986	Konstantin Khudyakov	1. girl
Until the Cook Crows / Kohút nezaspieva	Fiction film	CSSR		1986	Martin Ťapák	Fanka
Three hundred and thirty three silver quails / Tristotridsaťtri strieborných prepelíc	Television movie	CSSR		1987	Ivan Krajíček	Monika, assistant of the TV producer
A Great Summer / Sedmé nebe	Fiction film	CSSR		1987	Otakar Kosek	Slávka
Ebony horsie / Koník z ebenu	Television movie (Fairy tale)	CSSR		1987	Ján Chlebík	The youngest daughter of King Sabúr
How I didn’t get a Nobel prize / Ako som nedostal Nobelovu cenu	Television movie	CSSR		1987	Ľubo Kocka	Gita
Stingy Marco / Lakomý Marko	Television movie (Fairy tale)	CSSR		1988	Ján Chlebík	Zuzka (Susy)
Gulliver lives in our city / V našom meste býva Gulliver	Television movie	CSSR		1989	Josef Pinkava	Teacher
Turandot	Television movie (Fairy tale)	CSSR		1989	Martin Kákoš	Zelima
Old pinkish drama / Staroružová dráma	Television movie	CSSR		1989	Vido Horňák	Lenka
Catch your train / Nastúp na svoj vlak	Television movie	CSSR		1989	Juraj Takáč	Anka
Hope is sky-blue / Nádej má farbu belasú	Television movie	CSSR		1989	Marta Gogálová	Monika
Jablonka	Television movie (Fairy tale)	CSSR		1989	Ján Chlebík	Hanka/Jablonka
Secrets under the eyelids / Tajomstvá pod viečkami	Television movie	CSFR		1990	Juraj Nvota	Monika Bábecká, student
Devils never rest / Čerti nespia	Television movie	CSFR		1991	Juraj Takáč	Anne Marie / Valika
Three tales with K. Machat: Tight suit / Tri poviedky s K. Machatom: Tesný frak	Television movie	Slovakia		1993	Ľubomír Vajdička	Karola
The story of Matej Hóza / Príbeh Mateja Hóza	Television movie	Slovakia		1993	Peter Mikulík	Eva
Odd Spooks / Mátohy rárohaté	Television movie (Fairy tale)	Slovakia		1993	Ján Chlebík	Spook Leontínka
Confession / Spoveď	Television movie	Slovakia		1994	Miloslav Luther	Lavasseurová (Lavasseur)
About a beautiful hag / O krásnej strige	Television movie (Fairy tale)	Slovakia		1994	Jozef Banyák	Girl
Magical love / Zázračná láska	Television movie	Slovakia		1996	Martin Kákoš	Court lady
About a stupid woman / O hlúpej žene	Television movie (Fairy tale)	Slovakia		1996	Jozef Chudík	Zuza (Susan)
Entire man / Celý muž	Television movie	Czech Republic		1997	Alois Ditrich	Julie Yañezová (Yanez)
The life I give you / Život, který ti dávám	Television movie	Czech Republic		1998	Alois Ditrich	Lucie (Lucy)
Fiaker number 21 / Fiaker číslo 21	Television movie	Slovakia		1999	Vladimír Strnisko	Servant Petúnia
Exiles / Vyhnanci	Television movie	Slovakia		2000	Alois Ditrich	Berta

Television series

▪ Hornets in a nest / Sršne v úli (1985)

▪ Dwarf / Škriatok (1995)

▪ Doctor´s office in the pink garden / Ordinácia v ružovej záhrade (2007 – 2012)

▪ Panelák (2008 – 2015, 2017)

▪ In the name of law / V mene zákona (2009 – 2010)

▪ Dr. Perfect / Dr. Dokonalý (2012 – 2013)

▪ Hamlet Ville / Horná Dolná (2015 – )

▪ Coffeemat – Local Hodrušany office / Kávomat – Miestny úrad Hodrušany (2016 – 2017)

Theatre plays

Author	Title	Premiere year	Director	Theatre	Role
Maxim Gorky	The Summer Guests / Letní hostia	1987	Ľubomír Vajdička	Slovak national theatre	Soňa (Sona)
Henrik Johan Ibsen	An Enemy of the People / Nepriateľ ľudu	1989	Ľubomír Vajdička	Slovak national theatre	Petra
Alexander Sergeyevich Griboyedov	Woe from Wit / Útrapy z rozumu	1989	Miloš Pietor	Slovak national theatre	Líza (Lisa)
Slawomir Mrozek	Tango	1990	Stanislav Párnický	Nová scéna	Ala
Eugène Ionesco	The Bald Soprano / Plešatá speváčka	1991	Juraj Vaculík	Theatre Astorka Korzo`90	Mrs. Martin
Collin Higgins	Harold and Maude / Harold a Maude	1991	Juraj Vaculík	Theatre Astorka Korzo`90	Nancy Marsch
Stano Radič	A Change of Performance / Zmena predstavenia	1993	Jaroslav Filip	Studio S / Studio L+S	Girl
Nicholas E. Baehr, Larry Peerce	The Incident / Incident	1993	Martin Huba	Theatre Astorka Korzo`90	Alice Keenan
Joe Masteroff, John Kander, Fred Ebb	Cabaret (musical)	1994	Juraj Nvota	Theatre Astorka Korzo`90	Kit Kat Girl
Noël Coward	Blithe Spirit	2010	Peter Mikulík	Lights above the ramps	Servant Edith
Viliam Klimáček	Gorefest / Krvák	2014	Karol Vosátko	Gunagu	Zuza, EKO terrorist
Karol Vosátko	Forever or Never / Navždy alebo nikdy	2015	Karol Vosátko	La Komika	Katka Hostovecká
Karol Vosátko	Adventures of Don Dušan / Dobrodružstvá Dona Dušana	2015	Karol Vosátko	La Komika	Gabika
Jakub Nvota	Camping Story / Kemping story	2016	Jakub Nvota	Temporary groups	Kamila
Marc Comoletti	Four on a Couch / Štyria na kanape	2016	Eduard Kudláč	Temporary groups	Bubble
Karol Vosátko	Slovak Geisha Story	2017	Karol Vosátko	La Komika	Svetlana
Judy Craymer, Catherine Johnson, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus	Mamma Mia!	2017	Svetozár Sprušanský	New Scene	Rosie

[2][19]

References

1. zivotopis.osobnosti.cz (in Slovak)
2. Széplaki, L. Zuzana Vačková (Research paper – in Slovak)
3. Banáš, J. Na kus reči. Hosť Zuzana Vačková. (in Slovak), 10. May 2017, Bratislava, Stredisko kultúry BNM, Vajnorská 21.
4. "Zuzana Vačková Rogelová" (in Czech). Retrieved 27 March 2018.
5. csfd.cz – Zuzana Vačková (in Czech)
6. theatre.sk – eTHEATRE – Zuzana Vačková (in Slovak)
7. Baránová, S. Kto je nepriateľ ľudu. (in Slovak), Večerník, Bratislava, 1989, vol. 34, no. 57, p. 5.
8. Baránová, S. „Večné“ útrapy. (in Slovak), Večerník, Bratislava, 1989, vol. 34, no. 170, p. 5.
9. Maťašík, A. Dôkaz životaschopnosti. (in Slovak), Večerník, Bratislava, 1990, vol. 35, no. 120, p. 5.
10. Demeková, A. Plod na druhom brehu.(in Slovak), Smena, Bratislava, 1991, vol. 44, no. 64, p. 6.
11. "Herečky Zuzana Vačková a Karin Haydu dnes pokrstia učebnicu angličtiny" (in Slovak). 25 April 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
12. konzervatorium.sk/odbor/hudobno-dramaticky-odbor/pedagogovia-hd/ (in Slovak)
13. "Herečka Zuzana Vačková je svojím životom spokojná: Nechýba jej po boku muž?" (in Slovak). 1 November 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
14. "Nadácia LINAJE podporila zbierkou centrum Ôsmy svetadiel" (in Slovak). 9 January 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
15. Záhorová, S. a coll. Rozprávky z Ȏsmeho svetadielu. (in Slovak), Bratislava: Slovart, 2012. 112 p. ISBN 978-80-556-0729-0.
16. "ROZHOVOR: Slovenský režisér Vosátko - ľudia chcú surový jazyk, nejde to zvrátiť" (in Slovak). 11 February 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
17. Széplaki, L. Zuzana Vačková (Research paper – in Slovak)
18. csfd.cz – Zuzana Vačková (in Czech)
19. Sabó, L. Translation.

External links

• Zuzana Vačková at IMDb
• FDb.cz
• Dabingforum.sk