Famous Czech Film & Theater Personalities

Model, actress, and author, Paulina Porizkova, became the first woman from Central Europe to be featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1984. She began modeling as a teenager and became a top model in Paris during the early 1980s. She eventually began acting as well. Also a writer, she has written a few books.

Miloš Forman was a Czech and American screenwriter, film director, actor, and professor. He is remembered for directing the 1975 psychological comedy drama film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which became the second film to receive all five major Oscars. During his career, Forman won two Oscars, a César Award, and three Golden Globe Awards among other prestigious awards.

Karolína Kurková is a Czech-American actress and model best known for being a former Victoria's Secret Angel. Praised by the bigwigs of the modeling industry for her skills as a model, Kurková was counted among the world's highest-paid models by 2007. Also known for her humanitarian work, Kurková was honored by Women Together, a non-profit organization, in 2006.

Little Caprice is a Czech model, pornographic actress, and producer. Over the course of her career, Caprice has received many nominations for the prestigious AVN Award and has won the award on a couple of occasions. She has also received a couple of XBIZ Awards in her career so far.

Marketa Irglova is a Czech-Icelandic musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known for starring in the 2007 Irish musical drama film Once, which earned Irglová numerous prestigious awards, such as an Oscar under the Best Original Song category for her song, Falling Slowly. 

Lída Baarová was a Czech actress whose professional life was overshadowed by her personal counterpart; she is best remembered as the mistress of Joseph Goebbels, a Nazi propaganda minister. Her life and career inspired the 2016 film The Devil's Mistress, a dramatization of Lída Baarová's life, in which Baarová was played by Slovak actress Tatiana Pauhofová.

Czech model and philanthropist Petra Nemcova has not only graced the covers of magazines such as Elle and Cosmopolitan but is also associated with the non-profit All Hands And Hearts. She barely escaped death in the 2004 tsunami in Thailand but lost her photographer boyfriend Simon Atlee in the disaster.

Vladimir Kulich is a Czech-Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Buliwyf in the 1999 American historical action film, The 13th Warrior. He has also appeared in popular TV series like Vikings. Prior to his acting career, Vladimir Kulich played professional ice hockey and tried his hand at many other things, including a whitewater river rafting business.

Czech supermodel-actor Eva Herzigová was quite a sports lover in her younger days. She deviated to modeling after winning a pageant at 16. Known for her iconic Guess and Wonderbra campaigns, Herzigová, who is now a mother of three, has won hearts with her classic smile and blue-green eyes.

Yana Gupta is a Czech actress and model. She is best known for her work in Indian films like Anniyan, Manmadhan, and Murder 2. Apart from appearing in films, Gupta also appears in popular Indian TV reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.

Karel Roden is a Czech actor best known for his performances in films like The Bourne Supremacy and Hellboy. Over the course of his acting career, Roden has received several prestigious awards such as the Czech Lion Award and Alfréd Radok Award. Karel Roden is also known for his voice work in the popular video game, Grand Theft Auto IV.

Jan Švankmajer is a Czech former artist and filmmaker. A self-proclaimed surrealist, Švankmajer's stop-motion animation work has greatly influenced artists like Brothers Quay, Terry Gilliam, Caroline Leaf, Vera Neubauer, Nina Gantz, and Tomasz Bagiński among many others. Jan Švankmajer is a recipient of many prestigious awards such as the Golden Bear, FIAF Award, and Raymond Roussel Society Medal.

Alena Šeredová is a Czech actress and model best known for her work in Italy. Over the years, Šeredová has appeared on the covers of popular magazines like Playboy Europe, Penthouse Europe, Quo, and Spy. Her popularity increased in 2011 when she got married to Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon; they separated in May 2014.

Czech figure-skater Vera Ralston represented her nation under her birth name Věra Hrubá at the 1936 European Figure Skating Championships, the 1936 Winter Olympics, and the 1937 European Figure Skating Championships. She later immigrated to the US and became a naturalized citizen. She made her name as an actress appearing in films like Storm Over Lisbon, Dakota, and The Fighting Kentuckian.

Dolly Buster is a Czech-German author, filmmaker, and retired pornographic actress. She appeared in more than 100 X-rated European movies and was named the hottest porn star in Germany in 2009. Dolly Buster also has a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the Venus Awards, and a Special Jury Award under her belt. Buster has also written a series of crime-novels.

George Voskovec was a Czech actor, dramatist, writer, and director. He acted in 72 films, out of which only the first five were Czech and the rest were either American or English. In the USA, George Voskovec became known for his portrayal of Juror 11 in the 1957 courtroom drama film 12 Angry Men.

Zdenka Podkapova is a Czech actress, adult model, and former gymnast. She achieved international prominence in May 1998 when she was selected as Penthouse Pet of the Month. Her popularity increased in 2001 when she was named Penthouse Pet of the Year, becoming the first model from Czech Republic to win the Penthouse Pet of the Year title.  

Anny Ondra was a Czech film actress who appeared in Czech, Austrian, French, German, and English films. Apart from her popular acting career, Ondra was also known for her much publicized wedding and marriage life with boxing champion Max Schmeling. Anny Ondra was played by Peta Wilson in the 2002 American-German boxing film Joe and Max.

Jan Rubeš was a Czech-Canadian actor and bass opera singer. He first achieved popularity in 1948 when he performed at the Geneva International Music Festival and won the first prize. Jan Rubeš went on to appear in many films and TV series and won the prestigious Earle Grey Award in 1990. 

Tatana Kucharova is a Czech beauty queen and model. She achieved national recognition in 2006 when she made history by becoming the first contestant from the Czech Republic to win the Miss World title. Tatana Kucharova went on to appear in popular TV shows such as StarDance, where she finished second in 2013.

Czech-born actor David Nykl was 2 when he moved to Canada with his parents and later began his acting career with small roles in community theater and television in Vancouver. He is, perhaps, best known for his portrayal of Radek Zelenka in the sci-fi series Stargate: Atlantis.

Tereza Srbova is a Czech model, writer, and actress. She is best known for her work in films like Eastern Promises and Red Joan. Srbova made her short film debut as a writer and director in the 2017 film Meanders, which was honored at the Ischia Global Film Festival. Srbova also published her first graphic novel titled Sidonie in 2021.

Known for pioneering the Hollywood B-film, or low-budget film productions, director Edgar G. Ulmer was the man behind movies such as The Black Cat. Initially a stage production designer for Max Reinhardt, he later mostly explored the noir, drama, and horror genres as a director.

Božena Němcová was a Czech writer who was active during the Czech National Revival movement. She is best remembered for her 1855 novel Babička (The Grandmother), which was inspired by her own childhood in the Ratibořice village where she spent most of her time with her maternal grandmother, Magdalena Novotná. Božena Němcová's image is portrayed on the 500 CZK currency note.  

Czech-born actor Jan Triska, who later moved to the US, was know for his roles in films such as Ronin, Lunacy, and Up and Down. The 3-time Czech Lion-nominated actor moved back to the Czech Republic after the 1989 Velvet Revolution. He also delivered an award-winning performance in a production of King Lear.

Best known for her portrayal of Chani in the miniseries Dune and its sequel, Children of Dune, Czech actor Barbora Kodetová is also a mother of three. The actor is married to renowned Czech violinist Pavel Šporcl. Audiences also know her for her portrayal of Lady Marke in Tristan & Isolde.

One of the pioneering directors of Czech New Wave cinema, Czech Lion winner Věra Chytilová mingled elements of avant-garde, feminism, and cinema verite in her movies. Initially a student of philosophy and architecture, she had worked as a designer and model before plunging into direction. Daisies remains one of her best-known movies.

Czech actor Anna Geislerova was 14 when she soared to fame with her debut film, Requiem for a Doll. The 5-time Czech Lion-winning actor has also been a famous model in the past. She is, perhaps, best known for her double role of Eliška/Hana in Želary.

A popular face on British TV in the 1970s, Czech-born English actor Jeanette Sterke soared to fame with series and mini-series such as My Brother Tom. She later appeared in movies such as The Prisoner and The Nun's Story. Married to actor Keith Michell, she has also appeared in plays with him.

Jan Werich was a Czech playwright, actor, and writer. He is best remembered for his partnership with Jaroslav Ježek and Jiří Voskovec as the trio produced many successful left-wing political satires. After World War II, which forced the trio to move to the USA, Werich returned to his homeland and started working alongside personalities like Jiří Trnka and Miroslav Horníček.

Trained as a painter, Jiří Trnka later worked as a puppet maker and an illustrator for children’s books. He later made several animation films, and eventually focused solely on puppet films, such as The Czech Year and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He often used tales by Czech folklore authors in his films.

Czech actor Jaroslava Schallerová was 13 when she made her debut with the film Valerie and Her Week of Wonders. She was quite a rage in the 1970s and continued her acting career well into the 1990s. Die Elixiere des Teufels and Malá mořská víla were 2 of her notable movies.

Alfred Radok Award- and Theater News Award-winning Czech actor Karel Dobrý is best known for his roles in the movie Mission: Impossible and the miniseries Dune. He is a fan of fast cars and is also an avid horseman, who performs his own stunts. His role in Hastrman won him a Czech Lion.

Thalia Award-winning Czech actor Petra Hrebickova is best known for films such as Red Line and Kawasaki's Rose. Initially a theater actor, she was part of the Zlín City Theater. She later also appeared in films such as Helena and Svatby v Benátkách. She has also dubbed for the video game Mafia II.

Czech director and screenwriter Václav Marhoul is best known for his popular films such as the war drama The Painted Bird and Tobruk. He has also appeared in several films, such as the comedy movie Gympl. He is also the father of actor Anna Marhoulová.

Bolek Polívka is a Czech actor, screenwriter, playwright, and mime artist. He is one of the best-known proponents of Czech mime. Bolek Polívka is also known for his film roles, such as Vicar Holý in Forgotten Light and Josef Čížek in Divided We Fall, for which he was honored with the prestigious Czech Lion Awards.      

Dagmar Havlová, once married to former Czech president Václav Havel, has also been a popular actor of Czech cinema. She has been bestowed with honors such as the Friend of Peace and has been a known face in both television and films. Sanitka II and Prípad Roubal are 2 of her best-known series.

Apart from being a significant figure of New York’s underground rock scene, Czech-born musician and songwriter Ivan Kral was also a talented filmmaker. He co-wrote and worked as a guitarist and bassist for a number of artists, such as Patti Smith. He also recorded a few film scores.

Lea De Mae was a Czech diver, pornographic actress, and adult model. She was part of the high diving national team before injuring her spine while training for the 1996 Olympics. After retiring from professional sports, Lea De Mae appeared in more than 80 adult films. She died at age 27 after suffering from an aggressive form of brain cancer.