The “Queen of Comedy,” as many call her, says that in private she is actually quite different and often describes herself as a grump.
She began her career about fifty years ago and today is considered one of the most popular and beloved actresses across all the countries of the former Yugoslavia. She earned both critical acclaim and the admiration of audiences for her role as Kristina in the black comedy Maratonci trče počasni krug. She also achieved great success in comedies such as Burduš, Tesna koža 3, Rad na određeno vreme, Moj tata na određeno vreme, Sekula i njegove žene, Druga Žikina dinastija, and Sekula se opet ženi. She demonstrated exceptional comedic talent as Comrade Seka in the TV series Bolji život and as secretary Marijana in Srećni ljudi.
She was born in 1942 in the Čubura neighborhood of Belgrade. Her father, Stevan, originally came from the village of Mala Gradusa near Sunja. Her mother was a homemaker, a Sephardic Jewish woman born and raised in the Dorćol neighborhood. Stevan was a tailor who owned a small shop on Mutapova Street. Through this work he supported the five-member family. Seka grew up with two older brothers and, as she says, enjoyed the status of a “privileged member of the family.”
After finishing elementary school, she enrolled in the XIV Belgrade Gymnasium. Her love for acting was born during visits to theaters and cinemas, and throughout her schooling she was active in recitation and drama clubs. She was one of the founders of the youth theater Dadov Youth Theatre, where many famous actors first became “infected” with a love for acting. As she once said, she felt the stage was “the place of the greatest possible happiness.” She admits that she rushed to rehearsals “as if going to the most passionate love affairs.” She was also a member of the youth theater “Lola,” where she performed in the satirical cabaret Komarac, directed by Nebojša Komadina.
Although her mother wanted Seka to become a typist, considering it the right career choice, Seka disagreed and, after graduating from high school, went to take the entrance exam for the Theatre Academy. She was accepted on her first attempt and, together with Dragan Nikolić, Mića Milovanović, Zlata Jakovljević, Kolja Jovanović, and Zdravko Krstulović, joined the class of professor Mata Milošević. She began acting already in her second year of studies and graduated in 1965. as the top student in her class.
Although she had been the best student at the Academy, a permanent theater engagement did not come immediately. She became a member of the ensemble of Boško Buha Theatre, where she performed in plays such as Concert for Teenagers, Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, and The Three Musketeers. During one rehearsal she was noticed by Mira Trailović, the manager of Atelje 212. Recognizing Seka’s extraordinary talent, Mira invited her to join Atelje 212 in 1968. One of her first plays there was King Ubu.
She has received the most prestigious awards and honors, including the Dobričin prsten, Žanka Stokić Award, Zlatni ćuran, Pavle Vuisić Award, Sterija Award, Golden Arena, and many others.
She has never spoken much publicly about her marriage or love life. She gave birth to her son Stefan at the age of 34.
