Unique and charismatic, Mira Furlan, one of the icons of Yugoslav cinema, was born in Zagreb on September 7, 1955. She became interested in acting as a teenager and graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb.
She was a member of the Croatian National Theatre, and her roles in many cult films are remembered. One of them is certainly “When Father Was Away on Business” (1985) by Emir Kusturica, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Her roles in other notable films include “Cyclops” (1982) by Antun Vrdoljak, “In the Jaws of Life” (1984), “Three for Happiness” (1986) by Rajko Grlić, and “The Beauty of Vice” (1986) by Živko Nikolić. She was also recognized for her roles in TV series such as “Great place,” “Vuk Karadzic,” and “Better Life.”
She moved to the United States in 1991 with her husband, director Goran Gajić. In 1993, she gained fame in the U.S. for her role as Delenn in the series “Babylon 5.” She also appeared in the popular American series “Lost.”
She returned to Croatia in 2002 and played the lead role in a play directed by Rade Serbedzija.
Mira Furlan passed away at the age of 65 on January 20, 2021, in Los Angeles due to complications from the West Nile virus.
