Jiřina Jirásková

{{Infobox person

| name = Jiřina Jirásková

| image = Jirina jiraskova.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|2|17|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Prague, Czechoslovakia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|1|7|1931|2|17|df=yes}}

| death_place = Prague, Czech Republic

| nationality = Czech

| occupation = Actress
UNICEF Czech Committee President (2002–2011)}}

Jiřina Jirásková (17 February 1931 – 7 January 2013) was a Czech actress. She was born and died in Prague, Czech Republic.

Biography

She studied at the Prague Conservatory and later at DAMU. After graduating, she spent one year in a regional theatre in Hradec Králové.{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10212433228-neobycejne-zivoty/20954215592-jirina-jiraskova|title=Neobyčejné životy: Jiřina Jirásková|publisher=Czech Television|accessdate=8 January 2013}} In 1951, aged 20, she moved to the Prague's Vinohrady Theatre, where she spent her entire career. From 30 May 1990 to 30 June 2000, she was also the director of the theatre.

Jirásková began to appear in TV in the 1950s; she played in the first Czechoslovak TV series Rodina Bláhova (Bláha Family).{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/kultura/209989-zemrela-mala-velka-herecka-jirina-jiraskova/ |title=Zemřela malá velká herečka Jiřina Jirásková |date=7 January 2013 |publisher=Czech Television |language=Czech |accessdate=8 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111224710/http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/kultura/209989-zemrela-mala-velka-herecka-jirina-jiraskova/ |archivedate=11 January 2013 }} She got her first on-screen opportunity in the spy drama Smyk, directed Zbyněk Brynych. She appeared in Every Penny Counts and Look Into His Eyes, and also worked with comedic director Zdeněk Podskalský.

In the 1970s, during the period of Czechoslovak "normalization", she was forced to leave acting. According to her own words, the ban was caused by her attitude during the reform period of the 1960s.{{cite web|url=http://www.lidovky.cz/posledni-rozhovor-jiraskove-pro-ln-oci-mi-otevrely-az-procesy-v-50-letech-14z-/lide.aspx?c=A130107_150404_lide_mev|title=Poslední rozhovor Jiráskové pro LN: Oči mi otevřely až procesy v 50. letech|last=Bednářová|first=Veronika|date=7 January 2013|publisher=Lidové noviny|language=Czech|accessdate=8 January 2013}} She returned in 1983 for Karel Kachyňa's film Nurses. She appeared in more than 140 roles over 40 years.

She was the Goodwill Ambassador and President (2002-2011) of the UNICEF Czech Committee and, in 1999, tried unsuccessfully to run for the Senate representing the Civic Democratic Party.{{cite web|url=http://santroch.blog.idnes.cz/c/246971/Vzpominacek-17-unora-Jirina-Jiraskova-a-Bara-Basikova.html|title=Vzpomínáček - 17. února - Jiřina Jirásková a Bára Basiková|date=17 February 2012|accessdate=8 January 2013|language=Czech}}

Personal life

She was married for two years to the actor Jiří Pleskot, and spent 27 years with Zdeněk Podskalský. She had no children.

=Awards=

1969 – Finále Plzeň Film Festival Audience Award for Most Popular Actress
1998 – Thalia Award{{cite web|url=http://www.reflex.cz/clanek/zpravy/49067/zemrela-jirina-jiraskova-a-smala-se.html|title= Zemřela Jiřina Jirásková. A smála se|last=Spáčilová|first=Tereza|date=7 January 2013|publisher=Reflex|language=Czech|accessdate=8 January 2013}}
2006 – Medal of Merit

=Death=

Jiřina Jirásková died on 7 January 2013, aged 81.{{cite web|url=http://www.blesk.cz/clanek/celebrity-zemrela-jirina-jiraskova/185010/jirina-jiraskova-81-vedela-ze-smrt-se-blizi-posledni-navsteva-u-herecky.html|title=Jiřina Jirásková (†81): Věděla, že smrt se blíží! Poslední návštěva u herečky|date=7 January 2013|accessdate=8 January 2013|language=cs}}