Slovak actress who gained fame abroad is unrecognised at home

Actress Mária Bárkány was born into a Jewish family in Košice. Her father wanted her to be an accountant. Her plans changed in Vienna.

The Jewish actress Mária Bárkány often returned to her hometown of Košice.The Jewish actress Mária Bárkány often returned to her hometown of Košice. (Source: Archive of the Jewish religious community in Prešov)

She was an internationally acclaimed actress, and she also appeared on the front pages of major magazines. She was admired by both women and men.

Born and raised in Košice, actress Mária Bárkány became famous mainly in Germany, but with her characters she travelled the world from St Petersburg to New York. Like her contemporary and French diva, Sarah Bernhardt.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad