Vica

''Vica'' is a Slovak actress of Hungarian descent known for her versatile performances in Central European cinema, particularly in films from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. ^{[1] [2]} Born Éva Kerekes on March 28, 1981, in Fiľakovo, Slovakia, she graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in 2005 and has built a career marked by emotionally layered roles across romantic comedies, period dramas, and independent features. ^{[3] [1]} She achieved breakthrough recognition with her role in the Czech romantic comedy Men in Hope (2011), which brought her international attention. ^{[2] [1]} Subsequent acclaimed performances include those in Ki-Be / Tawaret, for which she won Best Actress at the Hungarian Film Week in 2010, Seven Days of Sin, earning her the IGRIC Award and a Czech Lion nomination in 2013, Cream, honored with Best Actress at the Hungarian Motion Picture Awards in 2021, and Ordinary Failures, where she received Best Supporting Actress recognition in 2023. ^{[1] [3]} Fluent in Hungarian, Slovak, Czech, English, and German, Vica Kerekes has appeared in diverse productions such as Milada, Angel of the Lord 2, Tall Tales, and international series including Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, establishing her as one of the region's most respected and adaptable screen talents. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life

Birth and family background

Éva "Vica" Kerekes was born on March 28, 1981, in Fiľakovo, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). ^[2] The town, also known as Fülek in Hungarian, is located in southern Slovakia and has a substantial ethnic Hungarian population. ^[4] Kerekes holds Slovak citizenship and is of Hungarian ethnicity, often described as a Slovak-Hungarian or Hungarian actress in professional contexts. ^{[1] [3]} Her mother is Hungarian and worked as a teacher and amateur theatre director. Her father is half-Hungarian and half-Slovak. ^[5]

Education and training

Vica first encountered acting during her elementary school years, when her mother—who worked as a teacher and amateur theatre director—introduced her to the craft.^[5] After completing secondary education, she worked as a reporter covering cultural events before relocating to Bratislava in her twenties.^[5] Although her initial application to the Police Academy was unsuccessful, she was accepted into the Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava, where she studied acting.^[5] She graduated from the academy as an actress in 2005.^[3] This formal training at VŠMU marked the culmination of her preparation for a professional career in the performing arts.^[3][5]

Career

Entry into acting and early roles

After completing her studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Vica Kerekes relocated to Budapest, where she began her professional acting career. ^[5] She made her stage debut in 2005, portraying Ophelia in a Hungarian production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. ^[5] Although she had already appeared on screen while still a student in the 2004 Slovak film Konečná stanica, her post-graduation work focused on building a presence in Hungarian theatre and regional film productions. ^{[5] [6]} In the late 2000s, she took on supporting roles in several Slovak, Hungarian, and Czech projects, including the 2007 anthology film Demoni and Hungarian features such as Bakkermann and Shameless (2008). ^[6] Her early screen credits also included the 2009 films Broken Promise and 1, as well as a recurring role in the television series Odsúdené. ^[6] In 2010, she received her first significant recognition, winning Best Actress at the Hungarian Film Week (Magyar Filmszemle) for her performance as Fruszina in Ki-Be / Tawaret. ^[1]

Notable film and television work

Vica Kerekes has achieved recognition for her compelling performances in a range of films and television productions, particularly in Central European cinema and select international projects. ^[2] In the historical drama The Chambermaid (2022), directed by Mariana Čengel Solčanská, Kerekes portrayed Líza in a narrative set just before World War I, centering on a Slovak teenager working as a maid in Prague and her relationship with a noble family's daughter. ^[7] She also starred as Judit in the 2019 Hungarian post-war drama Tall Tales (Apró mesék), directed by Attila Szász, which follows a con man on the run whose passionate romance carries high stakes. ^[8] For her performance in the film Cream, Kerekes won the Best Actress award at the Hungarian Motion Picture Awards in 2021. ^[1] Her television work includes a key role in the 2014 Czech series The Lens (Clona), where she played Nikola Bárdyová across multiple episodes in the drama about a young man joining the police force as a traffic photographer after failing to enter film school. ^[9] These projects highlight her range across dramatic, historical, and biographical genres in both film and television. ^[2]

Work across Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic

Vica has established a prominent acting career across Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, becoming a recognized figure in the film and television industries of these neighboring Central European countries. ^{[1] [2]} Following her graduation from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in 2005, she built a flourishing career in Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, where she has consistently appeared in productions from each nation. ^[1] As a Slovak actress of Hungarian ethnicity, fluent in Hungarian, Slovak, Czech, English, and German, Vica has been able to work seamlessly in the languages and cultural contexts of all three countries, contributing to their respective cinematic landscapes. ^[1] She is regarded as one of the most popular actresses not only in Hungary but also in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with her versatile performances earning her acclaim across Central European cinema. ^{[10] [1]} Her regional presence reflects a sustained commitment to projects in these three countries since the mid-2000s. ^[2]

Personal life

Relationships and family

Vica was married to artist Csaba Vigh until their divorce in 2012. ^{[2] [11]} Little public information is available about their relationship or any children, as Vica maintains a private personal life away from media attention.

Filmography

Selected film credits

Vica's selected film credits reflect her work primarily in Hungarian, Slovak, and Czech cinema, featuring roles in both lead and supporting capacities across comedies, dramas, and other genres.^[6][12] These include her starring role as Dóra in the 2020 romantic comedy Cream (original title Hab), directed by Nóra Lakos.^[13][14] In 2019, she portrayed Judit in Tall Tales.^[6] Additional selected credits encompass her performance as Sarlota in Men in Hope (2011), a role in Seven Days of Sin (2012), and Edita in Ordinary Failures (2022).^[6][12]

Selected television credits

Vica has appeared in a range of television series, primarily in Slovak, Czech, and Hungarian productions, with occasional international projects. Her television work often features recurring or multi-episode roles in regional dramas and miniseries. ^[6] One of her most extensive television commitments was in the Slovak series Odsúdené (2009), where she portrayed Anikó 'Madarka' Nagy in 30 episodes. ^[6] She followed this with a recurring role as Nikola Bárdyová in Clona (2014), appearing in 7 episodes, and as Gabriela Stein in Kapitán Exner (2017), featured in 12 episodes. ^[6] Additional Slovak television credits from that period include Anna Vanková in Cetníci z Luhacovic (2017) across 5 episodes and Maria Cerna in 1890 (2017). ^[6] In more recent years, Vica secured a role in the American series Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2022), credited as Eva Kerekesova in the part of Flora (Personal Aide) for 4 episodes. ^[6] She continued with appearances in Shakespeare 37 (2021–2023) as Heléna in 2 episodes and Vedma (2023) as Kristína in 3 episodes. ^[6] Upcoming work includes Jitka 'Henrieta' in the miniseries Náhradníci (2024–2025) for 8 episodes and Rebeka Fiserová in Vina (2025) for 12 episodes. ^[6]