Sad news for Czech cinema lovers. Actress Jana Brejchová passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026, aged 86. The news was confirmed by her daughter, actress Tereza Brodská.
Brejchová was one of the greatest stars of Czech film - appearing in more than a hundred productions across film, television, and theatre.
From an office job to a screen icon
She became a camera natural without formal acting training. Her breakthrough began incredibly early: she appeared on screen at thirteen in Olověný chléb, and soon became one of the most sought-after actresses of her generation.
Because of her beauty and charisma, she earned the nickname “the Czech Bardot,” even though she was known for her shyness and modesty off-screen.
Roles that stay with us
Her filmography ranges from intense dramas to beloved comedies and musicals. Among the most important titles linked to her career are:
The Wolf Trap / Vlci jama,
Higher Principle / Vyssi princip,
If a Thousand Clarinets/Kdyby tisic klarinetu,
Darling, Are We a Good Match...? / Hodime se k sobe, milacku...?,
Beauty in Trouble / Kraska v nesnazich - and for many viewers, her unforgettable Empress Eliška Pomořanská in the musical A Night at Karlstein / Noc na Karlstejne Remastered.
Awards and recognition
At just twenty, she received a major award in Locarno for her role in Higher Principle / Vyssi princip.
She won a Czech Lion for her supporting performance in Beauty in Trouble / Kraska v nesnazich (awarded in 2007), and in 2010 she received another Czech Lion for her lifetime artistic contribution to Czech film.
In 2004, she also received a state honour for her contribution to culture and the arts.
Family - and a story told in her own words
Her daughter, actress Tereza Brodská, published a personal book in 2022 titled Moje máma Jana Brejchová, built from intimate conversations over photographs.
Brejchová’s sister was also an actress, Hana Brejchová, who died in 2024.
If you’d like to revisit her work
If you’d like to remember Jana Brejchová, almost any film she appears in is a wonderful choice - her charisma and talent shine through every time.
