The recognition of the Actor of the Nation is given by the current eleven holders of the title to whoever they consider worthy of it.
On June 26, the eleven holders of the title of Actor of the Nation elected a new member in the person of Dorottya Udvaros, who was informed of the decision by the general director of the National Theater, Attila Vidnyánszky, to replace the legendary actor Erzsi Máthé, who died on May 8.
The title of Actor of the Nation can be awarded to the artist chosen by the holders of the title for outstanding activities in the field of Hungarian theater, the development and popularization of national theater, the interpretation of national literature and the cultivation of the Hungarian language. A maximum of twelve people can hold the title at the same time, and if one of them dies, the other holders of the title decide who can take the vacant place.
Unfortunately, in the past period, the board had to choose a new member to replace Péter Andorai in 2020, Mari Törőcsik in 2021, and Péter Haumann in 2022. The title of Actor of the Nation is currently held by Levente Király, Gyula Bodrogi, Géza Tordy, Piroska Molnár, György Cserhalmi, László Szacsvay, Éva Almási, Mari Csomós, Tamás Jordán, Zsuzsa Lehoczky and Lajos Balázsovits, they have now decided on the new member.
Erzsi Máthé died in the 95th year of her life, a few days before her birthday on May 16. The winner of the Kossuth and twice Jászai Mari awards, a worthy and excellent artist, was a permanent member of the Society of the Immortals. Erzsi Máthé became a member of the Vígszínház in 1948 after attending the school of the National Theater Association. The following season he signed a contract with Pécs, and from there he returned to Budapest to the National Theater in 1952, then in 1983 he became a founding member of the Katona József Színház in Budapest, where he played in until his retirement in 2012.
Dorottya Udvaros, who has just been elected as the National Actress, signed a contract with the Szigliget Theater in Szolnok in 1978 after graduating from the College of Theater and Film. In 1981, he was a member of the National Theater (currently known as the Hungarian Theater of Pest). After that, he was a founding member of the Katona József Theater, then played at the Új Színház and the Bárka Theater. Member of the National Theater since 2002.
During his career, he gave unforgettable performances film roles His work was also awarded with the Jászai Mari Award in 1983, the Kossuth Award in 1990, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Hungarian Film Academy in 2022. Hereditary member of the Society of the Immortals, honorary citizen of Budapest.
