Benedek Miklós Kossuth and Jászai Mari prize-winning actor-director, worthy and excellent artist, member of the Society of the Immortals, was chosen as the nation's actor by the previous holders of the title, the National Theater announced.
The title of actor of the nation, awarded for the first time on August 22, 2000, can be held by 12 artists at the same time. Miklós Benedek was elected to replace Lajos Balázsovits, who died on July 19.
Benedek Miklós graduated from the Academy of Theater and Film in Miklós Szinetár's class in 1969, and then signed a contract with the National Theatre. From 1983, he was a member of the József Katona Theater for twenty years, and later again a member of the National Theater for six years. From 1992, he taught at the College of Theater and Film Arts for fifteen years. In the nineties, he was the manager of the Hungarian Chamber of Actors.
He is the spiritual father of the highly successful musical Budapest Orfeum. He directed many performances, including plays by Jenő Heltai, Ferenc Molnár and Shakespeare. He has been playing in Orlai Produkció performances since 2011.
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.
According to the announcement of the National Theatre, Piroska Molnár, László Szacsvay, Gyula Bodrogi, Tamás Jordán, Dorottya Udvaros and Zsuzsa Lehoczky among the nation's actors were personally present at the meeting held at the National Theater in Budapest.
The title of Actor of the Nation can be awarded to those who have performed outstandingly in leading or episodic roles, who have turned 62, who have spent 40 years in the acting field or who have spent at least 20 seasons - in at least one role per season - on the stage of the National Theatre.
Along with Miklós Benedek, 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 Dorottya Udvaros.
