Judit Pogány, winner of the Kossuth and Jászai Mari awards, was chosen as the nation's actor by the current holders of the title on Friday in Budapest, the National Theater announced.
Judith Pogány was elected to replace Mari Csomós, who died on November 18, by the nation's actors, according to the theater's website.
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.
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.
Mari Csomós died in her 81st year on November 18, 2023. The winner of the Kossuth and Jászai Mari awards, a worthy artist, was a permanent member of the Society of the Immortals and the Miklós Theater in Radnót.
Judit Pogány, who has just been chosen as the nation's actor, started her career as an assistant actor at the Csiky Gergely Theater in Kaposvár, after she made it to the finals of the national Ki mit tud? and was noticed by the theater management. From 1978, he was a member of the National Theater for two years. After that, he signed again for Kaposvár. From 1994, he performed as a freelancer at the Örkény István Theater and the Attila József Theater, as well as the József Katona Theater. Member of the Örkény Theater since 2004. He has numerous film, TV, radio and dubbing roles. Judit Pogány participated in such legendary productions as Eldorádó, A légénanya, Zimmer Feri, Vuk, and Frédi és Béni.
For his work, he was awarded the Mari Jásza Award in 1978, the Kossuth Award in 2008, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Theater Critics' Guild in 2019. Hereditary member of the Society of Immortals.
She also received numerous accolades for her film roles: she received the award for best actress, and then won the Golden Lion for her performance in the film Ajándék ez a nap (1979).
Along with Judit Pogány, 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, Tamás Jordán, Zsuzsa Lehoczky, Dorottya Udvaros, Miklós Benedek.
MTI
Photo: MTI / Zsolt Zih
