Even though undoubtedly one of the best Yugoslavian actors of all time, Rade Šerbedžija was a man of the people. He was extremely famous but lived a normal life. No one could have imagined that things would rapidly change and he’d have to leave his native country.
Before we dive into his impressive career and fascinating life story, let’s address his beginnings.
The Beginnings of Rade Šerbedžija
Serbedzija was born in Bunic, a village in the Lika region in Croatia, then part of Yugoslavia. His parents were Serbs who fought in WW2 as Partisans. After graduating from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, he worked as a theater actor.
Because of his tremendous talent, he soon began filming movies and TV shows. From his early beginnings, it was evident that Serbedzija would be one of the best actors in the country and beyond. Later, he was also a professor at two Universities, in Zagreb from 1979 to 1981 and Novi Sad from 1987 to 1991.
Rade Šerbedžija in Theater
He was part of the Croatian National Theater in Zagreb and the City Drama Theater Gavella. Serbedzija played leading roles in both theater and film even while he was a student.
Some of his most memorable theater roles include Richard III and Oedipus. However, his most significant theater role, which put him on the map was Hamlet. He played the Prince of Denmark in 1974 in Dubrovnik, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best Hamlet performances ever. Serbedzija also has a theater in Croatia called “Ulysses,” where he often plays King Lear.
One of his most important theater collaborations is with Ljubisa Ristic, with whom he worked at the avant-garde KPGT.
War, Problems, and Exile
The Yugoslav Wars were tragic for millions of people, and the same goes for Rade Serbedzija. Serbedzija is an ethnic Serb who lived in Croatia. Moreover, he was openly against the war. Therefore, his position was more than difficult. Politicians in power and nationalist people hated him from both sides. All of them hated him because he was anti-war. He wasn’t Serbian enough for the Serbs or Croatian enough for Croatians.
Aside from this, he also had several incidents. Most notably, someone tried to shoot him in a tavern. Furthermore, during a theater play with a scene where he washes his face with water, someone puts pee inside. The moment he washes he realizes it’s not water, and someone from the audience yells something like “This will happen to all Serbs.”
Having no choice, Serbedzija moved with his family to Slovenia. After a while, he went to London. One day, he would get a call from then-young director, Milcho Manchevski, which would change his life even more.
Šerbedžija’s Film Work Before Moving to the US
Šerbedžija was a massive star in Yugoslavia. So much so that he was the favorite actor of Jovanka Broz, Tito’s wife and first lady of the country.
He worked with some of the best directors, Dusan Makavejev, and Zivojin Pavlovic, among others, who are some of the pioneers of the Yugoslav Black Wave. A movie that made Serbedzija even more famous was “Variola Vera,” a legendary movie made by Goran Markovic. He was also a fantastic acting duo with Sonja Savic in “Una.”
Of course, there are many other important collaborators. However, let’s make a list of the movies where he had the most significant roles:
- Variola Vera
- Bravo maestro
- Una
- Dezerter
- Hajka
- Rdece klasje
- Zadah Tela
- The Tragic Burlesque – Original Title: Urnebesna tragedija
- Life Is Beautiful – Original Title: Zivot je lep
- Banovic Strahinja
- Black Birds – Original Title: Crne ptice
Šerbedžija’s Film Work After Moving to the US
Before I make a list, first, let’s address the story of how Serbedzija began filming abroad.
As mentioned above, he got a call from Milcho Manchevski to meet with him in London. Milcho had a script for his debut film, “Before the Rain,” which later became the best Macedonian movie so far. Serbedzija accepted the main role, and the movie came out in 1994. Moreover, it became one of the best films ever, got an Oscar nomination, won the “Golden Lion” in Venice, etc. This movie changed the lives of both Manchevski and Serbedzija.
Serbedzija has been working in Hollywood for many years with many great directors. Over the years, his collaborations allowed him to make friendships with Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Vanessa Redgrave, Tom Cruise, etc. He also befriended Angelina Jolie when she was making “In the Land of Blood and Honey.”
For a long time, everyone knew Serbedzija was an excellent actor. However, he got the ‘worldwide approval’ when he was cast for Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut.”
Here’s a list of the most significant Rade Šerbedžija movies after his exile. It includes both US and Hollywood but also non-Hollywood films.
- Before the Rain
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Snatch
- The Saint
- Taken 2
- Manifesto
- Mission Impossible II
- The Great Water
- Fugitive Pieces
- The Truce
- The Quiet American
- Shun Li and the Poet
- Thick as Thieves
- Space Cowboys
- Stigmata
- Broken English
- Batman Begins
- John Wick
- Harry Potter
Rade Serbedzija Awards
In his long and successful career, Rade Šerbedžija has won and was nominated for many awards. The following list includes events, festivals, and award ceremonies where he got accolades:
- Venice Film Festival
- Satellite Awards
- Cleveland International Film Festival
- Pula Film Festival
- Pula Film Festival of Yugoslavian Films
- Genie Awards
- Bogota Film Festival
- Trieste Film Festival
- Rome Film Fest
- New Zealand Film and TV Awards
- Tetouan International Mediterranean Film Festival
- Motovun Film Festival
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle
- Monaco International Film Festival
- Arpa International Film Festival
- LIFFE
- FEDIS
- Balkan New Film Festival
- International Crime and Punishment Film Festival
His Children Continue His Legacy
Aside from his personal work, Serbedzija can also be proud of his children’s work. Not all of them are in the same niche. However, Danilo Šerbedžija is a film director while Lucija Šerbedžija is also an actress.
His wife, Lenka Udovički, is also from the same world. She is a highly successful theater and opera director.
Final Thoughts on Rade Šerbedžija and His Work
Rade Šerbedžija is one of the most charismatic actors ever, not just in Balkan cinema but worldwide. We’re lucky to have the privilege of watching his brilliant acting, again and again. You can also watch TV shows with Rade Šerbedžija, including “Slow Horses,” “The Blacklist,” and “Downton Abbey,” among others.
I rarely write about actors or actresses since I focus mostly on film directors. Therefore, if you want to continue reading, here’s a list of all my blog posts!
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