Petr Nárožný Receives Thalia Award for Lifetime Achievement

Actor Petr Nárožný received the Thalia Award for Lifetime Achievement at Prague’s National Theatre on Saturday, where he drew a standing ovation from the packed auditorium. It was reported that while the 88-year-old actor’s award had been announced publicly since mid-September, his appearance and remarks on stage provided the ceremony’s most notable moment.

Standing Ovation for Petr Nárožný at the National Theatre

Taking the stage to accept his prize, Nárožný opened his remarks with direct gratitude to his family and longtime colleagues. Děkuji mamince, že tady stojím, he said on stage, according to a ČTK transcript. He thanked his wife Ivanka že už přes 50 let trpělivě snáší všechna moje předpremiérová klimakteria, and specifically acknowledged director Ladislav Smoček, founder of the Činoherní klub.

The actor used his speech to reflect on his absence from the stage in recent years. Nárožný noted that he spent 42 years at the Činoherní klub but has not performed in a theater production for three years. Už tři roky nehraju. Jak vidíte, jsem tak trošku zmordován úrazy, he told the audience, adding that he continues to host public discussion events because they make him feel like he is still connected to the theater.

Health Struggles and the Reality Behind the Absence

It was noted that the actor’s mention of injuries is grounded in a series of recent health incidents. In September, Nárožný was hospitalized following a fall in Třeboň that left him with a fractured shoulder. The actor has stated that he falls and injures himself at least once every three months, following a broken femur sustained two years prior during a tour stop in Zlín.

It was reported that Nárožný joked about the award potentially signaling an official retirement from public life. Možná by to měl i podepsat, he quipped on stage, before reiterating that his public appearances are now restricted to moderated talks rather than stage acting.

From Civil Engineer to Character Acting Icon

Before establishing himself as a fixture of Czech film and theater, Nárožný pursued an entirely different profession. He graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) and qualified as an engineer in 1968. He initially entered the entertainment industry by hosting performances for the musical group Rangers.

In 1973, Miroslav Šimek invited him to join the Semafor theater alongside Luděk Sobota, and Nárožný simultaneously made his film debut as the racecar driver Volejník in the comedy Jáchyme, hoď ho do stroje! By 1980, he had accumulated around forty film roles, appearing in popular comedies such as Marečku, podejte mi pero! and Což takhle dát si špenát. His career shifted in February 1980 when director Ladislav Smoček cast him in the title role of The Captain of Köpenick at the Činoherní klub, transforming him into a character actor who later played Harpagon in The Miser and lent his voice to animated bedtime television programs such as Mach a Šebestová and Žofka a spol.

Fashion Choices and Parallel Winners at the Thalia Awards

It was noted that the 33rd edition of the Thalia Awards also drew widespread attention for the red-carpet fashion of its guests and nominees. Daniela Špinar, the former artistic director of the National Theatre’s drama company and now a director, wore custom-tailored women’s formalwear featuring a deep leg slit following her transition. Actress Lucie Polišenská appeared in a black gown that highlighted a 24-kilogram weight loss, a physical change that will reportedly require adjustments to the rigging for her aerial performance in the National Theatre’s staging of Kytice.

The full roster of major theatrical winners recognized alongside Nárožný included Zdena Herfortová, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award for drama, while Luděk Vele was honored for opera, Nelly Danko for ballet and dance, and Milan Hein for contributions to the spread of theatrical art. Lucie Žáčková won the Thalia Award for best actress in a drama for her role in Komuna at the Činoherní klub, and Stanislav Majer received the award for best actor in a drama for his performances in Amadoka at Divadlo X10. Opera honors went to Magdalena Kožená and Štefan Margita, the latter of whom dedicated his award to his late wife, Hana Zagorová.