Zemřela herečka Štěpánka Ranošová, držitelka Thálie

Štěpánka Ranošová, a foundational figure of Ostrava’s theatrical scene and a recipient of the Thalia Award for lifetime achievement in drama, died on October 1, 2026, at the age of 99, just thirteen days before her 100th birthday. Her death was confirmed by the National Theatre Moravian-Silesian with the consent of her surviving relatives.

Founding Ostrava Stage History During Wartime

Born in the Mariánské Hory district of Ostrava in 1926, Ranošová grew up in modest circumstances and gravitated toward the stage during the Second World War. She began in the amateur recitation group Kytice, which in 1945 performed the poetry montage Chléb s ocelí. That ensemble evolved through several iterations—including the Youth Theatre and the Municipal Youth Theatre—before establishing the prominent Petr Bezruč Theatre. She remained loyal to the Petr Bezruč ensemble for nearly 40 years, performing dozens of roles in Czech and world classics before retiring in the late 1980s.

Returning to the National Theatre After Retirement

Although she stepped back from full-time acting at the close of the 1980s, Ranošová later returned to the stage to collaborate with the National Theatre Moravian-Silesian. She guest-starred as the miller’s grandmother in a 1998 production of Lucerna, appeared in Láska a magie v maminčině kuchyni in 1999, and concluded her active stage career in 2001 as the nurse Anfisa in Three Sisters. Her extensive repertory included portraying Mother Courage, Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, Mrs. Dulska in The Morality of Mrs. Dulska, and the Kostelnička in Jenůfa.

Establishing a Legacy on Screen and Radio

Beyond the theatre, Ranošová built a substantial career in television and film, frequently cast as strong, uncompromising women. She worked in television series produced by Ostrava’s regional studio, such as Dispečer, Kamenný řád, Bez ženské a bez tabáku, and Stavy rachotí. Her film credits included roughly twenty motion pictures, among them Město mé naděje, directed by her close friend Jan Kačer, as well as Sedm havranů and Nikola Šuhaj loupežník. She also collaborated with the radio as a passionate poetry reciter, retaining a strong, resonant voice well into her later years.

Honors and Archival Contributions in Later Years

In recognition of her contributions to Czech culture, Ranošová received numerous accolades, including the title of Merited Artist and the Order of Labour in 1985, followed by a Senior Prix from the Life of the Artist Foundation in 1996. In 2024, she was awarded the City of Ostrava Prize and the Thalia Award for Lifetime Achievement in Drama. During her final years residing at the Kamenec retirement home, she worked closely with the Ostrava Theatre Archive, assisting Alice Taussiková in identifying historical photographs and remembering colleagues such as Nina Divíšková, Jiřina Třebická, and Luděk Eliáš.