INTERVJU / INTERVIEW
When did you first step onto the stage of a theatre in your hometown of Kruševac? “At the age of eight I gave my premiere perfor- mance reciting poetry on the stage and I played at the Youth Centre in Kruševac, in the amateur Theatre ZA. I trained handball and that led me, while I also loved literature. My first cousin, Milan, brought me to the Yugoslav Drama Theatre to watch plays when I was a boy. But it was only after I watched Dejan Mijač’s Šopal- ović Travelling Theatre in my hometown that I became interested in acting and decided to dedicate myself to it. It is while watching that play that I felt strong pas- sion and emotion for the stage, so it was under that impression that I had to find out whether I was actu- ally just a good spectator or whether I could also be a participant in theatrical life.” What lesson about successes and failures that you learned from sport do you apply to acting? “I mastered the meaning of the term captain. I al- so learned to be careful with injuries that would cause me to be absent from work and endanger the exist- ence of my family. I also got injured during the time of my studies. I also had acting failures, which is why I became cautious, because I know how negatively that impacted on me and I needed time to raise myself up again. I’ve had crossroads in both life and acting, and roles that changed everything. For example, with my roles in The Damned Yard, Don Krsto and, most of all, with the role of Othello at the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. I wasn’t convinced that I was ready for that character, but our manager convinced me that I was.” You studied in one of the “golden class- es” under Professor Vladimir Jevtović. How much is that an “obligation”? “The first to jump off from our class were Nebojša Glogovac, Nataša Ninković and Sergej Trifunović. We were always well-intentioned and honest with one an- other. When we’re not good in some role, we tell each other as much. Today’s kids are more talented in act- ing than us, but the times are also different today, and they get it better than my generation. We didn’t have as many opportunities for easier TV and film roles, but we were drawn to the theatre, so we had a chance to be among the carriers of repertoires as young peo- ple. I always learned.” What brought great change for you profes- sionally? “Professor Vladimir Jevtović explained to me that I’m not the type of person who should have a back-up profession. I also tried that and didn’t handle myself. You should be satisfied if you can express yourself in your work. I can.” Have you ever had a desire to switch to an- other theatre or to work outside Serbia? “I’ve never wanted to change the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. I didn’t like castings abroad, because few of our actors with rich careers have succeeded in playing
what they really wanted there. I never had a desire to make it to Hollywood. I haven’t dismissed all options for working abroad, you never know, but I don’t long for that. I’m just interested in the best possible ex- pressing of myself in acting in my own language. And luckily I have opportunities to do that.” Your wife is also one of your colleagues, the brilliant actress Sloboda Mićalović. Do you try to avoid bringing acting into your home? “It was a great joy for me when I also brought act- ing into my home, although I’d previously tried not to
do that. But that wasn’t possible because acting is our life. We dis- cuss everything a lot, and there are also differences of opinion. And the more topics we have to discuss, the closer our relation- ship becomes. And when we work together, like in the series “Secrets of the Vine”, we behave profes- sionally both in front of the cam- eras and behind them; there’s no overlooking what’s required.” Fishing is your passion? “Fishing is a very intimate thing. I usually fish on the Dan- ube, while previously I used to be a fisherman more often on the Morava, Kruševac lake, Dri- na and Sava. Catfish and pike are my biggest catches to date. I have friends with whom I enjoy fishing, because I can’t do it with every- one. And while fishing with them I can both talk and stay quiet, and that’s the real thing.” What things do you priori- tise in your private life? “Everything begins with the
Nikad mi nije bila želja da stignem u Holivud. Nikad se ne zna, ali ne žudim za tim I never had a desire to make it to Hollywood. You never know, but I don’t long for that
letter P [in Serbia]. Family, the- atre, friends, fishing. And I also like to cook.” What do you miss in your first 50 years, giv- en that you’ll turn 50 in August? “I wanted a family the most, and since I got one I haven’t lacked anything. I talking to god, that’s a very intimate thing. I just think about how the present looks. And may it remain that way. I’m capable of forgiv- ing and forgetting. I wouldn’t opt to go back in time.” Do you like to fly aboard the planes of Air Serbia? “Oh yes, I adore air travel. I most often read dur- ing flights, as I don’t manage to sleep. One of my favourite commercials, in which I played a flight attendant, is a famous commercial for JAT planes. Now I’d most like to fly to New York so I could grant my daughters’ great wish to visit our godson in Los Angeles.”
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