Margarita Xhepa (born 2 April 1932; rup, Margarita Gepa) is an Albanian actress, best known as one of the great ladies of Albanian cinema and theater. She continues to play in recent films such as Firdus in Bolero ne vilen e pleqve, based on the novel of the same title by

Fatos Kongoli Fatos Kongoli (born January 12, 1944) has recently become one of the most forceful and convincing representatives of contemporary Albanian prose. Biography He was born and raised in Elbasan and studied at the Qemal Stafa High School, in Tirana, A ...

Early life

Xhepa is an ethnic Aromanian. She was born in

Lushnjë Lushnjë (; in Lushnje's own dialect: ''Lushnje'' ; sq-definite, Lushnja) is a city and Municipalities of Albania, municipality in west-central Albania. It is located in the County of Fier. The total population is 83,659 (2011 census), in a to ...

, Albania, as Margarita Prifti to Zoi and Marijë Prifti. Her mother died when Margarita was nine years old. From an early age, she loved Albanian poetry, and her teacher encouraged her to join acting classes. Gëzim Libohova, a well known drama teacher at the time at the cultural institute of

, was scouting among local schools for an appropriate match for the role of a young Russian girl in a theatre play. As he saw Xhepa, he immediately chose her due to her blonde hair and blue eyes. The play was so successful it premiered also in

Fier Fier (; sq-definite, Fieri) is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in the north, the Vjos ...

and

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and east of Fier. Berat is located in ...

. After finishing elementary school, she applied to the well known Liceu Artistik (School of Arts) in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

, in the drama department.

Career

She began her career in

, at the National Theatre ( sq, link=no, Teatri Kombëtar). There she acted in plays by

Anton Chekov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

, Friedrich Schiller, and Nikolai Gogol, among others. She has presented the first

Festivali i Këngës Festivali i Këngës (; ), also referred to as simply FiK, is an annual music competition in Albania organised by the national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1962, it has also deter ...

in 1962. She has been named a

People's Artist of Albania The People's Artist () was an honorary title for outstanding art performers of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts (theatre, music, cinema and art). It was c ...

International success

The actress has been awarded the ''Actor Of Europe'' award in the 19th edition of the International Theater Festival. The main award for best acting went to one of the most important actresses in the wider space of Balkan theater, for the role of 'Lady Mother' in the play '' Who Brought Doruntina'', directed by Laert Vasili.

Filmography

# ''Unë Jam Lepuri'' – (1999) # ''4 Nënat e Lepurit'' dhe ''Uznova '95'' – (1995) # ''E dashur Armike'' – (1993) # ''E Zeza e Nënës'' – (1993) # ''E shtuna e 11 Korrikut Xhiro'' – (1992) # ''Gjyshja dhe Motra'' – (1992) # ''Nositi'' – (1990) # '' Uznova '89'' (1989) # ''Këngët Të Zemrës'' – (1987) # ''Vrasje Në Gjueti'' – (1987) # ''Rrethi i Kujtesës'' – (1987) # ''Fjalë pa Fund'' – (1987) # ''Dhe Vjen Një Ditë'' dhe ''Gabimi'' – (1986) # ''Gurët e shtëpisë sime'' – (1985) # ''Militanti'' – (1984) # ''Apasionata'' – (1983) # ''Dora e ngrohtë'' – (1983) # ''Shokët'' – (1982) # ''Dita e parë e emrimit'' – (1981) # ''Me hapin e shokëve'' – (1979) (TV) # ''Dollia e dasmës sime'' – (1978) # ''Gjeneral gramafoni'' – (1978) # ''Koncert në vitin 1936'' (1978) # ''Dimri i fundit'' – (1976) # ''Pylli i lirisë'' – (1976) # ''Tokë e përgjakur'' – (1976) # ''Vitet e para'' – (1965)

References

External links

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Margarita Xhepa
at Kinemaja Shqiptare (in Albanian) 1932 births Living people 20th-century Albanian actresses 21st-century Albanian actresses Albanian actresses Albanian film actresses Albanian stage actresses People from Lushnjë People's Artists of Albania Merited Artists of Albania {{Albania-actor-stub