Kostadinka Velkovska, a Croatian actress of Macedonian descent, has passed away after a stroke. She left an indelible mark on the stage, but also a life story filled with a series of heavy family losses that she bore with courage.
Croatian theater, television, and film artist Kostadinka Velkovska, of Macedonian descent, has died after failing to recover from a severe stroke. Audiences and colleagues will remember her for her extraordinary energy, cheerful spirit, and numerous acclaimed roles, but her private life was marked by losses that would break even the strongest.
She came to Zagreb from her native Skopje alone, at just 19, determined to fulfill her dream of an acting career. She was accepted into the Academy of Dramatic Art on her first attempt, and simultaneously studied comparative Yugoslav literature and took violin and singing lessons.
"I came for the entrance exam and passed, and I had already enrolled in comparative Yugoslav literature in Skopje, which I later finished in Zagreb. I prepared for the Academy on my own, but I worked with Macedonian academic actors, which helped me a lot. I was accepted, and so my life's adventures began, and I have no regrets," Velkovska recalled for nova.rs, as reported by Slobodna Dalmacija.
Already after her first year of study, she performed in almost all Zagreb theaters, sharing the stage with colleagues such as Rade Šerbedžija and Zlatko Vitez. After graduating, she went to Dubrovnik, where the theater sponsored her work. She later called that period her "acting master's degree."
Although she professionally achieved almost everything she dreamed of, her private life brought her a series of painful blows. At the beginning, she suffered the loss of her sister, who tragically died at the age of 21. Her father Blagoje, whom she described as a wonderful man, could not overcome the loss of his child and committed suicide.
"My sister, who also lived in Zagreb, died at 21 in an unfortunate accident. My father, who was a wonderful man, always said that the hardest thing in life is losing a child. He committed suicide. My husband Damir Podkrajac, with whom I have a son Nikola, also died in my arms. I lost him too soon," the actress said.
After her husband's death, Velkovska was left alone with her son Nikola. She soon lost her mother as well, who had been her greatest support through all the hardships.
"Mom and I were left alone. She shared both my sorrow and my success, but she also died. She was the greatest support in my life. She would say: 'Koce, you know this, you can and you will.' When she fell ill, she told me through tears that she wasn't afraid of death, but she was sorry to leave me alone. I still haven't recovered from her death," Velkovska revealed.
Despite all the tragedies, Kostadinka Velkovska did not allow life to break her. She believed that one must find the strength for a new beginning, and it was precisely her optimism, work, and love for art that were her way of coping with the greatest losses in life.
"Many people ask me where I get so much energy, and I just enjoy life. There were tragedies, and I myself had major health problems, but I realized that it's all in the head. It's important to gather strength and move on, not to dig into the past," she once said.
Therefore, along with her many notable performances, she will also be remembered as a creative person who maintained optimism and dignity even in the most challenging circumstances.
