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Štěpánka Ranošová

stage actor

Born
October 14, 1926 · Mariánské Hory
Died
October 1, 2026
Age
99 years
Nationality
Czech Republic

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Štěpánka Ranošová, 99, Czech actress.

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60 Seconds Life Story

Štěpánka Ranošová was a distinguished Czech stage actor whose career spanned over seven decades.

60 Seconds Life Story

Štěpánka Ranošová

1926 – 2026

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60 Seconds: Štěpánka Ranošová's Life Story

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A tribute to the life and career of Czech stage actor Štěpánka Ranošová, a founding member of the Petr Bezruč Theatre.

Transcript

Štěpánka Ranošová was a distinguished Czech stage actor whose career spanned over seven decades. Born in Mariánské Hory in 1926, she began her professional journey as a founding member of the Petr Bezruč Theatre in Ostrava. Throughout her long tenure there, she brought iconic characters to life, from the widow Gurmyžská to the title role in Mother Courage. Her presence extended beyond the stage into numerous television series and radio collaborations. Recognized for her artistry, she was honored with the prestigious Thalia Award for Lifetime Mastery in 2024. Even after retiring from permanent company membership in 1987, she continued to guest star in productions until 2001. Štěpánka Ranošová passed away in 2026 at the age of ninety-nine, leaving behind a profound legacy in Czech performing arts.

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Full Biography

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Štěpánka Ranošová (14 October 1926 – 1 October 2026) was a Czech actress. She was one of the founding members of the Petr Bezruč Theatre in Ostrava.

Life and career

Ranošová was born in Mariánské Hory part of Ostrava on 14 October 1926, and studied acting privately with Anna Kratochvílová. Together with director and playwright Oldřich Daněk, artist Otakar Schindler and others, she formed the student ensemble Kytice in 1945, which presented a recitation of Czech poetry, Bread with Steel, in the former hall of the puppet theatre on the square Masarykovo náměstí. Subsequently, on 1 December 1945, they founded the Youth Theatre, of which she was a member. In 1947, she moved to the Beskydy Theatre in Nový Jičín for one year, from where she returned to the Youth Theatre, which was renamed the Petr Bezruč Theatre (after Petr Bezruč) in 1955.

She played a number of roles, such as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, Doctor von Zahnd in Physics, Lady Torrance in The Descent of Orpheus, the widow Gurmyžská in Ostrovského Les, Mrs. Dulská in The Morality of Mrs. Dulska or the title role in Mother Courage. She appeared most often in the roles of village women, such as Hanička in Lucerna, Kačenka in Jiřík's Vision, Dorotka and Rosava in Strakonický dudákov, Jahelková in Tvrdohlává žena, Lízalka in Maryše, Marijána Plajznerová in Dalskabáty, or Kostelnička in Jenůfa. She was a permanent member of the Petr Bezruč Theatre until 1987. She later guest-starred in the drama of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre. She first played the role of the miller's grandmother in Lucerna in 1998, followed by the production of Love and Magic in Mom's Kitchen, and her last role was the nanny Anfisa in Three Sisters in 2001.

In addition to theatre, Ranošová acted in series and films. Her first debut was in the television film Apolo z Belacu from 1964. In series, she often portrayed the roles of strong and uncompromising women, such as in Dispatcher , Stone Order , Without Women and Without Tobacco, or Stavy rachotí. She also collaborated with Ostrava Radio.

Ranošová died on 1 October 2026, aged 99.

Awards

Ranošová was the recipient of numerous awards. She received the honorary title of Meritorious Artist and in 1985 the President awarded her the Order of Labour. For her work, she received the Senior Prix award from the Život umělce Foundation in 1996, and in 2024 she received the Ostrava City Award from the Mayor Jan Dohnal. For her lifetime of work, she received the Thalia Award for Lifetime Mastery in the Field of Drama in 2024.

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Sources

Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions

Questions drawn from Štěpánka Ranošová's archived record and the sources above.

  1. 1.On what date was the Czech actress Štěpánka Ranošová born?

    • A.14 October 1926correct
    • B.1 October 1925
    • C.14 December 1926
    • D.1 October 1926

    Štěpánka Ranošová was born on 14 October 1926 in the Mariánské Hory part of Ostrava.

    Source: Life and career section

  2. 2.Which individual provided private acting instruction to Štěpánka Ranošová?

    • A.Anna Kratochvílovácorrect
    • B.Oldřich Daněk
    • C.Petr Bezruč
    • D.Otakar Schindler

    The text states that Štěpánka Ranošová studied acting privately with Anna Kratochvílová.

    Source: Life and career section

  3. 3.In what year did Štěpánka Ranošová and others form the student ensemble Kytice?

    • A.1964
    • B.1947
    • C.1955
    • D.1945correct

    Štěpánka Ranošová formed the student ensemble Kytice in 1945.

    Source: Life and career section

  4. 4.Where did Štěpánka Ranošová work for one year starting in 1947?

    • A.Puppet theatre on Masarykovo náměstí
    • B.Beskydy Theatre in Nový Jičíncorrect
    • C.Ostrava Radio
    • D.National Moravian-Silesian Theatre

    In 1947, Štěpánka Ranošová moved to the Beskydy Theatre in Nový Jičín for one year.

    Source: Life and career section

  5. 5.When was the Youth Theatre renamed the Petr Bezruč Theatre?

    • A.1945
    • B.1947
    • C.1955correct
    • D.1987

    The Youth Theatre was renamed the Petr Bezruč Theatre in 1955.

    Source: Life and career section

  6. 6.Which role did Štěpánka Ranošová play in the production of A Streetcar Named Desire?

    • A.Anfisa
    • B.Doctor von Zahnd
    • C.Lady Torrance
    • D.Stellacorrect

    Štěpánka Ranošová played the role of Stella in the play A Streetcar Named Desire.

    Source: Life and career section

  7. 7.Until what year was Štěpánka Ranošová a permanent member of the Petr Bezruč Theatre?

    • A.1998
    • B.1987correct
    • C.1985
    • D.2001

    Štěpánka Ranošová was a permanent member of the Petr Bezruč Theatre until 1987.

    Source: Life and career section

  8. 8.What was the final role performed by Štěpánka Ranošová in 2001?

    • A.Hanička in Lucerna
    • B.Anfisa in Three Sisterscorrect
    • C.Kostelnička in Jenůfa
    • D.Lízalka in Maryše

    The last role of Štěpánka Ranošová was the nanny Anfisa in Three Sisters in 2001.

    Source: Life and career section

  9. 9.What was the title of the first television film in which Štěpánka Ranošová debuted in 1964?

    • A.Apolo z Belacucorrect
    • B.Stavy rachotí
    • C.Stone Order
    • D.Dispatcher

    Štěpánka Ranošová made her debut in the television film Apolo z Belacu from 1964.

    Source: Life and career section

  10. 10.At what age did Štěpánka Ranošová pass away?

    • A.97
    • B.99correct
    • C.89
    • D.100

    Štěpánka Ranošová died on 1 October 2026, at the age of 99.

    Source: Life and career section

  11. 11.In what year did Štěpánka Ranošová receive the Order of Labour?

    • A.1996
    • B.1985correct
    • C.1945
    • D.2024

    The President awarded Štěpánka Ranošová the Order of Labour in 1985.

    Source: Awards section

  12. 12.Which foundation awarded Štěpánka Ranošová the Senior Prix in 1996?

    • A.Thalia Foundation
    • B.Ostrava City Foundation
    • C.Petr Bezruč Foundation
    • D.Život umělce Foundationcorrect

    Štěpánka Ranošová received the Senior Prix award from the Život umělce Foundation in 1996.

    Source: Awards section

  13. 13.Who presented the Ostrava City Award to Štěpánka Ranošová in 2024?

    • A.Anna Kratochvílová
    • B.The Director of the Petr Bezruč Theatre
    • C.The President
    • D.Mayor Jan Dohnalcorrect

    In 2024, Štěpánka Ranošová received the Ostrava City Award from the Mayor Jan Dohnal.

    Source: Awards section

  14. 14.For what specific accomplishment did Štěpánka Ranošová receive the Thalia Award in 2024?

    • A.Outstanding Service to the Petr Bezruč Theatre
    • B.Best Actress in a Television Series
    • C.Lifetime Mastery in the Field of Dramacorrect
    • D.Contribution to Czech Poetry Recitation

    Štěpánka Ranošová received the Thalia Award for Lifetime Mastery in the Field of Drama in 2024.

    Source: Awards section

  15. 15.Which of these works was the student ensemble Kytice known for presenting in 1945?

    • A.Jenůfa
    • B.Bread with Steelcorrect
    • C.Lucerna
    • D.Three Sisters

    The student ensemble Kytice presented a recitation of Czech poetry titled Bread with Steel in 1945.

    Source: Life and career section

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