Anna Papadopoulou is a Bulgarian theatre and film actress of Greek descent, who was born in Sofia, on 31.12.1978. In 2000, she graduated from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NAFTA), where she studied in the class of famous Bulgarian actor Prof. Stefan Danailov. During her first year of studying, the young actress debuted in the oldest Bulgarian theatre, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, with the role of Anna in Alexander Morfov’s spectacle "Lower Depths" by Maxim Gorky. On its stage Anna Papadopoulou played the roles of Beatrice in Alexander Morfov’s showing of "The Decameron or Blood and Passion" by Boccaccio, Salome in "Salome" by Oscar Wilde, Perdita in "A Winter's Tale" by William Shakespeare, Dona Elvira in "Don Giovanni" by Moliere, Anna Petrovna in "Ivanov" by Anton Chekhov, Roxanne in "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Rostand.
Anna Papadopoulou’s screen debut was in "Letter to America" (2001). For her performance she won the "Nevena Kokanova" award for best debut. Then she starred in "The Devil's Tail", the TV series "Patriarchy" (2005), "The World is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner" (2008), "Mission London" (2010). Currently she is starring in the popular Bulgarian series "Fourth Power".
Anna Papadopoulou talks with Polina Spartyanova.
What is the origin of your Greek family name?
My grandfather on my father's side was Greek. He was a political refugee who came to Bulgaria after having managed to escape from three concentration camps and three death sentences; he met my grandmother here and they raised a family together. My father was born in Bulgaria but he visited Greece at the age of 50 for the first time since, during the communist regime, he was not allowed to travel abroad because of his father's record.
Do you know your relatives in Greece? Do you keep in touch with them?
Unfortunately, we know only a few of our relatives. We have resumed our contacts with them only over the past 5-6 years. I already know my second cousins but we have met just once.
What are your impressions of the Greek cinema and theatre if you have some?
Old Greek films like "Zorba the Greek" impress me but I am not aware of the modern Greek cinema. I am very sorry that I do not speak Greek and that I do not understand anything while watching Greek films. Although they have subtitles, I am still frustrated that our grandfather did not teach us Greek.
How did you actually decide to become an actress?
I never wanted to be an actress, but, in my last year at high school, I happened to meet with wonderful actress and educator Ani Petrova. She saw potential in me and offered to prepare me for free to apply to NAFTA. Thanks to her, I was admitted in Prof. Stefan Danailov’s class.
How did you feel before your first performance on stage?
It was my first year at NAFTA, 1997, and I took part in Alexander Morfov’s performance "Lower Depths" along with some of the most famous Bulgarian actors. I had a short dialogue with Naum Shopov in the play and due to stress, each time I used to forget that I would be partnering such a celebrity.
What is your most successful role?
I cannot say, you should ask a spectator or critic, although I have more confidence in the audience.
In which role do you feel most comfortable then?
I have always acted with partners whom I like and respect. The directors I have worked with have also given me a lot. Therefore, I like every show. Of course, there are performances that we have been putting on for many years and there is no way not to be fond of them. For example, we have been performing "The Fisherman and His Soul" for nine years already, which is a very long life for a performance.
What I would like is to act in an epoch film and I hope that this will happen soon.
What is the role that you would like to play?
Maybe there are colleagues who yearn for a certain role but I am not one of them. Surely I would not want to play the roles of Juliet, Ophelia and Nina Zarechnaya. For me they are the most insidious roles in world drama and there is always the risk of failing to do a good job regarding them.
Currently you are playing the role of a journalist whom the government is trying to bribe in the popular series on Bulgarian National Television (BNT) "Fourth Power". Do you think your role is a reflection of the Bulgarian reality?
It does not reflect just the Bulgarian reality. In this sense, the characters in the series are not associated with specific names or persons, they are collective characters who can be encountered in every country. I think the series is very brave as it treats subjects which we have refused to discuss freely in public for 20 years now.
Who is your favourite Bulgarian and world director and why?
I like and respect all the directors I have worked with. I cannot put one ahead of the other. I have worked with world-renowned theatre director Robert Sturua who staged Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night" at the National Theatre and the whole team was in love with him, and everybody cried for him when he left.
What does working in cinema give you? What about working in theatre?
The work and preparation in theatre are very different than in cinema. Both have their own charm and peculiarities. What always attracts me to both of them is the good team.
Which one would you prefer if you had to choose?
I hope I will not have to choose. It is good to have high quality theatre performances and good films.
What are your interests beyond acting?
They are totally directed at my family and child. I spend with them all my spare time.
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