Nik Xhelilaj
Encyclopedia
Kreshnik Xhelilaj better known by his stage name
Nik Xhelilaj, is an Albanian
film and stage actor. He began his international career with the movie The Sadness of Mrs. Snajdrova, directed by Pirro Milkani and was the leading actor
in three critically acclaimed Albanian films of the last few years, 2 of which entered in the List of Albanian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2008 and 2009. Nik has collected several "Best Actor" Awards in various international film festivals.
, on 5 March 1983, in a family originally from Vlorë
.
Both of his parents are high military officers by profession. Thus, at the age of 14, also thanks to his father's interest, he went to Istanbul
to follow the military high-school. But his new path did not last more than 7 months and he decided to give up on the pursue of the military career and come back to Albania
.
Eventually he engaged with other young artist into the "Sirea Film" projects, with movie directors Leonard Bombaj and Alfred Trebicka, who advised him to compete and sign up for the Fine Arts Academy. Firstly Nik was a candidate for the Faculty of Law, where he did not win.
Then, in 2004, at the age of 21, he entered the Fine Arts Academy for acting.
In 2005, after just having finished his freshman year, Nik was chosen by the experienced movie director Pirro Milkani to play the leading role of Lekë Seriani in the film The Sadness of Mrs. Snajdrova , which had strong autobiographical elements. The plot itself dealt in general with the life of director Milkani in the ’60, during his studies in then-Czechoslovakia
. Even though he didn't know the Czech language
at all, the young actor memorized and learned to pronounce his Czech lines for the entire film. Nik appeared nude in shower scene in this film. Also it was here that he became widely known with his stage name or nickname Nik, since the producers of the film found it hard to pronounce the Albanian name Kreshnik and thus suggested a shorter version of it. The movie was released in 2008 and was the Albanian submission of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
for that year, but failed to be nominated.
, that was held between February 18 and May 7, 2010. The couple of the actor and the professional dancer Olta Ahmetaj was the 5th to be eliminated from the competition (out of 12 couples) and thus resigning from the 1st prize of 50 thousand Euros
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Nik Xhelilaj, is an Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
film and stage actor. He began his international career with the movie The Sadness of Mrs. Snajdrova, directed by Pirro Milkani and was the leading actor
Leading actor
A leading actor, leading actress, star, or simply lead, plays the role of the protagonist in a film or play. The word lead may also refer to the largest role in the piece and leading actor may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with a respected body of work...
in three critically acclaimed Albanian films of the last few years, 2 of which entered in the List of Albanian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2008 and 2009. Nik has collected several "Best Actor" Awards in various international film festivals.
Biography
Nik Xhelilaj was born in TiranaTirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, on 5 March 1983, in a family originally from Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
.
Both of his parents are high military officers by profession. Thus, at the age of 14, also thanks to his father's interest, he went to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to follow the military high-school. But his new path did not last more than 7 months and he decided to give up on the pursue of the military career and come back to Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
Eventually he engaged with other young artist into the "Sirea Film" projects, with movie directors Leonard Bombaj and Alfred Trebicka, who advised him to compete and sign up for the Fine Arts Academy. Firstly Nik was a candidate for the Faculty of Law, where he did not win.
Then, in 2004, at the age of 21, he entered the Fine Arts Academy for acting.
In 2005, after just having finished his freshman year, Nik was chosen by the experienced movie director Pirro Milkani to play the leading role of Lekë Seriani in the film The Sadness of Mrs. Snajdrova , which had strong autobiographical elements. The plot itself dealt in general with the life of director Milkani in the ’60, during his studies in then-Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Even though he didn't know the Czech language
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
at all, the young actor memorized and learned to pronounce his Czech lines for the entire film. Nik appeared nude in shower scene in this film. Also it was here that he became widely known with his stage name or nickname Nik, since the producers of the film found it hard to pronounce the Albanian name Kreshnik and thus suggested a shorter version of it. The movie was released in 2008 and was the Albanian submission of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
for that year, but failed to be nominated.
Filmography
- Single Use (short length film) - 2005
- Trishtimi i zonjës Shnajder (The Sadness of Mrs. Snajdrova) - filmed in 2005, released in 2008
- Gjallë! (Alive!) - 2009
- Der Albaner - 2010
Theatre
- Këmbanat e Muzgut (Dusk's Bells) - National Theatre, 2007
Directors: Alfred Bualioti, Andon Qesari
Leading role: Lieutenant Llukan - A Streetcar Named Desire (play)A Streetcar Named Desire (play)A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The play opened on Broadway on December 3, 1947, and closed on December 17, 1949, in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Broadway production was...
by Tennessee WilliamsTennessee WilliamsThomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
- Academy of Arts of Albania, 2007
Director: Timo Flloko
Leading role: Stanley Kovalsky - Tango (drama) by Slavomir Mrozek - Theater "Aleksandër Moisiu", DurrësDurrësDurrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
, 2008
Director: Driada Dervishi
Leading role: Arthur
Dancing with the Stars Experience
Nik Xhelilaj was part of the first season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars (Albania)Dancing with the Stars (Albania)
Dancing with the Stars Albania is a Albanian reality show filmed in Tirana, Albania and aired on Vizion Plus and Tring Digital. Twelve VIPs and professional dancers form twelve couples that contest in one of the most successful TV formats...
, that was held between February 18 and May 7, 2010. The couple of the actor and the professional dancer Olta Ahmetaj was the 5th to be eliminated from the competition (out of 12 couples) and thus resigning from the 1st prize of 50 thousand Euros
External links
- Nik Xhelilaj at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Video of the Interview with Nik Xhelilaj at Top-Channel TV (in Albanian): E Diell, 31/10/2010 – Pjesa 4