Olga Scheinpflugová
Encyclopedia
Olga Scheinpflugová was a Czech
actress and writer
. She was a daughter of writer, journalist and playwright Karel Scheinpflug. In 1935, she married the writer Karel Čapek
.
in Slaný. From 1917 she studied at the business school in Prague and concurrently she privately studied dramatic art with Marie Hübnerová. In 1920 she was engaged in the Švanda Theatre and two years later she became a member of the City Theatre in Prague-Královské Vinohrady
. In 1920 she met and befriended Karel Čapek. From 1929 she began to act in the National Theatre
in Prague. With two short interruptions, she remained in the National Theatre until her death. During her career she collaborated with many respected directors, most notably with J. Kvapil, J. Bor, K. H. Hilar, J. Frejka, Otomar Krejča
and Alfréd Radok
. In 1935 she married Karel Čapek, but their marriage was short, since Čapek died of pneumonia in 1938. Following the German occupation, she was interrogated by the Gestapo
as Čapek's work was clearly anti-fascist.
Alongside her activities as an actress, she devoted herself to writing. Initially she published mainly in journals, but from the second half of the 1920 some of her books were published. She is the author of sixteen novels, ten children books, seven poetry collections and ten plays. Some of her works were also made into movies. The main topic of her books is the role of woman in the modern world. The marriage with Karel Čapek deeply influenced her acting career, as well as her literary works.
Olga Scheinpflugová suffered a heart attack in April 1968, directly on the stage, during her performance in the play Mother by her husband Karel Čapek.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
actress and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. She was a daughter of writer, journalist and playwright Karel Scheinpflug. In 1935, she married the writer Karel Čapek
Karel Capek
Karel Čapek was Czech writer of the 20th century.-Biography:Born in 1890 in the Bohemian mountain village of Malé Svatoňovice to an overbearing, emotional mother and a distant yet adored father, Čapek was the youngest of three siblings...
.
Biography
Scheinpflugová started her acting career at a young age, as a student of gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Slaný. From 1917 she studied at the business school in Prague and concurrently she privately studied dramatic art with Marie Hübnerová. In 1920 she was engaged in the Švanda Theatre and two years later she became a member of the City Theatre in Prague-Královské Vinohrady
Vinohrady
Vinohrady is a cadastral district in Prague. It is so named because the area was once covered in vineyards dating from the 14th century...
. In 1920 she met and befriended Karel Čapek. From 1929 she began to act in the National Theatre
National Theatre (Prague)
The National Theatre in Prague is known as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and maintained by the most distinguished...
in Prague. With two short interruptions, she remained in the National Theatre until her death. During her career she collaborated with many respected directors, most notably with J. Kvapil, J. Bor, K. H. Hilar, J. Frejka, Otomar Krejča
Otomar Krejča
Otomar Krejča was a Czech theater director and dissident.Krejca was born in Skrýšov, Pelhřimov, Czechoslovakia, on November 23, 1921. In 1956, Krejca became a member of the Prague National Theater as an actor. He later became a theater director at the landmark theater, which opened in Prague in 1881...
and Alfréd Radok
Alfréd Radok
Alfréd Radok was a distinguished Czech stage director.He worked as the stage director of the National Theatre in Prague in the years 1948 to 1949 and 1966 to 1968. Radok's work belongs to the top of the Czech stage direction of the 20th century...
. In 1935 she married Karel Čapek, but their marriage was short, since Čapek died of pneumonia in 1938. Following the German occupation, she was interrogated by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
as Čapek's work was clearly anti-fascist.
Alongside her activities as an actress, she devoted herself to writing. Initially she published mainly in journals, but from the second half of the 1920 some of her books were published. She is the author of sixteen novels, ten children books, seven poetry collections and ten plays. Some of her works were also made into movies. The main topic of her books is the role of woman in the modern world. The marriage with Karel Čapek deeply influenced her acting career, as well as her literary works.
Olga Scheinpflugová suffered a heart attack in April 1968, directly on the stage, during her performance in the play Mother by her husband Karel Čapek.
Selected works
- Madla z cihelny (Madla from the Brickyard) (1933)
- Okénko (Small Window) (1933)
- Andula vyhrálaAndula WonAndula Won is a Czech comedy film directed by Miroslav Cikán. It was released in 1937.-Cast:* Věra Ferbasová - Andula Mrácková* Hugo Haas - Pavel Haken* Růžena Šlemrová - Hakenová* Václav Trégl - Václav - Servant* Saša Rašilov - Mrácek...
(Andula Won) (1938) - ŠvadlenkaThe Seamstress-Cast:* Lída Baarová as Líza Bártová * Theodor Pištěk as Bárta* Hugo Haas as Francois Lorrain* Bedrich Veverka as Alfons* Adina Mandlová as Mici* Ruzena Slemrová as Majitelka salónu Yvette* Vera Ferbasová as Tonka* Václav Trégl as Houzvicka...
(Needlewoman) (1936) - Dobře situovaný pán (A Comfortably Situated Man) (1939)
- Sobota (Saturday) (1944)
- Český román (Czech Novel) (1946) - autobiographical novel
- Byla jsem na světě - unfinished memoirs, published posthumously (1988)