Who Is Branka Pujić

Branka Pujić is one of the most recognizable Serbian actresses of the middle generation, and one of the rare artists equally successful on stage, on screen, and in the classroom. She was born in 1963 in Belgrade, and she built her career through theater, film, television, and radio drama, while also becoming a full professor of acting at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. Audiences remember her best for roles in popular television series, while the academic community recognizes her as an educator who has shaped numerous young actors. Branka Pujić is also part of a well-known acting family, as she is married to actor Dragan "Gagi" Jovanović, and their daughter Anđela Jovanović is also an actress.

Early Life and Childhood

Branka Pujić was born on November 6, 1963, in Belgrade, and grew up in Zemun, a municipality that would remain permanently connected to both her private and professional life. From early childhood she showed a strong inclination toward the arts, taking part in school performances and amateur theater productions. This early love of stage expression would later lead her toward a professional acting career, although her educational path in that direction was not initially a straight line.

Education

Before deciding on acting, Branka Pujić studied psychology for two years at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. However, the pull of theater and film proved stronger, and she decided to apply to the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU) in Belgrade. She was accepted into the class of professor Vladimir Jevtović and graduated in acting in 1991. Her academic development did not stop there — she later earned a Master's degree in Theater Studies, deepening her theoretical knowledge of the dramatic arts. In addition to Belgrade, she trained professionally abroad, spending time in France, Budapest, Prague, and Buenos Aires, where she had the opportunity to become acquainted with different acting schools and approaches to stage performance. She later incorporated this experience into her own teaching work.

Start of Career

Branka Pujić achieved her first professional roles in the late 1980s, while still an acting student. In 1988 she appeared in several television productions — she played Vida in the TV film "Dečji bič," Marijana in "Sentimentalna priča," and Anabela in the film "Vanbračna putovanja," directed by Ratko Orozović, alongside experienced colleagues such as Velimir Bata Živojinović and Radoš Bajić. That same year she also had a smaller role in "Braća po materi," in which the lead roles were played by Mira Furlan, Žarko Laušević, and Slavko Štimac. A year later, in 1989, she was cast as Mejra in the film "Najbolji," directed by Dejan Šork. These early engagements allowed her to gain her first professional experience and establish connections within the film and television production of the time.

Rise to Popularity

During the 1990s, Branka Pujić continued to build her career through a variety of roles. She played Katarina in the film "Sveto mesto," directed by Đorđe Kadijević, Princess Milica in the historical series "Kosovski boj," and Anabela again in the sequel "Bračna putovanja." A significant part of her filmography from this period is the role of Irena in the popular series "Policajac sa Petlovog brda," filmed in 1993 and 1994, which enjoyed high viewership. In the mid-1990s she also appeared in the TV film "Svadbeni marš," playing Jelena Mitrović, while in 1997 she played Marjuška in the film "Tango je tužna misao koja se pleše."

Real mass popularity came in the first decade of the 2000s, when she was cast as Jelena Ljutić in the series "Stižu dolari" (2004), followed by the sequel "Stižu dolari 2" (2005–2006). The series was extremely popular and solidified Branka Pujić's status as one of the most recognizable television actresses of her generation. During the same period she also appeared in the series "Neki novi klinci," playing Miss Piggy, as well as in the film "Moja porodica, privatizacija i ja."

Greatest Achievements

Following the success of "Stižu dolari," Branka Pujić remained active in both domestic and international productions. In 2008 she appeared in several projects, most notably the American-German film "The Brothers Bloom," in which she acted alongside Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, and Mark Ruffalo, playing the role of a foster mother. That same year she also appeared in "Zaustavi vreme," "Vratiće se rode," and "Zaboravljeni umovi Srbije." The following years brought roles in the series "Ranjeni orao" (2008–2009), the films "Najlepši posao na svetu" and "Zauvek mlad" (2009), as well as "Greh njene majke" (2010).

One of her most notable television roles was in the series "Ruža vjetrova" (2011–2013), in which she played Suzana Matošić, as well as in the drama "Cvat lipe na Balkanu," playing Melanija Božović. She also expanded her career abroad — in 2017 she appeared in the Indian (Tamil) film "Vivegam," alongside actor Ajith Kumar, in the role of a doctor. She later acted in the Russian action film "The Balkan Line" (2019), as well as in the domestic series "Urgentni centar" (Olga Kos), "Dođi juče" (Dr. Jelisaveta), "Sinđelići," and "Svindleri." In the early 2020s she appeared in the series "Vojna akademija" (Milena Savić), the film "Jugoslovenka" (Irena Pavlović), the series "12 reči" (Mila Popović), and "Kamiondžije d.o.o." In 2021 she played Vera in the series "Pevačica," and later Biljana in the series "Kalkanski krugovi."

Alongside film and television, Branka Pujić has built a notable theater career. On the stage of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre she performed in the plays "Baal," "Revolucija svetih devica," "Na letovanju," "Čikaške perverzije," and "Nižinski," with a particularly notable role as Madame Chandebise in the cult production "Buba u uhu" ("A Flea in Her Ear"), directed by Ljubiša Ristić. At the Zvezdara Theatre she played Olga in "Three Sisters," while at the Belgrade Drama Theatre she portrayed Teodora in the play "Kraljević Marko," directed by Siniša Kovačević. She also performed at the Terazije Theatre, in the play "La Ronde" by Arthur Schnitzler, directed by Dejan Mijač.

Teaching Work at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts

Besides her acting career, Branka Pujić has also built a successful academic career. She was elected assistant professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in 2003, associate professor in 2011, and today holds the position of full professor, teaching the subject "Stage Movement" to future generations of actors. Together with her colleague Igor Benčin, she has for many years successfully run a children's and youth acting school called "Mali teatar" ("Little Theater"), which operates at the "Lazar Savatić" elementary school in Zemun. Through this teaching engagement, Branka Pujić has left a lasting mark on many young people who later continued on a path within the world of acting and theater.

Personal Life

Branka Pujić has been married to well-known Serbian actor Dragan "Gagi" Jovanović since May 16, 1992, making their marriage one of the longest-lasting and most stable in the domestic acting community. The couple has a daughter, Anđela Jovanović, who has also followed in her parents' footsteps and works as an actress, appearing in several theater plays and film and television productions. Anđela later became a mother herself, which made Branka Pujić a grandmother, an event she acknowledged publicly with a brief message. The Jovanović-Pujić family is also known for spending their free time away from Belgrade, in Zlatibor, where, according to media statements, they enjoy peace away from the busy city life and professional obligations.

Interesting Facts

It is not widely known that Branka Pujić, before deciding on acting, studied psychology for two years, which reflects the breadth of her interests even in her youth. During her career she also took on numerous roles in radio dramas, for which she was awarded recognition, a lesser-known but very important segment of her artistic work. In addition, in certain theater productions she also appeared as a choreographer, among others at the Yugoslav Drama Theatre and the Zvezdara Theatre, in plays directed by her husband, Dragan Jovanović. It is also notable that she expanded her career beyond Serbia and the region, having had the opportunity to act within the Indian (Tamil) film industry, one of the largest film industries in the world. Branka Pujić is also known for her civic engagement in the local community of Zemun, where she has actively participated in the cultural and public life of the Belgrade municipality in which she grew up.

Awards and Recognition

Over her decades-long career, Branka Pujić has received several accolades for her artistic work. Early in her career, she won the award for best young actor at the Jagodina Comedy Festival, for the role of Sunčica in the play "Braća po oružju." For her role as Anabela in the film "Vanbračna putovanja," she was awarded best supporting role at the Golubac Film Comedy Festival. Her work in radio was crowned in 2003 with the "Vitomir Bogić" award for the best radio acting achievement, for her role as Sylvia Plath in the radio drama of the same name. She has also received a Golden Badge for her contribution to culture, and the local community awarded her the Plaque of Honorary Citizen of Zemun.

Legacy and Influence

The legacy of Branka Pujić is reflected in two parallel fields — artistic and pedagogical. As an actress, she left her mark through dozens of roles in theater, film, and television, marking several generations of viewers with series such as "Policajac sa Petlovog brda," "Stižu dolari," and "Ruža vjetrova." As a professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, she has had the opportunity to pass on her experience and knowledge to younger generations of actors, while through the "Mali teatar" acting school in Zemun she has introduced even the youngest participants to the world of performing arts. Together with her husband, Dragan Jovanović, and daughter, Anđela Jovanović, she is part of one of the most recognizable acting families in contemporary Serbian culture, meaning her influence extends beyond her individual career and becomes part of a broader cultural legacy.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Branka Pujić?

Branka Pujić is a Serbian theater, film, and television actress, as well as a full professor of acting at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade.

When was Branka Pujić born?

Branka Pujić was born on November 6, 1963.

Where was Branka Pujić born?

She was born in Belgrade and grew up in Zemun.

Who is Branka Pujić's husband?

Branka Pujić's husband is actor Dragan "Gagi" Jovanović, to whom she has been married since 1992.

Does Branka Pujić have children?

Yes, Branka Pujić and Dragan Jovanović have a daughter, Anđela Jovanović, who is also an actress.

Where did Branka Pujić graduate in acting?

She graduated in acting from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade in 1991, in the class of professor Vladimir Jevtović.

Which TV series has Branka Pujić appeared in?

She has appeared in several popular series, including "Policajac sa Petlovog brda," "Stižu dolari," "Ruža vjetrova," "Urgentni centar," and "Pevačica."

Is Branka Pujić a professor?

Yes, Branka Pujić is a full professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, where she teaches the subject "Stage Movement."

What awards does Branka Pujić have?

Among others, she is a recipient of the "Vitomir Bogić" award for radio drama, awards from the comedy festivals in Jagodina and Golubac, the Golden Badge for contribution to culture, and the Plaque of Honorary Citizen of Zemun.

How tall is Branka Pujić?

According to available data, she is 169 centimeters tall.

Conclusion

Branka Pujić represents an example of an artist who has managed to build a lasting and diverse career, combining theater, film, television, and teaching work. From her first roles in the late 1980s, through the mass popularity brought to her by series such as "Stižu dolari" and "Ruža vjetrova," to her role as a professor shaping new generations of actors, Branka Pujić has remained true to her love of the acting profession. With the support of her family — her husband, Dragan Jovanović, and daughter, Anđela Jovanović, both also actors — she has built a career that has marked several decades of Serbian culture and continues to this day.