Who Is Bojana Maljević

Bojana Maljević (born in Belgrade, 28 May 1974) is a Serbian actress, producer, screenwriter and university professor. She is best known to the wider public for playing Ana Anđelić in the cult series “Otvorena vrata” (Open Doors), and in recent years as the author and producer of the series “Dug moru” (The Debt of the Sea).

She first appeared on camera as a child, and drew considerable attention with the female lead in the film “Bulevar revolucije”. She later founded the production company Monte Royal Pictures International and became one of the notable names in Serbian television and film production.

Early Life and Childhood

Bojana Maljević was born on 28 May 1974 in Belgrade, into a family closely tied to film. Her father, Bojan Maljević (born 1946), is a well-known film and television producer. Her younger sister, Ana Maljević (born 1978), is also an actress.

She grew up in her hometown with her parents and sister. The artistic atmosphere at home shaped her interests early on, so it is no surprise that she found herself in front of a camera while still a schoolgirl.

According to available biographies, she first appeared on television in the early 1980s. At the age of six she acted in the television series “Serija o bojama” (The Colours Series).

Education

She graduated in acting from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, in the class of Professor Predrag Bajčetić. This formally completed the education she had begun as a girl through her first television roles.

After her acting studies, she continued her education at the same university. She devoted her doctoral studies to media management and also researched risks in the film industry. After earning her doctorate, she became an associate professor at the Faculty of Media and Communications (FEFA).

According to biographical sources, she speaks English and German fluently. She uses these skills in international projects and collaborations.

Early Career

After her first roles as a child, in 1990 Bojana Maljević played Bernisa in the film “Bernisa, jača od smrti”. Two years later she landed the female lead in the film “Bulevar revolucije” (Boulevard of the Revolution), playing Biljana. Many sources point to that film as the work that made her recognizable.

It was followed by the 1994 film “Ni na nebu, ni na zemlji” (In the Middle of Nowhere), in which she played Ana. According to biographical sources, she received an award for best leading actress for that role.

Alongside film, she also worked in television and theatre. She appeared in several productions on Belgrade stages and also did voice work for animated films. Her voice has been heard in a number of animated productions.

Rise to Fame

The decisive step toward great popularity was the television series “Otvorena vrata”. It aired on Radio Television of Serbia in 1994 and 1995 and followed the life of a Belgrade family during the 1990s. The series was created by Biljana Srbljanović and Miloš Radović.

In that series, Bojana Maljević played Ana Anđelić. Alongside her appeared Vesna Trivalić, Bogdan Diklić, Milan Gutović, Nikola Đuričko, Sofija Jović and Zoran Cvijanović. The series later gained cult status, and reruns have brought it new generations of viewers.

In the same decade she also appeared in the films “Do koske” (Rage, 1997) and “Nož” (The Knife, 1999). In “Nož” she played Milica Janković. According to some sources, she won a charter for best female role at the Film Encounters in Niš for that part.

In the following years she also acted in the films “Virtuelna stvarnost” (Virtual Reality, 2001), where she played Tanja, and “Balkanski sindrom” (Balkan Syndrome, 2007), in which she played Dijana. She also appeared in the series “Vuk Karadžić” and “Lisice”. According to biographical data, she has acted in more than twenty films and television series.

Producing Career and Monte Royal Pictures

Alongside acting, Bojana Maljević devoted herself to production. She is a co-founder and owner of Monte Royal Pictures International, where she serves as chief executive. This work continues a family tradition, as her father, Bojan Maljević, has long worked in production as well.

Among the first works she produced was the film “Do koske”. She then produced the film “Sestre” (Sisters), about human trafficking, directed by Vladimir Paskaljević. She also co-wrote the film, which premiered in Serbia in April 2011.

For “Sestre” and the humanitarian campaign “Plavo srce” (Blue Heart), which works to combat human trafficking, she received recognition from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The film was also screened at United Nations headquarters in Vienna to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. After the screening, she spoke with the audience about victims’ experiences.

She also produced the film “Gram, kilogram, tona” (Gram, Kilogram, Ton), as well as the continuation of the series “Otvorena vrata”. In 2012 she publicly floated the idea of a new season on Twitter, together with Biljana Srbljanović. The new season aired on Prva Srpska Televizija and, according to biographical data, comprised 36 new episodes. It brought together almost the same cast after nearly two decades, which is rare in the Serbian industry.

Her production work also included the 2020 miniseries “Kalup” (The Mould). Bojana Maljević is additionally a member of the Association of Film Producers of Serbia and of the Board of the Independent Association of Producers of Serbia. She is also active in sections of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

She was also a founder and editor of the national television channel for children and young people, “Happy TV”. She worked as the dubbing director of the animated film “Ice Age: The Meltdown”.

The Series “Dug moru”

Bojana Maljević’s greatest producing success is the series “Dug moru”, which began airing in 2019. The series blends elements of drama, thriller and mystery. It is set in a seaside village in Montenegro, against the backdrop of a legend from the Bay of Kotor according to which the sea claims its debt of seven lives every year.

According to the daily Večernje novosti, the idea for the series came from her father, Bojan Maljević. The screenplay was written by Stevan Koprivica and Hajdana Balatić, and it was directed by Goran Gajić. It was filmed on location in Porto Montenegro and in the village of Rose.

In the series, besides Bojana Maljević as Svetlana, the cast includes Dragan Mićanović, Nada Šargin, Sergej Trifunović, Vesna Trivalić, Stela Ćetković and others. The series ran for several seasons. Thanks to an arrangement between Telekom Srbija and the Disney+ platform, it also reached audiences in India.

For her role as Svetlana and her on-screen partnership with Dragan Mićanović, she was nominated for the “Zlatna antena” award for best acting couple at the 13th FEDIS festival. Many regard it as the first Serbian series with mystical elements.

Greatest Achievements

Bojana Maljević’s most significant acting success is tied to the role of Ana Anđelić in “Otvorena vrata”, which defined her public recognition. She also gave notable performances in the films “Bulevar revolucije”, “Ni na nebu, ni na zemlji” and “Nož”.

As a producer, the standouts are the film “Sestre”, the revival of “Otvorena vrata” after nearly two decades, and the series “Dug moru”. Each of these projects showed that she works successfully both in front of and behind the camera.

Her academic path is an additional achievement. After her acting studies she earned a doctorate at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts and became an associate professor, combining artistic and scholarly experience.

Public Engagement

Bojana Maljević has often spoken publicly about social and political topics. In 2019, in an interview on the N1 television channel, she discussed civic protests and with whom she is willing to put forward demands.

In a 2020 interview with the portal Nova.rs, she talked about her reasons for speaking out. She said that, as a mother, she wanted to teach her children the importance of truth and independent thinking, and that she has faced consequences because of the views she has expressed.

Personal Life

According to biographical data, Bojana Maljević was married to screenwriter and director Slobodan Skerlić. She is the mother of two sons. She lives and works in Belgrade.

In 2020, the media reported on her separation from her husband, but her current marital status has not been publicly confirmed. She rarely speaks about her private life in public.

Trivia

• She received her first television role as a child, at the age of six.
• She comes from a film family: her father is a producer and her sister, Ana Maljević, is an actress.
• She served as dubbing director on the animated film “Ice Age: The Meltdown”.
• The idea for the series “Dug moru” came from her father, Bojan Maljević.
• She launched the revival of “Otvorena vrata” via Twitter in 2012.
• According to biographical data, she speaks English and German.
• She was a member of the jury at the Bosifest festival in 2015.

Awards and Recognition

According to biographical sources, Bojana Maljević has won several awards at domestic film festivals for leading roles. These include an award for best leading actress for the 1994 film “Ni na nebu, ni na zemlji” and a charter for a female role in the film “Nož” at the Film Encounters in Niš.

For the film “Sestre” and the “Plavo srce” campaign, she received recognition from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). She was also a nominee for the “Zlatna antena” award for best acting couple at the FEDIS festival.

Legacy and Influence

Bojana Maljević belongs to the generation of actors who grew up alongside Serbian television in the 1990s. The role of Ana Anđelić is remembered as one of the symbols of that era, and “Otvorena vrata” still has loyal viewers today.

Her production work has shown that Serbian series can also take genre risks, such as the mystical element in “Dug moru”. Her involvement with the film “Sestre” also helped bring the topic of human trafficking before a wider audience.

As a professor and doctor of media studies, she also influences younger generations. Her contribution thus extends from acting and production to education in film and media.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Bojana Maljević?

Bojana Maljević is a Serbian actress, producer, screenwriter and university professor. She is known for playing Ana Anđelić in “Otvorena vrata” and for her producing work on the series “Dug moru”.

When and where was Bojana Maljević born?

Bojana Maljević was born on 28 May 1974 in Belgrade.

What is Bojana Maljević best known for?

She is best known for playing Ana Anđelić in “Otvorena vrata”, for the female lead in the film “Bulevar revolucije”, and for producing the series “Dug moru” and the film “Sestre”.

Who are the members of Bojana Maljević’s family?

Her father is the producer Bojan Maljević, and her younger sister, Ana Maljević, is an actress. She is the mother of two sons.

What is Monte Royal Pictures International?

It is a production company of which Bojana Maljević is a co-founder and owner. Among other things, it has produced the film “Sestre”, the new season of “Otvorena vrata”, the miniseries “Kalup” and the series “Dug moru”.

What education does Bojana Maljević have?

She graduated in acting from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, in the class of Professor Predrag Bajčetić. She later earned a doctorate in media management at the same faculty.

Is Bojana Maljević the author of the series “Dug moru”?

According to media reports, Bojana Maljević is the author, producer and an actress in “Dug moru”. The screenplay was written by Stevan Koprivica and Hajdana Balatić, and it was directed by Goran Gajić.

For which film did Bojana Maljević receive UNODC recognition?

She received recognition from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the film “Sestre” and the humanitarian campaign “Plavo srce”, both of which address human trafficking.

What languages does Bojana Maljević speak?

According to biographical data, she speaks English and German.

Conclusion

Bojana Maljević is a name that unites acting, production and academic work. From her first role in childhood, through the lead in “Bulevar revolucije”, to Ana Anđelić in “Otvorena vrata”, she built a distinctive career. As a producer she left her mark with the film “Sestre”, the revival of “Otvorena vrata” and the series “Dug moru”, and as a professor she passes knowledge on to new generations.