Who Is Dubravka Mijatović

Dubravka Mijatović is a Serbian theatre, film, and television actress, born on December 27, 1968, in Belgrade. She began acting as a child and rose to wider fame in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s thanks to her roles in "Bolji život" (A Better Life) and "Srećni ljudi" (Happy People). Over a career spanning more than four decades, she has become one of the most recognizable actresses from the region, with credits spanning television series, film, and theatre.

Beyond her acting work, Dubravka Mijatović is also known for keeping her private life away from the media, rarely giving interviews about personal matters, and carefully choosing the roles she accepts.

Early Life and Childhood

Dubravka Mijatović was born at a maternity hospital in Dedinje, just a few days before New Year's 1968. She spent her childhood in Belgrade's Senjak neighborhood, while summer holidays were mostly spent with her grandmother, in a village near Kopaonik.

As a child, she tried her hand at several activities — piano, basketball, and tennis — without showing particular talent in any of them. The turning point came when she joined a children's drama group led by Bata Miladinović, and later by Mija (Mika) Aleksić. She stayed with the group until enrolling at the Academy, and it was there that she met future colleagues, including actors Nikola Kojo and Mirjana Joković.

At just nine years old, she landed her first television role in the children's program "Vaga za tačno merenje," appearing alongside veteran actors Renata Ulmanski and Mija Aleksić. The popularity that came with the role wasn't always welcome — classmates would sometimes tease her about it at school.

Education

Dubravka Mijatović finished elementary school with excellent grades before enrolling at the Fourth Belgrade Gymnasium, on the mathematics track. Although she showed an aptitude for mathematics, her true passion remained acting.

At just sixteen, she made her first attempt to enroll at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, but was unsuccessful. She didn't give up, and after a second failed attempt, was finally admitted on her third try. She graduated in acting in 1994, in the class of professor Arsa Jovanović, one of the respected teachers of the Belgrade acting school.

Start of Her Career

Dubravka Mijatović landed her first film role while still in high school, in "Nije lako sa muškarcima" (1985), alongside veteran actors Milena Dravić, Ljubiša Samardžić, and Milivoje Mića Tomić. The experience further strengthened her resolve to pursue acting professionally.

A turning point in her career came with the role of Sanja, a rebellious young woman in the popular series "Bolji život" (1990–1991), which was already one of the most-watched domestic shows at the time. The role brought the young actress to the attention of a wider audience and opened the door to bigger engagements.

Rise to Popularity

Dubravka Mijatović's true breakthrough came in 1993, when, while still a student, she was given the chance to play one of the lead female roles alongside veteran actress Tanja Bošković in the series "Srećni ljudi" (Happy People). The role of Đurđina, known as Đina Golubović, brought her enormous popularity and made her one of the biggest television stars of the 1990s — during the show's run, she was one of the most recognizable faces on Serbian TV.

However, ahead of the filming of the second season, the actress decided to leave the show, which drew significant media attention. At the time, the press reported that she had been let go due to repeated lateness on set. Dubravka Mijatović, for her part, maintained that the main reason for her departure was irregular payment of her fee, along with her dissatisfaction with the direction her character was taking. Because of the controversy, she found herself effectively blacklisted by RTS, the state broadcaster, and did not appear on the network again until 2003.

Greatest Achievements

Dubravka Mijatović returned to RTS in 2003 with a role in the series "Kazneni prostor." This was soon followed by an engagement in "Stižu dolari" (2004), a show written by the noted screenwriter Siniša Pavić, in which she played Gordana.

Between 2007 and 2008, she played Slađana Savić in the series "Bela lađa," while one of her most notable television roles came in "Moj rođak sa sela" (2008–2011), in which she played Milena Malešević, Dragorad's wife. The series drew over three million viewers per episode, making it one of RTS's most successful productions of that period. Around the same time, she also took part in the series "Pare ili život," playing the role of Višnja, though she left the production before it concluded — executive producer and actor Milutin Mima Karadžić said at the time that he regretted the situation but that the production could not meet the actress's requests.

In the later stage of her career, Dubravka Mijatović appeared in the series "Nemanjići – rađanje kraljevine" and "Žigosani u reketu" (2018), and went on to play Dr. Sara Kolarov in the long-running series "Urgentni centar" (Emergency Center, 2018–2025). She also appeared in the miniseries "Čudne ljubavi" (2022, as television host Sonja), the series "Sekundarne sirovine" (2022, as Anita's mother), and the series "Izazov" (2024, as Flora Rakinić).

On film, she stood out in the role of Nadica in the cult comedy "Tri palme za dve bitange i ribicu" (1998), followed by the role of Silvija Karver in the same year's "Ljubavi Džordža Vašingtona," and the role of Ivana in the war drama "Rat uživo" (2000), which she filmed while pregnant. She later appeared in the film "Jagoda u supermarketu" (2003), playing Ljubica.

Alongside television and film, Dubravka Mijatović has been a permanent member of Belgrade's Atelje 212 theatre since 1996. On stage, she has also been noted for her role in "Doručak kod Tifanija" (Breakfast at Tiffany's), staged at the Madlenianum Theatre, as well as in the play "Filumena Marturano."

Personal Life

Dubravka Mijatović keeps her private life away from the public eye and rarely discusses it in the media. She has been married twice, both times to fellow actors.

She met her first husband, actor Goran Radaković, in 1998 on the set of "Tri palme za dve bitange i ribicu." The two soon married, and their daughter Iva was born from the marriage (sources differ slightly on the exact year, citing either 1999 or 2000). The marriage ended in divorce in the mid-2000s, after which the former couple, according to Goran Radaković's own statements, maintained a good relationship for the sake of raising their daughter together.

Dubravka Mijatović began a relationship with actor and singer Marinko Madžgalj, also known as a member of the music duo Flamingosi under the stage name Valentino, in 2007. As Madžgalj was ten years her junior, the relationship initially faced disapproval from his family. The couple soon married, and in 2009 they had a daughter, Sara. The marriage lasted seven years, ending in divorce in 2014, reportedly due to frequent disagreements, though the two remained on good terms for their daughter's sake. Marinko Madžgalj died on March 26, 2016, in Belgrade, from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Dubravka Mijatović has said that she rarely watches television and rarely goes out, emphasizing that what matters most to her is being remembered by audiences for the roles she has played. She is also known for having turned down numerous roles over the course of her career, although, as she has noted herself, she has at times had to accept certain professional compromises.

Interesting Facts

• She was born at a maternity hospital in Dedinje just days before the New Year.
• In her children's drama group, she met future colleagues, actors Nikola Kojo and Mirjana Joković.
• She landed her first television role at just nine years old.
• She filmed "Rat uživo," for which she won the "Zlatna mimoza" award, while pregnant.
• After leaving "Srećni ljudi" at the height of its popularity, she was absent from RTS programming for years.
• She was married to two fellow actors, Goran Radaković and Marinko Madžgalj, with whom she has one daughter each.

Awards and Recognition

• "Carica Teodora" Award at the Niš Film Meetings — for Best Actress (Nadica) in "Tri palme za dve bitange i ribicu" (1998)
• "Zlatna mimoza" Award at the Herceg Novi Film Festival — for Best Actress (Ivana) in "Rat uživo" (2000)

Legacy and Influence

Dubravka Mijatović remains one of the most recognizable acting figures from the former Yugoslav region, especially for the generations who grew up in the 1990s watching "Bolji život" and "Srećni ljudi." Her role as Đina Golubović is still remembered as a symbol of that era's television fame, while her later work, such as her role in "Moj rođak sa sela," confirmed her ability to win over audiences across new generations of viewers. As a long-standing member of Atelje 212, she has remained active on the theatre stage for decades, establishing herself as a versatile actress equally present in film, television, and theatre.

Biography — Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Dubravka Mijatović?

Dubravka Mijatović was born on December 27, 1968, which makes her 57 years old.

Where was Dubravka Mijatović born?

She was born in Belgrade, specifically at a maternity hospital in Dedinje.

Is Dubravka Mijatović married?

She is not currently married. She was married twice — to actor Goran Radaković and to actor and singer Marinko Madžgalj, who passed away in 2016.

How many children does Dubravka Mijatović have?

She has two daughters — Iva, from her marriage to Goran Radaković, and Sara, from her marriage to Marinko Madžgalj.

What is Dubravka Mijatović best known for?

She is best known for playing Đina Golubović in "Srećni ljudi" and Sanja in "Bolji život," as well as for later roles in "Stižu dolari," "Bela lađa," and "Moj rođak sa sela."

Why did Dubravka Mijatović leave "Srećni ljudi"?

According to media reports, she left the show due to lateness on set, while she herself cited irregular payment of her fee and dissatisfaction with her character's direction as the reasons.

What awards has Dubravka Mijatović won?

She has won the "Carica Teodora" award at the Niš Film Meetings and the "Zlatna mimoza" award at the Herceg Novi Film Festival.

Is Dubravka Mijatović still an active actress?

Yes, she remains active and has appeared in more recent series such as "Urgentni centar," "Sekundarne sirovine," "Čudne ljubavi," and "Izazov."

Does Dubravka Mijatović perform in theatre?

Yes, she has been a permanent member of Belgrade's Atelje 212 theatre since 1996.

Who was Marinko Madžgalj?

Marinko Madžgalj was a Serbian actor, singer, and television host, also known as a member of the music duo Flamingosi. He was married to Dubravka Mijatović from 2007 to 2014 and died in 2016 from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

Dubravka Mijatović stands as one of the most recognizable actresses of Serbian television, film, and theatre, with a career now spanning more than four decades. From her early roles in "Bolji život" and "Srećni ljudi," through a period of absence from RTS, to her later successful roles in "Moj rođak sa sela" and "Urgentni centar," she has built a rich and varied acting career. As a permanent member of Atelje 212 and a recipient of the "Carica Teodora" and "Zlatna mimoza" awards, Dubravka Mijatović remains an enduring name on the domestic acting scene, even as she continues to carefully guard her private life from public view.