Who is Žiža Stojanović

Žiža Stojanović was a Serbian theatre, film, and television actress whose career on stage lasted more than seventy years. She was born on November 19, 1930, in Belgrade, and passed away in 2025, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy that includes more than one hundred and twenty theatre roles, along with numerous film and television appearances. She is best remembered by the wider public for her role as Cana Fontana in the cult series "Srećni ljudi," while in theatre circles she was known for decades as the leading actress of the Belgrade Drama Theatre. Her career stands as one of the longest and most prolific acting journeys in the history of Serbian theatre.

Early Life and Childhood

Žiža Stojanović, born Živana Stojanović, grew up in Belgrade during a time marked by poverty and the uncertainty of the Second World War. Her childhood was far from carefree — the family faced hardship, and her mother Leposava traded gold jewelry for flour and lard to feed Žiža and her sister Dobrila. Young Žiža often went barefoot, and it was only with her first acting fee that she bought her first pair of shoes.Her love of acting emerged early — by her own account, Žiža began performing at the age of eight. She recited poems at school events and staged improvised plays at home for her peers, unaware that this childhood pastime would become the foundation of her entire life.

Education

After the end of the Second World War, Žiža Stojanović enrolled in the Third Girls' Gymnasium in Belgrade and joined the cultural-artistic society "Abrašević." There she passed an audition that would determine the course of her future life, winning the role of Koštana, one of the most demanding female roles in Serbian dramatic literature. Alongside gymnasium, she also completed a stenography course, which earned her a job offer at a court. Young Žiža, however, was drawn to the stage rather than an office, so she declined the offer and moved to Novi Sad to attend Secondary Theatre School. She first lived in a women's dormitory and later rented a private apartment, laying the foundation for her professional acting career.

Beginning of Her Career

The professional acting career of Žiža Stojanović began in 1951, when she became a member of the National Theatre in Niš, where she remained until 1954. In Niš she met actor Vladislav Matić, whom she married and with whom she had a daughter. Soon after, she received an invitation from the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, which she accepted — a decision that would significantly shape the further course of her private and professional life.She spent seven years in Novi Sad, from 1954 to 1961, and during that period achieved one of her most memorable roles — Malčika in the play "Izbiračica," for which she is still remembered by audiences in Novi Sad. After Novi Sad, she moved to the Contemporary Theatre in Belgrade; since her husband at the time did not support this decision, the marriage ended in divorce.

Rise to Popularity

From 1961 to 1975, Žiža Stojanović was a member of the Contemporary Theatre in Belgrade, which in 1975 became the Belgrade Drama Theatre (BDP). She remained at this house for the following thirty years, until her retirement, and it was here that she built her status as one of the leading actresses of the Serbian theatre scene. For more than three decades she held the title of leading actress at BDP, and she also occasionally performed at the Atelje 212 stage, as well as at other theatres throughout the country.Over the course of her career, she performed in more than one hundred and twenty theatre roles, making her one of the most prolific actresses of her generation. Alongside her theatre engagements, she also built a film and television career, appearing in works such as "Čovek sa četiri noge," "Usijanje," and "Pop Ćira i pop Spira."

Greatest Achievements

Žiža Stojanović achieved her greatest popularity with the wider television audience through the role of Cana Fontana in the series "Srećni ljudi," which she played from 1993 to 1996. This role made her recognizable beyond narrow theatre circles and remained synonymous with her name in the memory of several generations of viewers.In addition, she appeared in the popular series "Diplomci," "Salaš u Malom Ritu," "Otpisani," "Bolji život," "Porodično blago," and "Vratiće se rode," as well as in the films "Povratak otpisanih," "Balkan ekspres 2," and "Tesna koža 3." Her film and television body of work includes a large number of supporting yet memorable roles, while her theatre career, according to colleagues and critics, was even richer and more varied.

Private Life

The private life of Žiža Stojanović was marked by both joy and great loss. Her first marriage, to actor Vladislav Matić, whom she met in Niš, ended in divorce following her decision to continue her career in Belgrade. That marriage produced a daughter. In Belgrade she had many admirers and fell in love with journalist Dragan Babić, who, by her own account, long failed to notice her feelings. After overcoming that relationship, she entered into a partnership with a man who was never publicly known, and she spent twenty years with him, until his death. Near the end of her life, the actress spoke openly about an earlier romantic relationship with a well-known singer of her generation.The greatest personal tragedy of her life was the death of her daughter, who passed away after a long battle with a serious illness. The actress spoke of this loss with great pain, calling it a fate she had to accept. Still, she found comfort in her grandchildren — grandson Uroš, a conductor who lives and works in Germany, and granddaughter Ana, who trained as a pharmacist. She described the two of them as her greatest treasures.Žiža Stojanović passed away on June 27, 2025, in Belgrade, at the age of ninety-four (in her ninety-fifth year). News of her death was announced by television host Goran Stojićević Karamela, a longtime friend of the actress, who bid her farewell with a moving message on social media. Her funeral was held on June 30, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at Belgrade's New Cemetery.

Interesting Facts

• She began acting at the age of eight, reciting poems at school events.
• She bought her first pair of shoes only with her first acting fee, having often gone barefoot as a child.
• Alongside gymnasium, she completed a stenography course and was offered a job at a court, which she turned down in favor of acting.
• She served as the leading actress of the Belgrade Drama Theatre for more than thirty years, one of the longest tenures of its kind in the theatre's history.
• Although best remembered by the wider public for her role as Cana Fontana, she herself always considered theatre her primary artistic calling.

Awards and Recognition

Over the course of her decades-long career, Žiža Stojanović earned great respect from colleagues and critics for her stage vitality and distinctive comedic charm, which, according to the Belgrade Drama Theatre, brought her exceptional popularity with audiences. Specific individual award records are not publicly available in reliable sources and therefore cannot be listed without risking inaccuracy.

Legacy and Influence

Žiža Stojanović left behind a body of work that reflects a devotion to the acting profession rarely seen in contemporary Serbian theatre. Her more than one hundred and twenty theatre roles, together with numerous film and television engagements, make her one of the pillars of the postwar development of the Belgrade Drama Theatre. Colleagues and younger generations of actors remember her as an example of perseverance — a woman who, despite a difficult wartime childhood and personal losses, remained devoted to the stage for seven decades. Her role as Cana Fontana continues to be passed on to new generations of viewers through reruns of "Srećni ljudi," keeping the memory of her acting work alive.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

When was Žiža Stojanović born?

Žiža Stojanović was born on November 19, 1930, in Belgrade.

When and where did Žiža Stojanović die?

According to most media sources, she passed away on June 27, 2025, in Belgrade, at ninety-four years of age. Her funeral was held on June 30, 2025, at Belgrade's New Cemetery.

What is Žiža Stojanović best known for?

She is best known for her role as Cana Fontana in the series "Srećni ljudi" (1993–1996), as well as for her long career as the leading actress of the Belgrade Drama Theatre.

Which theatres did Žiža Stojanović perform in?

She was a member of the National Theatre in Niš, the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, and the Belgrade Drama Theatre, and also performed as a guest at Atelje 212.

How many theatre roles did Žiža Stojanović perform?

Over the course of her career, she performed in more than one hundred and twenty theatre roles.

Which series and films did Žiža Stojanović appear in?

She appeared in the series "Srećni ljudi," "Diplomci," "Salaš u Malom Ritu," "Otpisani," "Bolji život," and "Porodično blago," and in the films "Povratak otpisanih," "Balkan ekspres 2," and "Tesna koža 3."

Did Žiža Stojanović have children?

She had a daughter from her first marriage to actor Vladislav Matić. Her daughter passed away after a long battle with a serious illness, before the actress's own death.

Did Žiža Stojanović have grandchildren?

She had two grandchildren — grandson Uroš, a conductor who lives and works in Germany, and granddaughter Ana, who trained as a pharmacist.

Who was Žiža Stojanović's husband?

Her first husband was actor Vladislav Matić, whom she met during her engagement at the National Theatre in Niš. The marriage ended in divorce.

Where was Žiža Stojanović buried?

She was buried at Belgrade's New Cemetery, where her funeral was held on June 30, 2025.

Conclusion

Žiža Stojanović was one of the most enduring and prolific actresses of postwar Serbian theatre, whose life journey — from a poor wartime childhood in Belgrade, through seven years in Novi Sad, to more than three decades as the leading actress of the Belgrade Drama Theatre — remained a lasting example of deep devotion to her craft. Although the wider public remembers her chiefly as Cana Fontana from "Srećni ljudi," her true artistic contribution lies in an enormous theatrical body of work spanning more than one hundred and twenty roles. She passed away in June 2025 at the age of ninety-four, leaving behind a legacy that continues to live on through the memories of audiences, colleagues, and her family.