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A long-term member of the Drama of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb Koraljka Hrs passed away on June 25, 2023.

She was born in 1941 in Zemun. After completing her high school education, she enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Art to study acting and already during her studies she worked with the largest national theatre. She completed her studies in 1964, (formally graduated in 1974) and as one of the most talented students was employed at the CNT in Zagreb in 1965.
Since then, she has interpreted numerous leading roles on the stage of the CNT in Zagreb; roles of the classical and contemporary repertoire, subtly creating characters in which she always attempted to find some unexpected elements enriched with humour or hints of tragedy. From all the roles she played on the CNT stage these creations must be pointed out: Lisette in The War by Carlo Goldoni, Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, Agnès in Molière's The School for Wives, Nina in Chekhov's The Seagull, Estelle in J. P. Sartre's chamber drama Behind Closed Doors, Hairdresser in The Plebeians Rehearse an Uprising by Günther Grass, Petrunjela in Držić's Uncle Maroje, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream by W. Shakespeare, Gemma Polić in Kamov-Smrtopis by Slobodan Šnajder, Natasha in The Master and Margarita by M.A. Bulgakov, Hermina Šumovska in The Resignation by Čedo Prics, Enka in The Cyclops by Ranko Marinković, Lady Hurf in comedy by Jean Anouilh Thieves' Carnival, Doctor Ponkracijuš in Hipokondrijakuš by an anonymous author, Ela in chamber drama by Amir Bukvić Homo novus, General Beatrix-Bee Barsutov in A Novel of London by Miloš Crnjanski, Seven different characters in Alan Ayckbourn's Confusions, Gretchen in The Wedding by Elias Canetti, Salammbo in Ondine by Jean Giroudoux, etc. She also performed at Theatre &TD, Theatre Marin Držić in Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Summer Festival where she was praised for her interpretation of Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet and on film and television.

She worked with Croatian best stage directors from Kosta Spaić, Joško Juvančić, Mladen Škiljan, Ivica Kunčević to Krešimir Dolenčić and guest director Hore Popescu. In 1993, she left the CNT in Zagreb and started teaching acting at the Academy of Dramatic Art until her retirement. Koraljka Hrs was one of a kind, both as a person and as an actress; quite, private yet compassionate and deep. Her speed, sharpness, talent for humour and playing, her amazing talent for comedy, regardless of whether she was acting in classical or contemporary works were truly out of the ordinary and valuable. At the same time, her plunging into a tragedy, one look, one shoulder movement with a sarcastic comment were truly moving.
The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb grieves for Koraljka Hrs, an actress that marked three decades of the past century. Without her and her roles, the CNT in Zagreb would have been much poorer and emptier.

Thank you and farewell!