In today's age, it is incredibly important for a child to perceive culture from an early age, believes acting icon Jan Přeučil
Actor Jan Přeučil has embodied over 400 roles in radio and hundreds more in theater and on television screens. Even at his 88 years, he is still full of energy and continues to work. He revealed exactly what he is working on in an interview. And because we met him at the award ceremony for lifetime cultural contribution, he also expressed his opinion about the awarded artists - among whom is his wife Eva Hrušková, whom he married in 2004.
Jan Přeučil is known for his top-notch rhetorical skills. He even teaches rhetoric at a university. His seminars are known as "rhetoric laboratories." We convinced ourselves of his great oratory skills in front of Prague's Lucerna, where he couldn't be missed. He arrived in a good mood and with a hat, as is his custom.
Dark past
You may not have known that his father was one of the defendants in the infamous Milada Horáková trial as a representative of the National Socialist Party. He was sentenced to life by the communist regime. However, he was released from prison after 15 years. Nevertheless, this put a spoke in Jan Přeučil's life plans.
He could not attend high school and subsequently follow his dream to drama school. Instead, he started a three-year apprenticeship as a wood model maker. The political regime also caused him troubles later on. After his apprenticeship, they allowed him to attend night high school - so after graduation, he applied to DAMU, as he originally planned. However, even though he successfully underwent the admission process, the communists did not allow him to study due to his imprisoned father.
Jan Přeučil found his way to the theatrical boards and television screens, even if it meant joining the Communist Party, which he regretted later. Today, he rightly belongs to the domestic acting icons. He also played over 400 roles in the radio and for almost 30 years taught as a lecturer at the Prague DAMU. Among his students were well-known actors and actresses like Ivana Chýlková, Karel Roden, Pavel Vítek or Eva Holubová. He also taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Banská Bystrica in Slovakia.
As for his film roles, you could last see him in the third installment of the well-known series Bastards directed by Tomáš Magnusek.
He Praised His Wife's Children Theater
When we asked him how much he was looking forward to today's award ceremony, Jan Přeučil did not hide his pride for his wife, as befits and belongs to a husband.
"Good day, I take my hat off to everyone. I'm very excited and very happy that my beloved Evička will receive this award because she truly deserves it. Together with Zdeněk, my son-in-law, who I married off, Zdeněk Rohlíček, they create a beautiful and highly quality theater for children. And I think that's invaluable today. So that a child can perceive culture from an early age, from various moments. I am therefore very glad that she is recognized for this work because when we met, we founded this theater together. For a while, I played with them, but later I couldn't, I had other activities. So I'm glad that son-in-law Zdeněk and Evička travel all over the republic and show the upcoming small generation the beauties of life."
Then we asked him who he would award the prize to himself. An (un)surprising answer came.
"It would probably be Zdeněk Rohlíček, who plays with Evička."
What he is currently working on
Even though he's going to be 90 years old in less than two years, he still has a taste for work. So we asked him also about what kind of work activities he is currently engaged in.
"There are many activities. I currently have a very interesting show, which is called Dialogues of Two Worlds. It's a dialogue acting and a dialogue musical. It is represented by an outstanding violinist Mr. Václav Návrat, who is a top baroque violinist and really an exceptional musician. With this program, we travel all over the republic."
However, that's not all. Right after that, Jan Přeučil told us about his next project, in which his wife unsurprisingly features.
"I also have another show with my beloved Evička, which we also travel with, and it's called The Villain and Cinderella. We talk about my negative acting roles in it. There were a lot of them in my acting life, if I can use this phrase. Evička then tells about her Cinderella and people like it very much."
His love for film cannot be denied
When asked if he watches Youtube or Netflix, he didn't answer. Instead, he expressed his lifelong passion for films.
His words conveyed the characteristic humility he is known for among his colleagues in the industry and fans.
"I really like movies. I enjoy watching those where I see many of my colleagues, I observe them and look at them from an acting perspective - how they performed physically and dynamically in the past. It always delights me that there are many films in which I had the honor to be cast and in which I performed."
When we thanked him for the interview, we received a beautiful farewell, during which he didn't forget to tip his hat again.
"I thank you too. Take care, have very nice days, beautiful, pleasant, and wonderful. Enjoy the beauty of life in all its forms, ladies and gentlemen. I'm tipping my favorite hat."
Source: original article, own questioning, ČSFD, Memory of Nation, Wikipedia
