Czech theatre and film actress Jana Brechova has died at the age of 86 after a long illness, Czech media reported, citing her daughter, actress Tereza Brodská. Brechova was one of the most important stars of Czechoslovak and Czech cinema, known as the "Czech Brigitte Bardo". She gained fame for her role as a student Jana in the feature film "Higher Principles" about the horrors of occupation during World War II, for which she received an award at the Locarno Film Festival. Brechova also appeared in several German films, including the 1965 anti-fascist drama "The House on Karlín Street." In the Czech Republic, she was remembered for her role as the queen in the children's fantasy series "Arabella," also known as "Princess Arabella" or "The Tale of the Magic Ring." Jana Brechova was born on January 20, 1940, in Prague, which was occupied by the Nazis at the time. She was the second of eight siblings. She got her first film role at the age of 13. From 1958 to 1962, she was married to director and actor Miloš Forman, who later became a Hollywood director and an Oscar winner. Her sister Hana, also a famous actress, died two years ago.
