Milena Dravić - a modest star who loved ordinary people

The monograph "Milena Dravić or the key to dreams" by Anita Panić, was presented in Tivat as part of the International Mediterranean Theater Festival "Purgatory".

The moderator of the evening was Vanja Gavroski from the Belgrade publishing house "Laguna", and in addition to the author, Milena Radojević, the former director of the Tivat Culture Center for many years, spoke about the collaboration with the famous actress.

"When I recall the beginnings of our theater production and "Bokeški D minor", I don't know if it was my courage or my craziness to invite Milena Dravić to act in it, but our cooperation ended in the best possible way. Apart from Bokeški D minor, Milena also played in our play "Jelena Savoy". Unfortunately, she had to leave "Betula" due to illness. She and we were sad. Boke's D minor was played in the region for 15 years. Great success thanks to the good performance, but also to Milena Dravić who people adored it. Not only in the theater, but in the restaurant, on the street in the store," Radojević pointed out.

She added that Milena Dravić, apart from being an exceptional professional in her work, was also "a good and noble, modest person".

"She was a Yugoslav diva, and we were a small Cultural Center. In "Bokeška D minor" she acted with our students. Eight students and Milena. She helped them a lot with advice. They were nervous, but she acted as their mentor , as a pedagogue, as a parent. It was a great team and it showed in the long playing of that play," concluded Radojević.

"I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful person more than two years ago - Milena Dravić. When I made the decision to do a monograph about her and when Milena was told this, she was surprised and touched. Such a diva, a great actress was surprised. and she said: "Is the book about me?! Thank you!". That shows how modest, warm, direct person she was. I had the opportunity to hang out with her during those one and a half years. To get to know her from a different angle," said the author of the monograph, Anita Panić.

She emphasized that she believes that Dravič, if she had lived in Paris, London or New York, would have had at least ten published books dedicated to her superb acting and impressive artistic career.

"Therefore, I am even more proud that this monograph about her was written here in our country. Many people helped me write this book. As soon as I said that I was writing a monograph about Milena Dravić, her friends and colleagues were happy to give me interviews. I would like to single out actor Oleg Vidović, who sent me a text from the USA, where he lives. A month after that, he passed away. The monograph also contains a text by Milena herself, which is so warm and wonderful," concluded Panić.

Director of the Tivat Culture Center Neven Staničić announced the installation of a special bench in the city, in honor of Milena Dravić.