Terezie Brzková: The Beloved Grandmother with a Complex Life

Terezie Brzková (born Terezie Jelínková) was a Czech actress best known for her iconic portrayal of Grandmother in the 1940 film Babička. Whereas celebrated for her warmth and kindness on screen, Brzková’s life and personality were far more complex, marked by a nomadic upbringing, personal tragedy and a reportedly stern demeanor off-camera.

Early Life and Career

Born on January 11, 1875, in Cologne, Brzková came from a family deeply rooted in the theater. Her father, Vilém Jelínek, ran a traveling theater company, and her mother, Anna, was also an actress.¹ Brzková, along with her sisters Marie, Hana, and Otílie, grew up immersed in the world of performance, touring Bohemia with her family’s company.²

In 1914, Brzková began working at the National Theater in Prague, appearing in roles such as Queen Runa in Radúz and Mahulena and a grandmother in Lucerne.¹ She later joined her second husband, Václav Zeifert, in another traveling theater company, continuing the nomadic lifestyle of her youth.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Brzková spent over ten seasons at the Municipal Theater in Pilsen, where she honed her acting skills and first portrayed the role of a grandmother, a character that would later define her career.³

The Iconic Babička

In 1940, Brzková achieved widespread fame with her role as Grandmother in František Čáp’s film adaptation of Božena Němcová’s novel, Babička.⁴ She was chosen for the role after Růžena Nasková declined it and recommended Brzková, who had already played a grandmother on stage.⁵ Her portrayal of the kind and wise grandmother resonated deeply with audiences during a difficult period in Czech history.

For her performance, Brzková received a fee of 10,000 crowns, a substantial sum at the time.⁵ The success of Babička led to numerous other film roles, often portraying benevolent mothers, aunts, and grandmothers.

A Contrasting Persona

Despite her on-screen persona, Brzková was reportedly a strict and moody individual in her personal life. She was said to dislike children and could be harsh with child actors during filming, demanding quiet and space.² Colleagues also described her as unforgiving and quick to judge.

After World War II, Brzková aligned herself with the new communist regime and was reportedly zealous in her support. Rumors circulated that she may have collaborated with the State Security, though these allegations were never proven.³

Family Life and Legacy

Brzková had two daughters with her first husband, Josef Brzek. Her granddaughter, Ivana Tigridová, married journalist Pavel Tigrid and later fled communist Czechoslovakia with him.⁵

Terezie Brzková died on November 19, 1966, in Prague, at the age of 91.¹ She remains a beloved figure in Czech cinema, remembered for her iconic portrayal of Grandmother and her complex, often contradictory, personality.

Filmography

Throughout her career, Terezie Brzková appeared in approximately forty films, including:

• The Magic House (1939)
• Babička (1940)
• Barbora Hlavsová (1942)
• Počestné paní pardubické (1944)
• Preludium (1941)
• Once Upon a King (1955)

Sources:

1. Wikipedia – Terezie Brzková
2. Čas Jen Pro Mě – Terezie Brzková: 91-Year-Old Grandmother Who Didn’t Like Children
3. Czech Radio – The Magical Grandmother from Fairy Tales, Terezie Brzková
4. Filmový přehled – Terezie Brzková
5. iPrima – The Reversed Face of the Film Grandmother, Terezie Brzková Didn’t Like Children, Her Granddaughter Ended Up in Prison