Jadranka Matković: The Actress Who Survived Hell on the Streets
Jadranka Matković, a well-known actress, has been through a nightmare that few can imagine. Twelve years ago, she was evicted from the apartment she lived in, and her struggle for survival was tougher than anyone could imagine. Found in very poor health, she ended up on the streets, where she collapsed after seeing her documents and contracts scattered around the apartment. After that, she spent some time with friends, but the conditions were extremely harsh, and due to stress, her health deteriorated further — at one point, she weighed only 39 kilograms.
Her struggle could not be ignored by Tina Puhalo, the daughter of Jadranka’s former colleague Vladimir Puhalo, who started a fundraising campaign on Facebook to help Jadranka. Help came from all over — from Benkovac, Sinj, Hvar… People who didn’t even know her wanted to help, and Jadranka was deeply touched by this support.
For the last four years, Jadranka has been living in a nursing home in Medveščak, where her colleague Tarik Filipović recently visited and performed his monodrama “Ćiro” for the residents. Another colleague, Mila Elegović, recently visited her and posted several photos on Instagram from their coffee meeting, emphasizing that there is no one like Jadranka.
This story is a sad reminder of how society often forgets its artists and people who have given so much to culture, leaving them to fight alone in harsh life circumstances. Jadranka’s fate is a warning to all of us not to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others, especially those who were once pillars of our art and culture.
If you have similar stories or think society should take better care of its artists, drop a comment and share your thoughts — maybe together we can make a difference!
