Playwright, editor, publicist and critic Petra Pogorevc, who two years ago wrote the bestseller Rac: Biographical novel about the life of Radko Polič, has this time captured another legend of Slovenian theatre, actress Jožica Avbelj (1951), between the covers, creating the book Joži: Biographical novel about the life of Jožica Avbelj. The author once again manages to capture the glow of the person she is portraying before us, and the chronologically written work takes us all the way from the actress's childhood to her major theatre roles. In doing so, author Petra Pogorevc explains: "The book Joži was in the making for four years. It was a journey into the unknown, which I embarked on with a top actress and a unique person, whom I had followed for a long time from one distance or another. First on television, film, radio and in the theatre, where I could admire her in various roles, and then at the Ljubljana City Theatre, where I had the pleasure and honour of observing her backstage and collaborating with her during the creation of various characters or performances. I have always respected her, I have always been interested in her and I have always learned from her. But none of the above can compare to the beauty and enjoyment of meeting Jožica Avbelj over coffees over the years, intended both to rekindle personal memories and to talk about when and why she was so fatally committed to acting. If the book can convey at least a little of the energy, joy and inspiration that was released during these gatherings, then the purpose has been achieved. I am grateful that we managed to build a closeness from which so many densely written pages emerged.
With a great deal of ease and a touch of colloquial language, the substantial book takes us on the journey of the great actress, the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, including seven Borštnik Awards for acting and the Borštnik Ring for lifetime achievement. The book, which was created in collaboration between the publishing house Beletrina, the Ljubljana City Theatre and the Borštnikovo srečanje Festival, is a true tribute to the acting profession, presenting it in a multifaceted and complex way, along with groundbreaking and controversial performances that raised dust, such as Spomenik G and Pupilija, and papa Pupilo pa Pupilčki, in which, incidentally, she played while still a high school student. The book is a real treasure trove, and Jožica Avbelj also lets us go backstage at the performances and reveals her acting credo: "I wanted to penetrate the secret of the roles that directors entrusted to me, and to simply do them. This does not mean that you never screw up any of them, you can calmly do it and she does. But you have to pick yourself up and prepare for the next one, which will be better.” Undoubtedly another future hit!
