Info - Stefania Koleva:
Stefania Koleva is an actress who carries within herself both the classical school and the contemporary stage, and often speaks of theatre as something more than a profession — a calling. She was born on July 29, 1973, in Sofia. She graduated from NATFIZ „Krastyo Sarafov“ in 1996, in the class of Prof. Stefan Danailov, and her studies went through an equivalency exam — she started in the class of Prof. Dora Ruskova, then was officially admitted to Danailov.
The first few years after her graduation were spent at Theatre „Bulgarian Army“, where she developed her repertoire with a variety of stage roles. In 2007 she left this theatre, and since 2010 she has been part of the National Theatre „Ivan Vazov“, which places her at the center of the capital’s stage life.
Her strong acting preparation is seen in the roles she has performed — Barbarina in „The Green Bird“ by Carlo Gozzi, Emilia Galotti in „Emilia Galotti“ by Lessing, Margaret in „Much Ado About Nothing“ by Shakespeare, Natasha in „The Master and Margarita“ by Bulgakov, the Journalist in „Stopper“ by Teodora Dimova and Olga in „The Fourth Sister“ by Janusz Glowacki, among many others. These roles show that she can handle the classics, modern dramaturgy and original productions.
Publicly, Stefania shares that one of the most important things she learned from her teacher Stefan Danailov is that the acting profession requires not only technique, but character. She describes him as „extremely colorful, an incredible bohemian ... very quickly introduced us to the essence of the profession“.
In an interview („STARTER“ — morning show) from June 2024 she mentions that her life is going well, that she feels happy, and talks about the importance of balance between stage commitments and family life. She is the mother of a daughter named Katerina, whom she likes to describe as her „closest“ person.
Another aspect she often mentions is her connection to aesthetics and detail — an interest that likely comes from her grandmother Stefi, an Austrian who sewed clothes and supported the artistic inclinations in the family. She admits she learned a lot from those early days — from the fabrics, the colors, the sense of form — things she now brings into preparing roles.
Professionally, Stefania takes part in the series „Emergency …“, including „State of Emergency“ and „Emergency Love“ — performances that combine comedy, shared stories and improvisational energy. These productions are among her more recent engagements, which allow her to show both her acting experience and her sense of rhythm, humor and contact with the audience.
Approvals for her work come not only from the audience, but also from theatre circles – both for her classical roles and for the newer ones, in which energy and the sense of live communication are key.
Her personal life, however, is not the subject of much public access — she rarely speaks about family conflicts or personal dramas. But it is clear that her family — especially her daughter — is a source of inspiration and support.
In an interview for Glamour magazine in October 2024 Stefania shares that despite a busy schedule, she strives to think about herself — about her appearance, about the way she prepares, but without unnecessary fixation — she doesn’t „enslave herself“ to diets, but makes sure she feels well; eating, movement and good mood are among the things she relies on for a sustainably energetic presence.
Stefania Koleva remains among the faces you love to watch not only for the roles she plays, but also for the way she never stops learning, for the passion she brings, and for her character — qualities that are felt on the stage and beyond it.