Renowned Albanian actress Rezana Çeliku passed away this Thursday.
She passed away at the age of 66, and tomorrow her family, friends, and well-wishers will bid her final farewell.
Among her most prominent roles were in the films “They Were Four”, “Teammates” or “A Boy and a Girl”, where she played the role of a switchboard operator.
Çeliku entered the world of film and entertainment quite by chance. Although she had no professional training as an actress, she attracted the attention of directors for her charming appearance, naturalness and eloquence. She had previously presented several youth festivals on Albanian Television.
In cinematography, Rezana Çeliku starred in some of the most famous films of that period. Among her most prominent roles was that of a partisan in the film “They Were Four”, directed by Kujtim Çashku, as well as the role of a teacher in the film “Shokë të një skuadre”.
In 1989, she appeared in the film “A Boy and a Girl”, where she played the role of a switchboard operator. Her character, who was involved in a relationship with a younger man, was considered a bold role for the time and sparked discussions. This was also Rezana Çeliku’s last performance in cinematography.
After leaving acting and her job as a teacher in the villages of Tirana, Çeliku graduated in Economics and Law and continued her career in public administration. For years, she worked in the Public Relations Directorate of the Municipality of Tirana.
In a 2011 interview for “Unë Gruaja” of the “Panorama” newspaper, Rezana Çeliku also spoke about her personal life.
She had indicated that she had remained unmarried and that the greatest obstacle in her life had been the lack of a child, whom she considered the true essence of a family.
With her passing, Albanian art and television lose another special figure of a generation that left its mark on the screen and in the public’s memory.
