Branislav Lečić (Serbian Cyrillic: Бранислав Лечић; born 25 August 1955) is a Serbian actor, director, academic, writer, politician. Known for his versatile portrayals of emotionally vulnerable characters with strong senses of moral justice,[1] Lečić rose to prominence for his role as the rebellious Crni in twelve-episode mini-series Sivi dom (1986).
Lečić has also done extensive stage work, winning many accolades and critical acclaim.[citation needed] He has been employed in the Yugoslav Drama Theatre ensemble as a drama champion, in which he achieved roles as Uncle Vanya and Hamlet.[2] He also directs plays at his own LekArt Theatre and teaches diction and acting at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade.
Lečić speaking at the Democratic Party (DS) convention in December 2010.
He graduated from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts of the University of Belgrade as an actor in 1978. He made his lead role as the rebel Vanya in 1977's Specijalno vaspitanje. His portrayal was praised by critics, including Slaven Ivanović, Gavrilo Milivojević, Savo Milosavljević, Dragan Bajetić and Goran Jovanović,[3][4][5] the latter expressing concern that Lečić would be typecast as a young and liberal rebel. Supporting roles in Hajduk (1980) and Dečko koji obećava (1981), with the lead role in Direktan prenos (1982) showed Lečić's emotional and acting range in a mature, sensible light.[6]
The zenith of his understanding the everyman's delinquent came with the iconic role of Crni in Sivi dom. Starring with acting titans Bata Živojinović and Dragan Nikolić, Lečić became a household name[7][8] and the role is now considered legendary in the Balkans.[9]
In 2002, he starred in Labyrinth, which gained him an Apollo Award at the Novi Sad Culture and Theatre Festival for Outstanding Achievement in a Motion Picture.[10] In 2003, he amassed a leading role as Serbian-language and literature professor Teodor "Teda" Kraj in The Professional (2003), which gained universal critical plaudits, including praise from Jasmina Ahmetagić and Muharem Pervić.[citation needed] He also portrayed captain Tasić in St. George Shoots the Dragon (2008), starring with Lazar Ristovski, Zoran Cvijanović and Bora Todorović.
Lečić also provided his vocals and dramatic interpretation for Bubamara, a Serbian-language ballad recorded with Montenegrin singer-songwriter Knez.[12][13]
He has been very successful in theater, where he received several awards. Lečić one of the founders of several of the most important theater groups that influenced theater of the former Yugoslavia. As a drama champion in both the Belgrade National Theatre and the Yugoslav Drama Theatre, he has performed in the Atelje 212 Theatre, the Croatian National Theatre in Split and the Rector's Palace in Dubrovnik in a wide spectre of comedic and dramatic roles.
Politics and humanitarianism
Besides acting, he also took part in political life, being the leader of "Plišana revolucija" (Plush Revolution), during the reign of Slobodan Milošević. After the victory of the DOS in the 2000 presidential elections, he was named the Minister of culture in the government of the late Zoran Đinđić. After Čedomir Jovanović left Democratic Party (Serbia), Lečić followed, and became one of the founders of LDP. Soon afterwards, he left LDP, and founded the "Moja Srbija" (My Serbia) Movement, taking part in Serbian elections in 2008. In early 2010 he and his party merged into the Christian Democratic Party of Serbia. After the death of its founder and long-term leader Vladan Batić due to prolonged and progressive cancerous illness, Lecic was elected DHSS party president.
An active and liberal humanitarian, he has worked with various charities, including with colleague and friend Marko Živić.[14]
Personal life
He has a son Ivan and daughter Ana from his first marriage to Ivana Vujadinovic, older sister of Bojana Vujadinovic. Later he was married to Nina Radulović, a television presenter with whom he has a son named Lav. They separated in 2016 and officially divorced in 2017.[citation needed]
Rape accusation
On 22 March 2021, it was revealed that actress Danijela Štajnfeld accused Lečić of raping her in 2012,[15] while on the same day an audio recording of their phone call was leaked to the public of what appears to be a conversation between Lečić and Štajnfeld about the alleged rape.[16] On 13 July 2021, the Public Prosecutor's Office dismissed Štajnfeld's criminal report.[17]
