After a tough health battle, a fight with the state for a roof over her head: Drama of a domestic actress from a beloved series

Croatian actress Danira Gović, who gained fame in the early 2000s for her role as Angelina in the series "Zabranjena ljubav," has navigated a decade-long struggle for ownership of her 31-square-meter apartment in Zagreb. The legal battle stemmed from an inheritance dispute concerning the apartment's purchase rights from previous owners.

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When I literally landed in London, I came as an 'au pair' to look after children; the family that was supposed to pick me up was two hours late. I sat on my suitcases and cried, thinking I would return in shame, and then after two hours they appeared – as if we had been playing football, so we were a little late.

Gović, now 52, has a rich acting history that began with a childhood passion. She moved to London at 20, working as a babysitter and later as a waitress in a theater restaurant. This period, though challenging, fueled her ambition. "I loved the theater," she recalled, "but I needed a job, and he said, 'OK, you can.'" By day she served, by night she watched performances, dreaming of her own stage time. She eventually enrolled in acting school.

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At the National Theatre, they were looking for waiters. I went there, responded to the ad, and I remember the restaurant manager asking me – do you love theater? I said I had only been to the theater once in my life, but I needed a job, and he said, 'OK, you can.'

Her career in London saw her share screen time with Daniel Craig in "The Mother," though her single line was ultimately cut. She also appeared in other London productions before returning to Croatia. There, she secured her role in "Zabranjena ljubav," followed by other screen projects like "Metropolitanci," "Novine," and "Hotel Babylon," alongside theater work.

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What remained etched in my memory from that day was the simple sentence they both uttered: 'We will solve it,' as well as their human care and empathy for my condition. I clung tightly to that statement, believing it would indeed be so.

Beyond her professional life, Gović faced a significant personal health crisis. Years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Reflecting on the experience, she noted the reassuring words of her doctors, "We will solve it," and their genuine care. The cancer was successfully treated, and while she lives as if it never happened, the experience profoundly altered her outlook. "I look at life differently now," she shared, "spending less time on things I can't control and trying to distance myself from negative thoughts that don't serve me."

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Fortunately, they resolved the cancer, and today I live almost as if nothing happened. And yet, everything has changed. I look at life differently, I spend less time on things I can't influence, and I try to distance myself more from negative thoughts that don't benefit me.