'When Dad found out, he kicked me out of the house': Our famous actress on a difficult career start

Croatian actress Jelena Perčin has shared a poignant account of her early career struggles, detailing the significant opposition she faced from her father, Zdravko Perčin, who initially disapproved of her aspirations to become an actress. Perčin recounted that her father's resistance culminated in him expelling her from their family home upon discovering her secret application to the Academy of Dramatic Art.

Despite his own past connections to the theater world, including working at the Kerempuh theater as a student, Zdravko Perčin was firmly against his daughter pursuing acting. Jelena Perčin explained that her parents, while theater enthusiasts who took her to plays as a child, had a different approach to her upbringing, allowing her more freedom in organizing her own leisure time compared to modern parenting trends.

Perčin prepared for her acting academy entrance exams in secret, with the support of actresses Helena Buljan and Nataša Dangubić. Her father's reaction to her application was severe, leading to her staying with a friend in Zagreb during that difficult period. She also recalled a tense encounter where her father confronted a professor, expressing anger that he had not been informed of her application.

Even after her successful admission to the academy, her relationship with her father remained complex. Perčin noted that he never fully came to terms with her career choice, often asking even in his current ill health, "Are you still an actress?" Nevertheless, Jelena Perčin has established herself as a respected actress in Croatia, with a notable portfolio of stage and television roles. She now views her early challenges as formative experiences that contributed to her resilience and personal growth.