Marta Ivanova Popova

Born Mar. 1, 1891, in Triavna. Bulgarian actress. People’s Artist of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria (1950); Hero of Socialist Labor of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria (1966). Member of the Bulgarian Communist Party since 1944.

Popova received her theater training in Prague between 1911 and 1913. She made her debut at the People’s Theater in Sofia in 1910 and acted in this theater until 1964. Her characterizations are notable for their psychological subtlety. Popova’s best roles have included Maria in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Dorine in Molière’s Tartuffe, Nastia in Gorky’s The Lower Depths, Kostanda in Strashimirov’s The Mother-in-Law, Slavka in Vasi-lev’s Anxiety, and Mariia Aleksandrovna Ul’ianova in Popov’s Family. Popova has been awarded the Dimitrov Prize (1949).