WHO IS DARIJA VUČKO, THE ACTRESS WHO CAPTIVATED AUDIENCES IN THE SERIES "TVRĐAVA"?

Darija Vučko, the rising actress shining in the series “Tvrđava” by Banja Luka director Saša Hajduković, has won the hearts of viewers across the region. Her role as Darija Tolja marks her first leading performance, making this project especially meaningful and emotional for her.

Vučko graduated from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, where she studied under renowned professor Jasna Đuričić. Reflecting on her beginnings, she explained that the path to acting wasn’t straightforward.

“When I decided to apply for acting, I wasn’t personally connected to my professor. Before enrolling, I had never taken entrance exams in Belgrade. After high school, I immediately applied to her class. Even though I was considering philosophy and set design, I ultimately chose acting because of Jasna. It took time to admit to myself that I wanted to be an actress, but after consultations with professor Đuričić and hearing her insights, I made up my mind. I went to the entrance exam — and passed,” Darija told Expreso magazine.

In “Tvrđava”, viewers follow the emotional journey and coming-of-age story of young Darija Tolja, as well as her evolving love story. Interestingly, her on-screen partner Ognjen Mićović is someone she has known since high school.

“Ognjen and I have known each other for years, but we went to the casting separately, not knowing that both of us were part of the process. We also had chemistry tests, and after that the final decision was made for both of us. During preparations, we had a lot of material to work through. At the first table read, I discovered a connection between my character and myself, which helped me immensely in building the role,” she said.

The dramatic depth of the story and the strong message behind it were a major source of motivation for her.

“That gave me the strength to stay committed until the end. The story is part of all of us — it affects our daily lives and everything around us. Despite everything happening in the world and the heaviness of the times we live in, family is the essence worth fighting for, just like love,” she said recently in an interview for RTV Crne Gore.

Speaking about her character, Darija describes her as “a modest, kind, well-mannered, honest young woman who, as the years pass, fights to build a family and preserve love.”

Although the entire filming process was deeply meaningful to her, one scene stands out — the wedding scene featured in the third episode. In it, Darija wears a vintage wedding dress that left a lasting impression on her.

“The wedding moment was the most significant for me in terms of costume — especially Darija’s wedding dress. It needed a touch of kitsch to match the era, but still remain somewhat naïve and exaggerated. It was important to me that, in that scene, she tries to show in her own way that she has grown up. I discussed this a lot with the costume designers,” she explained.

With her first major role behind her and a powerful performance that resonated with audiences, it is clear that Darija Vučko’s promising acting career is only just beginning.