Emília Vášáryová was born in Horná Štubňa. In 1963, she graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. Afterwards, she became a member of the New Stage Theatre in Bratislava, and since August 1964, she has been a member of the SND Drama Theatre. The audience had the opportunity to see her in several other Slovak and Czech theatres: Studio L+S, Aréna Theatre, GUnaGU, National Theatre Prague, Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav Municipal Theatre Bratislava. She collaborates with radio, film and television. She has performed in many television productions, series and films. From 1990 to 2020, she worked as a teacher at the Department of Acting at the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts. In June 1999, she was appointed as a University Professor in Theatre Arts and Science - Acting.

 

1967 – Janko Borodáč Award (for the role of Florela in L. De Vega's comedy The Dance Teacher, taking into account the role of Helena in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream and her characters in films)

1968 – The Golden Crocodile

1970 – Award for outstanding work

1978 – The title of Meritorious Artist

1983 – Andrej Bagar Award (for creating the character of Iphigenia in the production of J. W. Goethe's Iphigenia in Taurid, 1982)

1991 – Award of the Minister of Culture (for excellent results in acting)

1992 – TELEMUSE 92 (for female performance in the TV productions La Musica and The Mother of Jesus)

1995 – TELEMUSE 95 (for dubbing the character Heléne in the French series Broken Hearts)

1996 – Alfréd Radok Foundation Award for the best actor's performance (in the Prague production of T. Bernhard's Ritter Dene Voss at the Theatre on the Balustrade)

1999 – Crystal Wing Award for the year 1998 in the category of theatre art (for the portrayal of Agnes in E. Albee's play A Delicate Balance)

1999 - Golden Loop - the best female dubbing (for the voice performance of Shirley McLain in The Guardian of Mrs. Tess)

1999 – The DOSKY Award: The Best Actor Award (for the character of the Old Woman in the production of E. Ionesco's play The Chairs)

2000 – Jozef Kroner Award (for the most outstanding acting performance in 1999 for the character of the Old Woman in the production of E. Ionesco's play The Chairs)

2000 – winner of the press poll Actress of the Century

2000 – Igric Award for original audiovisual creation (for the character of Máša in the STV TV production The Cage)

2000 – Literary Fund Award (for the character of the Old Woman in the production of E. Ionesco's play The Chairs)

2001 – Actor's Mission (Trenčianske Teplice Art Film)

2002 – State award of the Order of Ľudovít Štúr I. class

2002 – The DOSKY Award: Award for the best performance by an actor (for her portrayal of Maria Callas in the production of T. McNally's play The Master Class of Maria Callas)

2003 – Karel Čapek Award 2002

2003 – Tatra Banka Foundation Award for Art

2003 – State Honour the Medal of Merit

2004 – The DOSKY Award: Best Actor Award (for her portrayal of Stevie in E. Albee's The Goat or Who is Sylvia?)

2005 – Czech Lion: Best Actress in a Leading Role in the film Up and Down

2005 – laureate of the Pavel Strauss Award for lasting contribution to the field of culture (Faculty of Arts, University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra)

2006 – Kobanadi Award ( Commercial Bank and National Theatre) for drama and the role of Marie in P. Turrini's play Josef and Marie at the Kolowrat Theatre for the 2005/06 season

2007 – Literary Fund Award for Lifetime Achievement

2008 – OTO 2007, Lifetime Achievement Award - The Hall of Fame

2008 – Jing Jue Award (Golden Cup) in the Best Actress category for her portrayal of Václav's mother in the film Václav at the 11th Shanghai IFF

2010 – Honorary Doctorate of the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts Brno (Doctor Artis Dramaticae Honoris Causa)

2010 – ELSA Television Award in the category Original Dramatic Works - Actress for her performance in Archive (ČT1)

2011 – The Flower of Thalia (as part of the Anička Jurkovičová Festival)

2013 – creative bonus for acting performance in a film or television work for the character of Amalia in the film Souls of the Seniors from the cycle Filmoviedky (annual national creative award of the Slovak Film and Television Union, the Union of Slovak Television Creators and the creators of the Literary Fund for audiovisual production in 2012)

2013 – Literary Fund Award for the theatre character Violet Weston's in the production of T. Letts August: Lost in Oklahoma)

2013 – the first recipient of the Donors Forum Hall of Fame Award for her longstanding commitment to philanthropy

2016 – the Slovak National Film Award for the film Eva Nová – Sun in the Net

2016 - Annual Award of the Czech Film Clubs for the film Eva Nová

2017 - Czech Film Critics Award TRILOBIT for the character Eva Nová

2018 - Literary Fund Award for the character of Mrs Peters in the production of Before Sunset

 

The complete character list is on the Theatre Institute's website (Divadelný ústav).