About
Biography
Early Life and Theatre Beginnings
Tanja Ribič was born on 28 June 1968 in the town of Trbovlje, Slovenia. She developed a passion for performing arts early and enrolled at the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television (AGRFT) in Ljubljana, graduating in the early 1990s. Upon finishing her studies, Ribič immediately joined the Ljubljana City Theatre (Mestno Gledališče Ljubljansko) in 1992 as a full-time ensemble member. This marked the start of an active stage career, during which she took on diverse roles ranging from classical drama to musical theatre. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, while still a student, she had begun performing in professional theatres and even appeared in her first film roles. In 1994 she won a comedy acting award for her role as Suzette in the play Pridi gola na večerjo (Come to Dinner Naked).
Eurovision and Music Breakthrough
Tanja Ribič gained wider fame beyond the theatre stage when she entered the music scene. In 1997, she won the Slovenian national selection (EMA) for the Eurovision Song Contest with the ballad “Zbudi se” (“Wake Up”). She went on to represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 in Dublin, finishing in tenth place out of 25 entries. Her Eurovision performance made her a household name in Slovenia, though she remained primarily an actress by profession.
Following Eurovision, Ribič recorded and released two pop albums at the turn of the millennium, Ko vse utihne (1999) and To je zdaj amore (2000). These records included songs like Midva bi lahko and 100 solzic, and capitalized on her Eurovision popularity. One of the albums achieved notable success, earning a gold certification in Slovenia. However, as a singer Tanja remained selective in musical projects. She eventually shifted focus back to acting, and for several years after 2000 she stepped away from major music competitions. She would only return to the Eurovision sphere many years later, attempting a comeback at EMA 2018 with a new song, which did not advance from the semi-final.
Film and Television Success
Alongside her singing endeavors, Tanja Ribič built an impressive screen career. She started appearing in Slovenian films in the early 1990s and soon landed roles in high-profile projects. Notably, she had a part in the Oscar-winning war satire No Man’s Land (2001) by Danis Tanović. In 2003, Ribič co-starred in the hit comedy Kajmak in marmelada (Cheese and Jam), directed by her husband Branko Đurić. This film became one of Slovenia’s most popular movies of the era. Another major film was Traktor, ljubezen in rock’n’roll (Tractor, Love and Rock’n’Roll, 2008), a comedy-drama in which Ribič played the lead role of Silvija. Her performance earned critical acclaim; she won the Best Actress award at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy in 2008.
On television, Tanja Ribič became beloved for her comedic roles. She starred as Magda (a physician character) in the Slovenian TV sitcom Naša mala klinika (“Our Little Clinic”), appearing in over 100 episodes between 2004 and 2007. Earlier, she had also played a leading role in the comedy series Teater Paradižnik in the 1990s. These television series made her one of the most recognizable faces on Slovenian TV. Ribič’s ability to balance drama and comedy earned her numerous accolades at home, including a 2011 award in Serbia for her comic TV role and a prestigious Slovenian award for her theatre work as Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion.
Later Career and International Projects
As her career progressed, Tanja Ribič continued to diversify her work. In 2009, she and Branko Đurić co-starred in the film Lunina prva noč (The Moon’s First Night), an English-language project. That’s a rare venture for Slovenian actors. Around the same time, she also served as a judge on the popular TV talent show Znan obraz ima svoj glas (the Slovenian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar) in 2014. After many years focused on acting, Ribič returned briefly to music competitions by participating in EMA 2018. She performed a song titled “Ljudje” (“People”) in Slovenia’s 2018 Eurovision selection, but the entry was eliminated in the semi-final round.
Undeterred, Ribič kept busy with acting roles. In 2019 she appeared in the horror-comedy film Prekletstvo Valburge (The Curse of Valburga). She also expanded into international television. Notably, Tanja Ribič had a recurring role in the Netflix teen drama series Zero Chill (2021), portraying Elina, a strict ice-skating coach and mother. This role introduced her to a global streaming audience and was filmed in the United Kingdom. In recent years, Ribič has remained active in Slovenian cinema. She featured as a teacher character in the 2024 family adventure film Tartinijev ključ (Tartini’s Key), which became a domestic box-office success, earning a Golden Reel award for attracting over 25,000 viewers.
Outside of entertainment, Ribič even took a foray into public life: in 2024 she ran as a candidate for the European Parliament on the list of a new party called Resnica (“Truth”). Although she had stated she wasn’t keen on moving to Brussels, she joined the election race hoping to advocate for culture and a more just society. The party did not win any seats in the election.
Personal Life
In her personal life, Tanja Ribič is married to Bosnian-born actor and director Branko Đurić (popularly known as Đuro). The couple wed in 2000 after co-starring in various projects, and they often collaborate professionally. Together they have two daughters, Zala and Ela, born in the early 2000s. Ribič is also a stepmother to Đurić’s son Filip from his previous marriage. The family resides in Slovenia, and Ribič has been open about balancing her career with motherhood. Her elder daughter Zala has even followed in her footsteps into acting. In addition to acting and singing, Ribič has lent her voice to animated films, directing Slovene dubbings of Disney movies, and she has tried her hand at theater directing. Off-screen, she is known for her warm personality and down-to-earth nature.
