As the entertainment industry navigates a shifting landscape across Central Europe, 21-year-old Czech actress Aneta Kalertová is stepping out from under the radar of celebrity adjacency.
The Bottom Line
- The Rising Star: Aneta Kalertová, born in 2005, entered the professional theater scene at age 14 and has already carried major title roles at the National Theatre and Švandovo divadlo.
- The Family Legacy: Jan Polívka, born in 2004, pivoted from a high-level competitive basketball career to acting after experiencing burnout, now studying at DIFA JAMU in Brno.
- The Modern Dynamic: Balancing careers across a Prague-and-Brno transit axis, the young couple maintains a pragmatic approach to high-profile visibility and intense artistic schedules.
Beyond the Tabloid Lens: A Stage Career Rooted in Precocious Acclaim
When public figures collide, the media narrative usually defaults to red carpet debuts and academic majors. But in Kalertová’s case, the timeline tells a vastly different story. Hailing from Mníšek pod Brdy, she stepped onto professional boards at just fourteen years old. That same year, in 2019, she represented the Czech Republic at the international Sanremo Junior singing competition in Italy, walking away with a special jury prize.
Here is the kicker: that early fluency in vocal work and physical movement paved the way for avant-garde opportunities. The real breakthrough arrived when Laterna magika tapped her for the demanding title role of Valérie in Valérie a týden divů (Valerie and Her Week of Wonders). Entering the New Stage of the National Theatre at seventeen, she anchored the production through forty-one performances before it transferred to the Estates Theatre.
By September 2024, she officially began her formal acting studies at DAMU in Prague. Yet, while most first- and second-year undergraduates spend their semesters scrambling for student showcases, Kalertová was already carrying a parallel title role. She brought Juliet to life in Martin Františák’s staging of Romeo and Juliet at Švandovo divadlo, which bowed on Valentine’s Day in 2026 opposite Oskar Hes as Romeo.
From Hardwood Courts to Dramatic Arts
On the other side of this high-profile pairing stands Jan Polívka. Born in 2004, his lineage carries considerable weight in Czech cinema and theater. However, his path to the footlights was far from automatic. From the age of nine, he poured his energy into competitive basketball before losing his drive for the sport.
Following a period of athletic burnout, he briefly weighed studying to become a fitness trainer. Everything shifted after he visited the DISK student theater at DAMU. Sitting in the audience, he realized the stage was where he actually belonged. Today, he is honing his craft at DIFA JAMU in Brno.
His screen and stage footprint is steadily expanding. Television audiences caught him as Jonáše in the TV Nova series Bratři a sestry, a casting choice that inevitably drew visual comparisons to his father’s iconic early film turns, such as 1980’s Kalamita. He also shared the stage with his father Bolek and his brothers in the family production Anděl v lihu, alongside an appearance in the film project Dream Team.
Navigating the Prague-Brno Transit Axis
For two working actors carving out spaces in different academic hubs, romance requires logistical precision. With Kalertová based in Prague at DAMU and Polívka studying in Brno, their relationship operates on a strict intercity train schedule. As Jan Polívka noted, the distance is largely neutralized by sheer professional velocity.
That shared understanding was put to a uniquely theatrical test during the run of Romeo and Juliet. Watching his partner share intense romantic scenes on stage with co-star Oskar Hes could test any relationship, but Polívka approached it strictly as an industry professional. Having attended the premiere, he expressed deep admiration for both actors’ work, admitting the production genuinely moved him to tears.
| Actor | Birth Year | Academic Institution | Notable Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aneta Kalertová | 2005 | DAMU (Prague) | Valérie a týden divů (Laterna magika / National Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Švandovo divadlo) |
| Jan Polívka | 2004 | DIFA JAMU (Brno) | Bratři a sestry (TV Nova), Anděl v lihu, Dream Team |
But as Kalertová’s extensive early repertoire demonstrates, the real story isn’t about who these rising talents are linked to—it is about the rigorous institutional training and early professional milestones they are already securing on their own terms.
