Iconic Albanian actress passes away

TIRANA, Oct. 2 – Drita Pelingu, an icon of the Albanian cinema and theatre passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87 after a prolonged illness.
“Drita Pelingu will be remembered not only as a brilliant actor but also a great woman,” the National Theatre said in a statement.
Her career of more than six decades included acting, directing and teaching. As a theatre and movie actor she performed in more than 150 roles. She had been awarded the “Great Master” award by the President of the Republic and had been selected by the American Biographical Institute as one of the 500 Leaders of Influence around the world.
“Drita Pelingu has left behind a whole cultural richness of values, a gallery of most distinguished roles and characters. Her ability and dedication as a professor went beyond the ordinary, her maturity and nobility always stood higher, her affection and commitment to theater became one with everything connected to the name of Drita Pelingu,” said President Bujar Nishani in a condolence message.
“We are grateful to her for everything she donated to us and we are indebted for everything we could have done more for Drita Pelingu and for any artist in general, because artists are part of any country’s aristocracy. She has already entered the Pantheon of the Albanian scenic art greats and fully deserving of it,” he added.