She attended school in České Budějovice and in 1963, she graduated from the Faculty of Theatre at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.

She has appeared in many films, such as Což takhle dát si špenát, Marecek, Pass Me the Pen!, and the television series Hospital at the End of the City.

In 1959, she graduated from the pedagogical gymnasium in České Budějovice, but her interest in theatre led her to study acting afterward.

After several episodic roles, director Karel Kachyňa cast her in his 1966 film, Coach to Vienna.

She was nominated for Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for her starring roles in Oil Lamps and Morgiana.