Croatian actress Jadranka Matković, who remains in the public memory as Rebeka Palisander from the popular series "Nad lipom 35", has spoken about life after her acting career, financial challenges and the pension on which she now lives. In an interview with Hype TV, she revealed that the latest pension increase has not significantly altered her daily routine.
Matković stated that her pension had been increased by approximately six euros. When asked whether she considered such an increase humiliating after decades of work and a successful career, she replied: "I think it is, but I no longer have the strength to constantly fight over such things". The actress now lives in a home for the elderly and infirm.
Although she has withdrawn from active acting life, she still follows current social events. She regularly watches news programmes and parliamentary debates, with particular interest in topics concerning the position of pensioners in Croatia. She believes that many pensioners struggle to cope with the ever-rising costs of living.
She has spoken about this before, specifically highlighting the difficult position of artists who have dedicated their lives to culture and the arts. "Pensions for self-employed artists are meagre. This has been discussed for ten years. We barely have 500 and some euros in pocket money, while some people retired on 300 euros", Matković stated.
She emphasised that many artists, after years of work, now have amounts that barely cover basic living costs, leading many to feel forgotten. Her testimony further illuminates the problems faced by pensioners, particularly those who built their careers in culture and the arts.
