Maria Bakalova Awarded Honorary Askeer as Ambassador of Bulgarian Acting School

Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova will receive an honorary Askeer Award as a rising international star and ambassador of Bulgarian acting. The decision was made public on Thursday by the Bulgarian theatre awards foundation through its media partner, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). 

At the tender age of 24, Bakalova has already gained international recognition for her appearance in the 2020 "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm." The film has earned her the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress and nominations for an Academy Award, the BAFTA Film Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She is the first Bulgarian to be nominated for these honours. 

In a message to Bakalova, the Askeer Foundation Board said they offer her the award for "achieving something that no other
Bulgarian actor has achieved".

"You are probably already well aware that there will be much negative noise down the road, but you listen to the silence. It holds the answers, it is inhabited by millions of human beings who quietly like you and appreciate what you do, millions of people whose dream you live. Don't disappoint them! Be brave, inspired and inspiring! Bon voyage, dear Maria!" the Askeer Board's message reads.

Commenting on Bakalova's award, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev described it as "recognition from the home country for the talent of a successful actress from Eastern Europe, who started her career in the Bulgarian acting school where tastes often clash but are always glad to see compatriots excel".

Valchev pointed out that in the nearly 100 years of the Academy Awards, Bakalova is only the fifth East European actress to get a nomination for an actress in a leading or supporting role after...