Heda Čechová facts for kids

Heda Čechová (born July 17, 1928 – died April 23, 2020) was a famous Czech television and radio presenter. She was also a politician. After the Velvet Revolution, she served in the Czech National Council from 1990 to 1992. This was when Czechoslovakia was becoming a democracy.

Heda Čechová's Early Life and Career

Heda Čechová was born Heda Šimandlová in Prague, Czechoslovakia. This was on July 17, 1928. She started working in radio while still a student. She was studying chemistry after World War II. Her father also worked at Czechoslovak Radio.

In 1954, she began working on television. She quickly became a very popular TV presenter. By the 1960s, she was one of the most well-known faces on Czech television.

A Brave Protest on Television

Heda Čechová's television career ended in 1968. This was when the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia happened. This invasion stopped the Prague Spring, a time of political freedom. Heda and her co-workers were not allowed to report on the invasion.

To show her protest, Heda Čechová wore a black dress on her TV show. This was her way of speaking out against the invasion and the censorship. Because of this, she was removed from her job as a TV presenter. She was given a job working with old records in the station's archives.

In 1977, she retired from the TV station due to health issues. She had been diagnosed with cancer. Doctors thought she only had a few months to live. However, she had surgery and radiation treatment. This helped her get better from the cancer. She thought about moving to another country. But she decided to stay in Czechoslovakia because of her son.

Heda Čechová's Time in Politics

After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Heda Čechová entered politics. The Velvet Revolution was a peaceful change that ended communism in Czechoslovakia. She was elected to the Czech National Council. This was the main law-making group for the Czech Republic. She was a member of the Civic Forum party. She served from 1990 to 1992.

Heda Čechová said she didn't join politics for money. She felt that the new freedom was very important. She left politics after her term ended in 1992.

Family Life and Later Years

Heda Čechová was married two times. Her first marriage was to actor Vladimír Čech Sr. They later divorced. She had one child, a son named Vladimír Čech. He also became a well-known actor and TV host. Sadly, her son passed away in 2013.

Heda Čechová died on April 23, 2020. She was 91 years old.