congresses organized by the United Nations. Despite acting in over 100 stage productions, a dozen films, being a regular television and radio guest, and being well known as a writer in Romania with a career spanning more than 50 years, Cocea was little known outside of Romania. However, in her home country she was a household name, having been dubbed ("Queen of the Theater"). In 2001, Cocea was presented with an honorary doctorate from the National University of Theatre and Film. In 2002, she was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania, the country's highest civil order awarded only by the President of Romania, and granted thereby the rank of Knight. She was married to composer Mihai Brediceanu. Cocea died on 28 October 2008 of a heart attack, about a month shy of her 96th birthday, having entered Floreasca Hospital just days before suffering from a pulmonary infection. Following her death, former Romanian President, Ion Iliescu and Culture Minister Adrian Iorgulescu, among other dignitaries, expressed sorrow. On 30 October 2008, Cocea's body was laid in repose in the foyer of Bucharest's National Theatre where last respects were paid by dignitaries, actors such as Gheorghe Dinică, Marin Moraru, and Ion Caramitru, many of her former students, friends, and relatives, as well as students of the Caragiale Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography On 31 October 2008 Cocea was interred at Bellu Cemetery, where she was given military honors at the funeral. Filmography Night in May (1934) O noapte de pomină (1939) (1964) (1964), as Elisabeta Movilă (1972), as pastor Gorgon's sister Stephen the Great - Vaslui 1475 (1974), as Sultana Mara (Mara Branković) (1975) (1977) (1980) (1980) (1992), as Magda Comnoiu, Mihaela's mother Băieți buni (2005), as Aglaia (2007), as Agripina Dumbravă, Gigi Dumbravă's mother (Telenovela) References 1912 births 2008 deaths Actresses from Bucharest Romanian stage actresses Romanian film actresses Romanian women writers 20th-century Romanian actresses Academic staff of the University of Bucharest Romanian university and college faculty deans Knights of the Order of the Star of Romania Burials at Bellu Cemetery