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A winner of the Critics Choice Award and a nominee for prestigious accolades such as the Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for her performance in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, the Bulgarian actress takes on the role of Ivana Zelníčková, the first wife of Donald Trump, who was born in the Czech Republic. An avid skier, Zelníčková pursued higher education at Prague’s Charles University, where she earned a master’s degree in physical education. Following her marriage to Austrian ski instructor Alfred Winklmayr, which ended in divorce, she relocated to Canada to work as a ski instructor and model before eventually moving to New York City. It was in 1976 that her path first crossed with Donald Trump.
The couple married in 1977 and became significant figures both personally and professionally, with Ivana serving as a senior executive within the Trump organization. She played a pivotal role in directing the interior design of Trump Tower. Throughout the 1980s, they were a prominent presence on the Manhattan social scene and welcomed three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. However, their relationship ultimately deteriorated, culminating in a divorce in 1990. Notably, the reality series The Apprentice includes a contentious scene regarding marital rape, a reference to an incident brought up in Ivana’s divorce deposition, which was later retracted. Ivana stated at the time, “As a woman I felt violated. I referred to this as a rape, but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.” Donald Trump has consistently denied her allegations.
After the dissolution of their marriage, Ivana Zelníčková received a settlement amounting to $14 million. She went on to create successful clothing lines marketed on television, authored an autobiography, and married businessman Riccardo Mazzucchelli, followed by actor Rossano Rubicondi. In 2022, she passed away at the age of 73 due to injuries suffered from a fall at her Manhattan residence.
Martin Donovan as Fred Trump
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www.vogue.com