Marija Vera, the baroness Osten-Sacken, born as Frančiška Epich, studied in Vienna. She was a theatre actress, director and one of the first professors, co-founders of the Ljubljana Academy for Theatre Art. She started her acting career in Zürich in 1907 and then in Berlin with the renowned director Max Reinchard. After the World War II, she worked in Novi Sad and Belgrade. In 1923 she became a permanent member of the Ljubljana Drama. Marija Vera is considered a top interpreter of classic roles and an outstanding speaker of artistic works. In 1950 and 1951 she received the Prešeren award. The guild award of the Slovenian Association of Dramatic Artists is named after her.