Born in Belgrade, Dravić was involved with performing arts from the age of four: initially dance and later classical ballet.

In 1959, still a high school student, she got spotted by director František Čáp who saw the eighteen-year-old on the cover of a youth magazine in a ballet dancers' group photo and decided to approach her about being in his film Vrata ostaju otvorena.
After appearing in a few more films, she decided to pursue acting full-time and to that end successfully enrolled at the Academy of Theatre Arts (APU) within the Arts Academy in Belgrade.

Her big break came in 1962 when she won the Golden Arena for Best Actress (Yugoslav equivalent of an Academy Award) for her role in Branko Bauer's film Prekobrojna.
This was what propelled her to becoming Yugoslavia's first and arguably biggest female movie star.
She was a recipient of five Silver arenas (for supporting actress roles) and 2 Golden arenas (for leading actress roles).

Milena Dravić's career was long, prolific, and versatile.
She was memorable and believable, whether as the tragic heroine in state-sponsored World War II epics, the eccentric protagonist of experimental arthouse films like WR: Mysteries of the Organism or in romantic comedies.
She especially excelled in the latter during the 1970s and 1980s.
She won the Cannes Best Supporting Actress Award in 1980 for Special Treatment.

For her roles and contributions to domestic cinematography, she received the prestigious Pavle Vujisić Award in August 1994.

On 15 December 2017 she was honored with the prestigious Dobričin prsten lifetime achievement award in Belgrade.
Born in Belgrade, Dravić was involved with performing arts from the age of four: initially dance and later classical ballet. 
In 1959, still a high school student, she got spotted by director František Čáp who saw the eighteen-year-old on the cover of a youth magazine in a ballet dancers' group photo and decided to approach her about being in his film Vrata ostaju otvorena. After appearing in a few more films, she decided to pursue acting full-time and to that end successfully enrolled at the Academy of Theatre Arts (APU) within the Arts Academy in Belgrade.
Her big break came in 1962 when she won the Golden Arena for Best Actress (Yugoslav equivalent of an Academy Award) for her role in Branko Bauer's film Prekobrojna. This was what propelled her to becoming Yugoslavia's first and arguably biggest female movie star. She was a recipient of five Silver arenas (for supporting actress roles) and 2 Golden arenas (for leading actress roles).
Milena Dravić's career was long, prolific, and versatile. She was memorable and believable, whether as the tragic heroine in state-sponsored World War II epics, the eccentric protagonist of experimental arthouse films like WR: Mysteries of the Organism or in romantic comedies. She especially excelled in the latter during the 1970s and 1980s. She won the Cannes Best Supporting Actress Award in 1980 for Special Treatment.
For her roles and contributions to domestic cinematography, she received the prestigious Pavle Vujisić Award in August 1994.
On 15 December 2017 she was honored with the prestigious Dobričin prsten lifetime achievement award in Belgrade.
Milena Dravić