Riana Emma Balla

About

Profoundly decorated young performer and ambitious filmmaker whose remarkable number of achievements, earned during the earliest stage of her budding career, far surpassed that of most veteran entertainers many years her senior. She has been featured in Hungarian films such as Puncture, FrighTime, and The Siege, as well as American television series including The Alienist and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. She has also prevailed in stage and vocal performance, and her talent for operettas and operatic arias has led her to share the stage with such musical dignitaries as the world-famous violinist Roby Lakatos and the Miskolc Symphony Orchestra.

Before Fame

At only 6 years old, she was cast in the titular role of the Montázs Association's stage production of Alice in Wonderland. She was accepted into the Károly Peller and Szilvia Szabó Operetta Course at the age of 7 - making her the youngest student ever to earn such an opportunity. She entered the world of filmmaking at the young age of 11 when she wrote and starred in the highly acclaimed short thriller film Rianás. 

Trivia

Her truly massive collection of commendations includes a Best Young Actress in a Short Film Award from the prestigious Cannes World Film Festival, a Royal Society of Television & Motion Picture Award, 2 International World Film Awards, and an extraordinary six wins from the 2022 Mabig Film Festival. 

Family Life

She was born in the town of Miskolc in Hungary. She grew up homeschooled by her mother, Laura Daragó, who also directed her short film Rianás. 

Associated With

She appeared as Marika Breza on several episodes of Jack Ryan, alongside castmates such as John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, and Nina Hoss.