Jaroslava Pokorná is the daughter of writer, translator, and drama expert Jaroslav Pokorný (1920-1983) and translator Marie Pokorná (1922-1969). Her father's second wife was actress Libuše Pešková (1924-1994). Growing up in a cultural environment, Jaroslava already performed in a dramatic club at school, then studied acting at DAMU (1968) and simultaneously hosted at Realistický divadlo Zdeňka Nejedlého and Vinohradské divadlo.
After completing her studies (1968),she joined Realistické divadlo, where she remained for almost a quarter of a century (1968-1991). After the scene's closure and transformation into Divadlo Labyrint, Pokorná stayed on (1991-1998). Since 1998, she has been without a permanent engagement, but has guest-starred in various Prague theaters (Divadlo v Řeznické, Dejvické divadlo) and has also worked as a narrator at Divadlo v Dlouhé.
As a pedagogue, Pokorná taught dance education at a primary art school in Prague-Modřany and, under the guidance of Ivan Vyskočil, completed a postgraduate study at DAMU and now works as an expert assistant in acting education.
In her early years, Pokorná played comedic roles of temperamental girls, later progressing to psychologically complex characters, which she could convincingly portray using a wide range of expressive means. Her strengths include improvisation, although she always devoted great attention to studying roles.
From her older stage works, notable roles include those in predominantly classical plays (The Seagull, The Taming of the Shrew, The Cherry Orchard, The Servant of Two Masters, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Strakonický Dudák),as well as in modern repertoire (Lovers from the Kiosk, Asanace).
In recent years, Pokorná has excelled in roles of eccentric older women at Divadlo v Dlouhé (The Soudné Sestry, Mámení Mysli, Past na Myši),for which she won the Alfréd Radok Award for her role as Hedvika in the production Wild Duck in 2005.
Pokorná's film career began with minor roles as a student at DAMU (Souhvězdí Panny, 1965; Sedm Zabitých, 1965). She played the main role of Arina, a hapless maid, in the short student film by Polish director Agnieszka Holland, Hřích Boha (1969). In film, Pokorná appeared in several roles with gaps in between, with more opportunities coming from television, where she played in productions, fairy tales, and series (F. L. Věk, 1971; Byl Jednou Jedný Dům, 1974; Vlak Dětíství a Naděje, 1985).
Over time, Pokorná has transitioned to roles of mothers, which she has only recently excelled in (Smradi, 2002; Městečko, 2003),particularly notable is her creation of Miriam Šimáková in the award-winning film Nuda v Brně (2003). We last saw Jaroslava Pokorná in the television film Hodina Klavíru (2007).
Pokorná is the author of her autobiographical book Maminka není doma (2006). Her younger brother, Ivan Pokorný (born 1952),is an actor and director.
