Zvezdana Mlakar got acquainted with theatre already at the secondary school in Ptuj, in a drama society mentored by Branka Bezeljak Glazer and Marjan Kovač. She pursued her studies in stage acting in the class of Professor France Jamnik and graduated in the production of Ghosts by Ibsen with the role of Mrs. Helen Alving. After her studies she appeared in various Slovenian theatres and in films. In 1978 she received the Actress of the Year Award for the role of Suzana in Spring Celebration directed by Štiglic. She has been a member of the SNT Drama Ljubljana resident ensemble since 1987 and has worked with many directors. She has always delivered diverse and outstanding, prominent characters. Her acting is characterised by the precisely measured portion of humorous elements. In 1997, she won the Borštnik Award for the role of Ana in The Butterfly Dance by Draga Potočnjak, and in 1998 the Stane Sever Fund Award for Ruth in Ashes to Ashes by Pinter. She often appears as guest in other theatres, in films and on television, which brought her wider recognition.