Ana Maria Nicolau

Daughter of the army colonel Nicolae "Cuni" Nicolau and Iulia "Luti" Nicolau, b. Hodos, Ana-Maria "Ancuta" Nicolau is a descendant of the famous scholars Hodos family from Transylvania, and also of several other historical figures who fought for freedom and independence, as Simeon Balint, Prefect of Zarand. She is also the maternal aunt of the Romanian movie director Mihnea Columbeanu. After her success with the part of Magda Orheianu, in "Neamul Soimarestilor", she retreated from acting, to make a career in international advertising. She married the automobiles engineer Iura Borila, son of the former minister Petre Borila and brother of Iordana, whose husband, Valentin Ceausescu, is the oldest son of the famous Nicolae Ceausescu, communist dictator of Romania. Yet, Ana-Maria and Iura Borila were disgusted with the communist power's abuses and, in the summer of 1981, they defected to the West, first getting settled in Göteborg, Sweden, where her mother, Iulia, soon joined them. After a few years, Iura got a better offer at the Caterpillar facility in Geneva, where they are still living today.