Judita Hahn Kreft (1926–2020), Slovenian theatre and film actress, survived internment in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. After studying at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Ljubljana, she was a member of the Ljubljana City Theatre ensemble between 1952 and 1984. Among her more prominent roles are Laura in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie (1953), Cassandra in Giraudoux's The Trojan War Will Not Take Place (1955), Katarina in Cankar's For the Good of the Nation (1974), the Widow in Petan's Dachau Trials (1988), etc. Vasja Predan particularly emphasized the suggestiveness of her acting in the staging of Kreft's Creatures (1964). In 1972, she received the Borštnik Diploma for her role in Anouilh's play Do not wake the lady (dir. M. Korun), and in 1978, the Order of Merit for the Nation with a Silver Wreath.
She also collaborated with experimental theatres. At the Experimental Theatre of Balbina Battelino Baranovič she appeared in the title role of Zola's Thérèse Raquin (1955), and at the Ad hoc Theatre of Draga Ahačič as Ines in the first Slovenian production of Sartre's No Exit (1958). Critics appreciated her acting for its psychological depth and distinct stage intensity. In May 1964 she also performed at the manifesto evening Ivan Cankar and the Slovenian Actors of Oder 57, just before the group was officially banned.
She appeared in five feature films, including Čap's Our car (1962), F. Hadžić's The other side of the medal (1965) where she played the lead role of Eva Ružić, Ranfl's Spring wind (1974) and Gale's Love is the doom of us all (1987).
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