While her body of work for theatre is undeniably impressive, Zupančič made her acting debut in cinema, playing a student in Matjaž Klopičič’s Oxygen (1970). But it was her roles as Meta Presečnik in Blossoms in Autumn (1973) and Ms Žašler in The Widowhood of Karolina Žašler (1976), both also directed by Klopčič, that etched Milena Zupančič’s name in the Slovenian collective psyche. That said, it would be unfair only to list her most prominent acting creations. In more than five decades of appearances on film and TV screens, Zupančič has been cast in more than 80 roles, working with the most highly acclaimed figures of Yugoslavian cinema. In her works, she pushed the boundaries of what was considered conventional film acting. On behalf of the Screen Actors Guild of Slovenia, which nominated Zupančič for the award, actor Brane Završan noted: “Milena Zupančič’s complex personality is always distilled into this superb actor’s staggering versatility, her roles ranging from ‘the ideal of a pure young woman troubled by her sexual awakening’, to rebellious social outcasts, socially critical, experimental, new-wave roles or compelling historical heroines, polished performances in comedy, satire, or romantic comedies, back to tragic roles of women fully cognizant of their fates, or the sensual, lascivious femme fatale. In all these, she demonstrates sensibility and perfection as an actor, bringing to life carefully crafted, deeply felt roles. Zupančič can work in a variety of styles and genres, always depicting women in all their complexity, along with contradictions, her delivery natural and compelling. But being aware of her mission, she masterfully subjects this to the overall message of the film. Never seeking refuge in tried and tested methods, her acting has continually grown in sync with the developing art of contemporary cinema.”

For her work in cinema and TV, Zupančič has won dozens of awards, including one Silver and two Gold Arenas at the Pula film festival (1973, 1976, 1977), multiple Carica Teodora Awards at the Niš film festival (1973, 1976, 1977, 1985), two Actress of the Year Awards at the Festival of Slovenian Film (1976, 1985), the SEE Actress Award for contribution to Slovenian and Yugoslavian cinema at the South East European Film Festival (Berlin, Paris 2019), the honorary Aleksandar Lifka Award for outstanding contribution to European cinema at the European Film Festival (Palić, 2019), and the Bert Award for Lifetime Achievements in film acting. In addition to awards in cinema, Milena Zupančič has also received the Borštnik Ring Award (1999), the Prešeren Award for lasting contribution to Slovenian culture (1993), and the Golden Order of Merit for her body of work in Slovenian theatre and cinema and her tireless efforts in support of the culture of solidarity, presented to her in 2016 by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor.