Who is Tatjana Šimić?

Tatjana Šimić, often known simply as Tatjana, is a Croatian‑Dutch model, actress, and singer whose career has spanned four decades and left a lasting imprint on Dutch entertainment and popular culture. Born on June 9, 1963, in Zagreb, then part of Yugoslavia, Šimić’s life and career represent not only a personal journey from Eastern Europe to Western fame but also a broader narrative about transformation, celebrity identity, and cultural reinvention.

Early Life and Migration: A Journey Begins

Tatjana’s early years were spent in Zagreb, where she grew up during a period marked by political and cultural complexity in the former Yugoslavia. At 16 years old, she moved with her mother and sister to Rotterdam, the Netherlands — an event that would fundamentally shape her future career. The transition from Zagreb to Rotterdam involved adapting to a new culture, language, and social environment, laying the groundwork for Tatjana’s later versatility and resilience in the public eye.

Her early exposure to both Eastern European roots and Western European popular culture provided a unique identity — one that helped distinguish her in the entertainment industry.

Rise to Fame: Modeling and Early Entertainment Career

Tatjana’s career began in the 1980s when she won a national modeling contest in the Netherlands. This early success launched her into the spotlight and led to her becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Dutch and European media. As a model, she became particularly known for her bold and unapologetic aesthetic — symbolized most notably by her extensive appearances in Playboy, where she was featured seventeen times between 1988 and 1996 (thirteen in the Dutch edition and four in the German edition), cementing her status as a sex symbol of that era.

Tatjana’s early career was characterized not just by glamour, but by her ability to leverage her image — a sign of the changing dynamics of celebrity and media in late 20th‑century Europe. Her modeling work opened doors to opportunities in television, music, and film, allowing her to transition seamlessly across entertainment formats.

Music Career: From “Baby Love” to International Hits

Parallel to her modeling and acting, Tatjana pursued a music career that began in 1987 with her first single “Baby Love”. She steadily released a series of dance‑oriented pop tracks throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. Her breakout hits included “Chica Cubana”, which resonated widely across Europe, and “Awaka Boy”, which followed in 1989.

In 1992, Tatjana recorded a duet with Dutch singer Gerard Joling on a cover of the classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, which performed well in the Dutch charts. Her music blended dance, pop, and club influences, reflecting the era’s sound and her own persona as a flamboyant pop artist. Albums like New Look and singles like Feel Good and Santa Maria expanded her musical footprint beyond the Netherlands, charting in markets such as the UK and Japan.

Although her musical output slowed after the early 2000s, Tatjana’s willingness to explore different genres — including a Dutch‑language pop‑rock track in the 2000s — demonstrated her continuous creative evolution.

Acting Career and “Flodder”: The Breakthrough Role

Tatjana Šimić remains best known internationally for her portrayal of Kees Flodder in the iconic Dutch comedy film Flodder (1986) and its subsequent sequels — Flodder in America! and Flodder 3 — as well as the long‑running television adaptation of the franchise. In these works, she played the brash, provocative, and unforgettable daughter of the dysfunctional Flodder family — a role that resonated with audiences and became culturally iconic in the Netherlands and beyond.

Flodder was a satirical comedy series about a socially unconventional family relocated into an affluent Dutch neighborhood, where their antics combated the cultural norms of opulence and propriety. Tatjana’s portrayal of Kees — known for her bold attitude and comedic presence — became emblematic of the show’s success and led to widespread recognition.

The phrase “Buurman, wat doet u nu?” (“Neighbor, what are you doing now?”), associated with one of her most memorable scenes, remains part of the Dutch cultural lexicon, demonstrating her lasting impact on popular culture.

Iconic Status: Sex Symbol, Celebrity, and Model of the 90s

In the 1990s, Tatjana was widely regarded as one of Europe’s most compelling sex symbols. Beyond her Playboy appearances, she became a fixture in calendars, magazine spreads, and television specials. She also participated in fitness and lifestyle productions — such as Superfit met Tatjana — and was involved in reality and game shows like Dancing with the Stars and Ranking the Stars, showcasing her versatility beyond scripted entertainment.

Her presence in the media during this period reflected the intersection of celebrity, sensuality, and personality — a blend that few entertainers managed with such consistency and boldness.

Life, Personal Transition, and Mid‑Career Evolution

After her peak fame in the 1990s and early 2000s, Tatjana began to shift her focus somewhat away from constant media presence. She maintained ties to entertainment through guest appearances, cooking and lifestyle publications, and occasional television roles. Her personal life, including her relationship with Dutch businessman Lex van Hessen, was covered by parts of the media, though she consistently emphasized her desire for privacy.

Tatjana also displayed a continual interest in creative reinvention. Her Tatjana Kalender reached record sales in the 1990s, and her music continued to evolve into new styles in the 2000s — indicating a willingness to explore and adapt her creative output.

**Nostalgia and Revival: The Revival of Flodder in 2025 – 2026**

One of the most compelling recent developments in Tatjana Šimić’s career is her return to acting in the highly anticipated spin‑off of the Flodder franchise, titled Kees Flodder, slated for release in 2026 on Videoland and broadcast on German television.

After nearly three decades away from acting — and long periods in which she refrained from memorizing lines or performing on film sets — Tatjana’s decision to reprise her role as Kees marked both a nostalgic revival and a reinvention of the character for contemporary audiences. Reflecting on this return, she admitted feelings of nervousness and self‑doubt about whether she could still command the role as she once did. But production experiences and warm feedback from collaborators bolstered her confidence.

This new series updates the story by placing Kees in a later life stage: she is now portrayed as a mother herself, unexpectedly returning to her old neighborhood and igniting a mix of nostalgia and fresh narratives with new characters. Casting discussions, teasers, and development details released in 2025 show Tatjana deeply involved in shaping this next chapter of the Flodder universe, working both with familiar faces and newer talents.

This return has gathered extensive public attention — from journalists probing whether she would reprise the physical boldness that defined the original to fans eagerly awaiting the premiere — underscoring Tatjana’s enduring cultural appeal.

Tatjana has openly shared her views on the modern context of the Flodder stories: while acknowledging that societal sensitivities have changed since the original series debuted, she insists the essence of Flodder — blunt family honesty and comedic irreverence — has not lost its relevance. She has also joked about the inevitable questions of whether she would repeat past provocations, often underlining that while boundaries in comedy and performance evolve, the energy and heart of her character remain intact.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Tatjana Šimić’s legacy goes far beyond her individual roles. She exemplifies a rare class of entertainers who have successfully navigated modeling, music, acting, and media‑driven celebrity culture across multiple decades. From her breakthrough as a modeling contest winner in the 1980s to her ongoing resurgence in the 2020s, her career trajectory reflects a remarkable adaptability — one that resonates with changing media landscapes, audience nostalgia, and evolving social tastes.

She stands as a cultural touchstone not only for those who grew up watching Flodder but also for newer generations discovering her through revivals and streaming platforms. That revival in Kees Flodder acknowledges her past while also projecting her into new spaces of relevance.