For over sixteen years, television personality Erika Judínyová and entertainer Štefan Skrúcaný have maintained a close relationship, one that has captivated the Slovak public. The couple, both established figures in the country’s entertainment industry, navigated previous relationships and professional commitments before ultimately finding a lasting connection. This is the story of how their paths converged, and blossomed into a family, revealed through recollections from both Judínyová and Skrúcaný.
A Longstanding Friendship
Erika Judínyová, a well-known television personality, and Štefan Skrúcaný, a popular entertainer, recently celebrated sixteen years as a couple, a union that surprised many despite being unsurprising to those close to them. The pair, who have built successful careers in the entertainment industry, found common ground in a shared understanding of what they sought – and didn’t seek – in life. Judínyová, known for her elegant demeanor and long-standing television career, has consistently avoided scandal, while Skrúcaný, a seasoned comedian, expressed a desire for stability and a partner with whom he could be his authentic self. Their relationship demonstrates how personal and professional lives can converge after years of parallel paths.
The couple’s connection dates back to Judínyová’s early career. She first met Skrúcaný shortly after graduating from university when she joined the editorial team of a weekly magazine and was assigned to interview a colleague of his, Miro Noga. “That was our first meeting, and I was 26 years old,” Judínyová recalled in an interview with Nový Čas. A year later, in 1997, they crossed paths again at a nightclub. However, Judínyová was in a relationship at the time, and her partner reacted with jealousy, destroying photographs taken with Skrúcaný. “Those were the only historical photos with Števo, and my boyfriend tore them up. He was jealous, but there was nothing to be jealous of at the time; we were just friends,” the television personality explained.
Skrúcaný and Judínyová in 2012.
Frequent appearances at social events due to Judínyová’s work on “Smotánka” led to regular encounters with Skrúcaný, eventually blossoming into a friendship. Both were in relationships at the time, and Skrúcaný was married to actress Zuzana Tlučková for many years. That marriage ended after 22 years when Skrúcaný became enamored with a younger woman, Dominika, who later worked as an editor. However, that relationship also ended after five years, paving the way for what would become a pivotal connection with Judínyová.
With both individuals single, the path was clear. “I always felt that Erika was, in a good way, a conservative girl, that you can’t just casually flirt with her and that she doesn’t react to it. For fifteen years, we perceived each other quite intensely, but it never occurred to us that anything more could come of it. Life just brought it about,” Skrúcaný told Šarm. “Our closer acquaintance was a slow process of getting to know each other. I think Erika was afraid that it wouldn’t be superficial. She’s very sensitive to that. She needed to sense in my behavior a certainty that the relationship had a future, a serious intention,” the actor added.
Relationship Quickly Intensified
Their relationship progressed rapidly, with Judínyová introducing Skrúcaný to her parents just two weeks after they became a couple. “When it became clear that we weren’t just attracted to each other, but that we were in love, we stayed together. One beautiful day, Erika spent the night at my place and never left,” Skrúcaný revealed.
A private wedding followed, and they welcomed their daughter. “I’m experiencing a very pleasant, peaceful, and harmonious part of my life, appropriate for my age. I’m glad we found each other, even if it was relatively late. Well, in my case, with Erika, it’s never too late,” the actor stated. Their daughter, Ella, was born in 2020 after five years of marriage.
