Since the second half of the nineties, fifty years old Vášáryová successfully rebuilt her legend on the screen, as a result of new challenging roles the actress was to receive. Following "The Cage", she left television for almost a decade. She appeared in Martin Šulík's "Orbis Pictus", which was lauded at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg, Vášáryová was given the role of mother. So was in Eva Borušovičová's official debut "Blue Heaven" (1997) that received nominations on several festivals, including at the 32nd Karlovy Vary IFF or at the independent Cinequest Film Festival held annually in San Jose, California. "Return to Paradise Lost" by Vojtěch Jasný was a Montréal WFF nominee, her next picture "Cosy Dens" (1999) was a comedy, directed by Jan Hřebejk. and Vášáryová would become more importantly the director's protégé also in the 2000s. For her stage performances, for the role of Agnes in the Edward Albee play, "A Delicate Balance" she received the "Crystal Wing" in 1999 as Best Artist in Theater/Film. As the Old Woman in Ionesco's absurdist tragedy "The Chairs", she received the Dosky Award, Jozef Kroner Award and Literature Fund award (all 2000).