 Cocea's first big success came when she played in Melchior Lengyel's 1909 play "Taifunul" ("Typhoon").Cocea first screen appearance was in 1939's "O noapte de pomină" ("An Unforgettable Night").In 1941 Cocea founded an acting troupe, "Teatrul Nostru" ("Our Theater") and took as partners, Fory Etterle, Eugenia Zaharia and Peter Niro.