A graduate of the Acting Department of the Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts in Kraków /1973/

1 July 1973 – The Stary Theatre, Kraków

A theater and film actress, teacher, and founder of the “Mimo Wszystko” Foundation, initiator of many other social projects, one of the most recognized faces in Polish theater.
A master of constant “movement” and contrasts, subtle lyricism, elemental passion of existence, sardonic humour, and self-effacement. Early in her career, working with Andrzej Wajda (Kora in “A November Night”), Konrad Swinarski (The Girl in “Forefathers’ Eve”), Jerzy Jarocki (Ania in “The Cherry Orchard”), she had a hand in creating the Stary Theatre history. Her acting was a combination of great beauty and girlish grace, paired with courage, theatrical temperament, and force of expression. The breakthrough points in her career were roles in Jerzy Grzegorzewski’s productions: the stoked, whirling Zosia in “The Wedding,” the passionate Nina Zarieczna immersed in a surreal space in “Ten Portraits with a Lapwing”, and the tragicomically despairing Praskovya Ivanovna in “The Death of Ivan Ilyich.”
Her next artistic metamorphosis was the courageous and unconditional leap into the theatrical avant garde. She created roles grounded in the pulsing contemporary world, and one step ahead of it, finding her way in the flow of Jan Klata’s stagings. In her Clytemnestra emerging from smoke in a snug wedding dress in “Oresteia”, Baśka Wołodyjowska in “The Trilogy” – full of poise ‘until the last gasp’, facing the struggle between love and the relentless march of time – she overcomes the myths of her characters. Her roles created in plays directed by Marcin Liber have been: Mother C of Songs in “Being Steve Jobs” and the titular figure, angrily chanting rock protest songs in “An Old Woman Broods,” pitifully grasping at her last scraps of feelings and emotions.

She delighted audiences in Bogomolov’s “Platonov” as Nikolai Tryletzki: “The actress created one of her finest roles of late. Her protagonist is a person who knows that she should pay no mind to amorous passions, because they are only fleeting. Sasha’s sister admonished Nikolai for being cynical, but he simply realized that he was incapable of playing along,” concluded Jacek Cieślak in Teatr (2016/4).

2014 – named in the Gazeta Wyborcza plebiscite for the “Most Important People of the Past 25 Years in Krakow”
2010 – Honorary Award from the Krakow branch of the Polish Culture Foundation for service to Polish culture
2007 – Woman of the Year 2006 – Twój Styl readers’ award for charity work, above all for helping the ill and physically challenged.
2000 – Krakow Citizen of the Year – awarded for the first time by the Krakow Soroptimist International Club
1999 – Gold Mask – plebiscite for Krakow’s most popular actress
helping associations and organizations for the physically challenged
1998 – Gold Mask – plebiscite for Krakow’s most popular actress
1996 – Gold Mask – plebiscite for Krakow’s most popular actress
1996 – 36th Kalisz Theater Gatherings – acting award for the role of Krystyna in “Revival” by M. Wojtyszko, dir. M. Wojtyszko
1995 – readers of Krakow’s Przekrój monthly chose her for the Chairperson of the Fifty-year Gallery
1994 – readers of Gazeta Krakowska named her Person of the Year 94 for her marvelous theater and film creations, her sensitivity, and her active participation in charity work
1993 – 18th Opole Theater Confrontations – Polish Classics – acting award for the role of the Hostess in “The Wedding” by S. Wyspiański, dir. A. Wajda
1993 – Krakow Voivodeship Award for theater
1988 – 14th Opole Theater Confrontations – Polish Classics – acting award for the role of Adela in “The Republic of Dreams” by B. Schulz, dir. R. Zioło
1983 – 22nd Rzeszów Theater Gatherings – audience award for best female role – Maria Derkum in “The Clown” by H. Böll, dir. M. Grąbka
1983 – 2nd-class award of the Ministry of Culture and Art
1980 – 20th Kalisz Theater Gatherings – acting award for the role of Nina Zarieczna in “Ten Portraits with a Lapwing,” based on A. Chekov, dir. J. Grzegorzewski
1979 – City of Krakow award for work to spread culture – an award for a promising young artist in theater or film
1977 – head of the Radio and Television Committee award for the role of Kora in “A November Night” by S. Wyspiański, dir. A. Wajda

2015 – Service to the Polish Language Award
2014 – Order of Polonia Restituta Commander’s Cross
2006 – St. George Medal – awarded by the editors of Tygodnik Powszechny
2005 – Gold Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture
2005 – Ecce Homo Order – a Polish clerical decoration. It is given to unblemished people who are sensitive to wrongdoing and who give evidence of great love for others
2004 – Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
2002 – Order of the Smile, membership into the international chapter of the same order
2000 – St. Brother Albert Medal for initiating and supporting charity projects in the Krakow area, particularly for helping refugees from Kosovo and involvement in related projects
1989 – Silver Cross of Merit