Marian Opania recently turned 80 years old. The Polish actor has a long career that lasts until today. He played in Andrzej Wajda’s Man of Iron, and received the Palme d’Or at Cannes for his role. He also appeared in the series “Zmiennicy” by Bareja, and in “For Good and for Bad” he played the role of Professor Zybert, adored by viewers.
Since the mid-1960s, the actor has been associated with the Television Theater and has appeared in about 200 performances of the Polish Radio Theatre. He played in the Classical Theatre, Studio, Kwadrat, Komedia and has been cooperating with the Ateneum in Warsaw for 40 years. In addition, the artist is also a cabaret artist and a stage song performer, as well as a dubbing actor. He lent his voice to Lord Voldemort, Szpondrowi in “Ratatouille” or Mater in “Cars 3”.
At the peak of his career, Marian Opania stopped receiving offers. Alcohol killed him
After seeing such a long (and still incomplete) list of actor’s successes, it’s hard to believe what problems he struggled with. As we read in an interview with the biweekly “Show”, Opania, after reaching the professional peak, stopped receiving attractive offers.
“When I was over 30, I quickly turned gray and put on weight, so there were no roles for me. After so many awards and successes, I suddenly found myself in the so-called second league. Indirectly, I was to blame,” Opania says. The actor began to look for consolation in drugs.
“I drank because they didn’t cast, and they didn’t cast because I drank. A vicious circle.” he adds in the interview.
The addiction had a negative impact on Opania’s professional life, but not only on it. His partner also stopped dealing with his husband’s problems. She decided to give the actor an ultimatum. The 80-year-old artist probably made one of the best decisions in his life at that time.
Marian Opania overcame his addiction. He was saved by his wife’s ultimatum
“I started therapy on January 17, 1988. Since then, there have been relapses of the so-called flu, three to be exact. Now it doesn’t happen anymore” – emphasizes Opania.
Although Opania listened to his wife almost 40 years ago, he admitted in an interview with weekend.gazeta.pl that this is not always the case.
“I don’t always listen to my muse-wife. She wouldn’t let me give this interview, for example, because she hates interviews. I don’t like them either. It used to be an ordeal for me, a kind of horror. ” – declared Opania.
In the same conversation, the actor admitted that to this day he has remorse that he fell into addiction. He is particularly hurt by the fact that his son, Bartek, felt the effects of these proceedings. Opania explained that he started drinking alcohol only during his studies.
“I was a very orderly, fantastic young man, but I got into this environment too early, which teaches not only good things. I didn’t drink or smoke throughout college, and after college I started both. I fell into such a whirlwind of work that I allowed myself : Oh, cognac, very good. I’ve always had a genetic inclination for vodka. I, who poured vodka into flowers during my graduation party, had a huge problem with alcohol in the 70s. They didn’t cast, I reached deeper into the glass, and they didn’t cast, because I was reaching too deep. Hell, the actor tells the story.
However, Opania emphasizes that he is a very consistent man and does nothing half-heartedly.
“I dug myself out and now you won’t tell me that I drink beer. I am firm in this resolution. I do everything at least one hundred percent” – he concludes.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
