She appeared on the big screen for the first time almost by accident – she spent her holidays in Masuria in the company of her friends from theater school. There she was spotted by Jan Łomnicki, for whom she played as an extra in the documentary. Young Elżbieta Czyżewska was talented from the very beginning, but she did not expect that when she decided to emigrate, her talent would be appreciated by the actress most frequently awarded by the Academy.
Girl from neighborhood
She graduated from the State Higher School of Theater in Warsaw in the early 1960s. After graduating, she joined the Dramatic Theater almost immediately. Although she played in major plays, her collaboration with Ludwik René turned out to be a real breakthrough. She played there Maggie, a pastiche of Marilyn Monroe, which later for years was called her Polish version. The premiere of the play was seen by Miller himself. Czyżewska was delighted. It was then that the thought that in the future she would have to go to the West could germinate in her, but before she did that, she conquered the world of Polish cinema. Directors, even initially against her, later said that her presence in their films was a must. Several cars from different film crews were waiting under her windows at the same time. None of the representatives could return without Czyżewska. “This is our version of the girl next door,” said Aleksander Bardini about her.
A year before graduation, she appeared in the comedy “Cafe Pod Minogą” by Stefan Wiechecki, but, as in the documentary by Łomnicki, it was not an important role. Stanisław Bareja, whom she met in Masuria, also changed a lot, who involved her in the film “His wife’s husband”, where she proved herself as a seducer. In the director’s work, you can meet her many times – she also appeared in “A Wife for an Australian” and “Marriage of Convenience”. She was also associated with war cinema, but still told cheerfully. Czyżewska quickly clung to the title of the queen of Polish comedies, but she also proved herself in more serious roles, playing Has, Kutz or Skolimowski, with whom she was in a relationship for some time. The next love was a blessing and a curse for her. In Poland, from the most popular actress of the People’s Republic of Poland, she became the love of the greatest persona non grata.
“She was dazed by the color of American bills”?
A breakthrough came when the correspondent of the “New York Times” David Halberstam came to Poland. Initially, he won the sympathy of the authorities, but he lost it just as quickly – all because of an article criticizing Gomułka. The lovebird Czyżewska, who married a publicist on the day she received the Golden Mask for the most popular TV actress, had to make the most important decision in her life – to continue her career in the country or take a risk and leave with her beloved. Although she initially chose the former, she became the victim of March 1968. The press cursed her.
The question arises, why our outstanding Polish actress betrays our vital Polish interests? Had she been so dazed by the green color of American banknotes? How can you call such a woman? An actress who owes everything to People’s Poland, and who insults us all so unworthily.
– was written in the pages of “Walki Młodych”. Czyżewska knew she had to leave. On the same day at the airport, she was subjected to a body search, although there were no grounds for that. Everything was done to humiliate her.
The inspiration for the greatest dead almost forgotten
In the United States, the actress could already breathe a sigh of relief. In her new life, although not easy at first, she could also feel like a star. Jane Fonda, Dustin Hoffman and Kurt Vonnegut frequented her Manhattan apartment. However, Poles who were bizarre for Americans also dropped in more and more often. The husband moved out, and Czyżewska was left with the roles of exaggerated ladies from the East, due to her strong accent. Only one person recognized her talent in the United States, but the Pole could not have dreamed of a greater compliment. When Andrzej Wajda staged “The Possessed” at the Yale theater, she charmed Meryl Streep, then unknown to anyone. She watched her not only on stage. She followed her in the park, wore her coat the same way, and learned the daily gestures. Who knows how many of her mannerisms were inspired by Czyżewska. They were certainly reflected in the role for which she received an Oscar – Zofia from “Sophia’s Choice”, where she had to pretend to be an Eastern accent. He lost the Polish actress for this. Due to poor English, she focused on Off-Broadway, but never achieved a status comparable to the one she gained in the country years ago. She unsuccessfully tried to return to grace in the 90s, but the addiction lost her. She came to castings drunk and quickly became an alcoholic. She died in New York at the age of 72. The New York Times emphatically summed up her career – in an article about the artist’s death, she was called “the queen without a country”.
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.
