She was the hope of Polish cinema. She was 22 when she committed suicide. She thought she had killed her lover

The debut on the big screen met with a positive reaction from the artistic community. It was quickly noticed that the young girl had above-average abilities and her great career was predicted. Charm and personal charm made her work with the most outstanding filmmakers from the beginning of her professional career. Unfortunately, love for a colleague and a toxic relationship between them led to a tragedy. The suicide of a young actress shocked the whole of Poland.

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Studies and first great love. After graduating, she left the capital

Zofia Marcinkowska was born in 1940 in Wieliczka. Her father, a lawyer and oppositionist, died in the Warsaw Uprising when she was only 4 years old. Then her mother remarried, and her new partner decided to formally adopt her daughter. After school, she moved to Kraków, where she began her studies at the PWST. Soon after, Bohdan Poręba offered her a role in the film “Sleepwalkers”, which she accepted, against the rules of the school. When the film hit the screens, Marcinkowska was relegated. However, the loss of the index did not prevent her from developing. She left for Warsaw and began her acting studies again, but this time at the Warsaw theater school, which she successfully graduated in 1962.

In her student days, Zofia Marcinkowska’s love was Bohdan Łazuka. For several years they made a beautiful and harmonious couple. As the actor recalled, they both fell in love at first sight. “I was in my sophomore year when this heavenly girl came to school. Zosia Marcinkowska had cornflower blue eyes, a delicate nose, a few freckles and great manners, plus large breasts – Łazuka in one of the interviews. Unfortunately, soon after obtaining their dream diploma, their paths diverged. Zofia already had the status of the hope of Polish cinema at that time. The role in the film “Nobody is calling” was a breakthrough for her. The director recalled that she not only captivated him with her talent, but also with her personality and pleasant appearance.

Toxic love led to tragedy. Zofia Marcinkowska was in love without memory

After returning to Krakow, Marcinkowska was hired at the Stary Theatre, where her paths crossed with the equally promising Zbigniew Wójcik. Although he was talented, he did not have a good reputation in the community. He did not approach his duties professionally, he often did not appear at rehearsals, but he liked to look into the glass. This did not discourage Zofia, who fell in love with the artist without memory. She didn’t stop loving him even when he raised his hand on her. Friends from the theater recalled that she was often bruised, but she turned her attempts to help into a joke.

Toxic love quickly turned out to be fatal. On an ill-fated evening in the summer of 1963, Wójcik returned home drunk. A quarrel ensued between the lovers, which turned into a brawl. In self-defence, Zofia pushed her beloved, and he accidentally hit his head against the edge of the sink and lost consciousness. The young actress panicked. She was convinced she had killed him. She hastily wrote a short farewell letter, in which her love for Wójcik and guilt resounded above all.

I can’t live without him

were her last words. Then she turned on the gas. As a result of the autopsy, it was found that when she died, the actor was still alive. Zofia Marcinkowska and Zbigniew Wójcik died on July 8, 1963. At the time of her death, the actress was 22 years old, and her partner was 31 years old.

If your life is at risk due to suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide, for immediate crisis intervention, call the police on 112 or go to the A&E department of your local psychiatric hospital.

If you need to talk to a psychologist, you can use the number 116 123. You will also find a list of organizations that provide telephone services for mental health specialists, help for children and youth or victims of violence.