He was a movie star in the Polish People’s Republic, but “he couldn’t afford a polonaise.”  He abandoned his career and went to the USA

He was a movie star in the Polish People’s Republic, but “he couldn’t afford a polonaise.” He abandoned his career and went to the USA

Maciej Góraj became famous in Polish cinema in the early 1970s. He gained the sympathy of viewers and the recognition of critics. His well-developing career was interrupted by financial problems, which forced him to leave for the USA. However, life overseas was far from what we had imagined. He had to start all over again.

Maciej Góraj was born on March 11, 1950 in Łódź. He was active in sports from an early age and associated his future with athletics. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that shattered his dreams. He began to fill the time he previously devoted to training by watching cinema classics. Then he saw it on the screen and was completely lost. – I thought that I would like to be a myth like Cybulski – he recalled the emotions that accompanied me after the screening of the film “Everything for Sale”.

He was the hope of cinema in the Polish People’s Republic. He abandoned his career to go abroad for work.

He made his debut in 1971 in the historical film “Bolesław Śmiały” by Witold Lesiewicz, and a year later he graduated from the Łódź Film School. He also regularly appeared on the stage of the National Theater in Warsaw. He was quickly noticed and hailed as the hope of Polish cinema. In 1973, he portrayed the crippled soldier Zenek Stankiewicz in “Dark River” directed by Sylwester Szyszka. For this role he received the Award. .

Góraj’s career quickly gained momentum. Viewers certainly remember him from series such as “The Promised Land”, “Polish Roads” and “Home”. He also gained popularity thanks to his cooperation with many outstanding directors, including: with , Krzysztof Krauze and Andrzej Żuławski. Although he played the first violin in many productions, it was not without significance that his years of glory fell in the period of the Polish People’s Republic. For this reason, he constantly faced financial problems. – This career was disproportionate to the salary. I was making a career, but I couldn’t afford a polonaise, he said later. Ultimately, at the age of 39, he made the difficult decision to leave the country.

In the USA, he divorced and found love again. What is he doing today?

In the late 1980s, Maciej Góraj moved to Chicago. However, emigration was not easy for him because he did not know the language, which meant that his job opportunities were limited. He also missed his wife and children. Initially, he took up various jobs, including: he cleaned, sold vitamins, laid floors and was even a truck driver. His hardships were quickly rewarded, and the first money he earned allowed him and his family to get back on their feet. He wanted his loved ones to join him in the US. – The fact that they did not come was a choice and a misunderstanding on the part of my ex-wife – he recalled after the divorce, which was a painful experience for him.

Eventually, his situation began to stabilize. One of his jobs made him accidentally land on the set of “The Haunted Manor” starring him, which gave him hope to return to his old passion. He began to be active in the artistic community and played his first roles on theater stages. In the meantime, he also met Hanna, his youthful love. Their feelings rekindled and they quickly decided to get married. In 2023, it will be 28 years since they decided to walk through life together. Góraj also decided to rebuild relationships with his children. However, he did not decide to return to his homeland. Currently, his main source of income is the investment market, but whenever the opportunity arises, he willingly takes on new roles.

Source: Gazeta

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