Although she never planned to become an actress, she willingly took part in school plays and recitation competitions. During one of them, she was noticed by Lech Zarzycki, who recommended that she apply to theater school. She wasn’t particularly convinced about this idea, but after graduating from high school she decided to try her hand at it. During the entrance exams, she impressed the committee and finally received the index of the Łódź Film School, which she graduated with honors in 1971.
After her role in “The Leper”, her career skyrocketed. Starostecka was not at all thrilled with the popularity
She made her debut both on stage and on screen long before obtaining her diploma, for the first time she played in 1964 in the war film “The End of Our World” by Wanda Jakubowska. Later, she also appeared in productions such as “Lalka”, “Hell and Heaven”, “Rzeczpospolita Babska” and . However, the real breakthrough in her career came only with the role of Stefania Rudecka in the cult film adaptation of “The Leper” by Helena Mniszkówna, directed by .
Although the role brought Starostecka critical acclaim and star status, she did not enjoy this popularity at all, and she did not particularly like her heroine. She was bothered by the fact that viewers recognized her even by her voice, which meant she couldn’t lead her life as before. In an interview for Onet, she said that even when she went to a cafe, she was surrounded by a crowd of fans demanding that she give autographs, which was especially bothersome for her. – Suddenly, out of nowhere, there’s a crowd of people around the table. I needed to go out. I couldn’t breathe – one of the incidents.
Starostecka didn’t want to play in “Trędowata”? She revealed what she did to avoid taking part in test photos
Few people know that Starostecka actually got the role in “The Leper” by accident, and even against her own will. She didn’t want to play this character because, as she explained in an interview with “Dziennik Trybuny”, “it was too one-dimensional”. – I was afraid because it was not my literature – she explained in Onet. Even though she knew that she was the main candidate for Stefania, as soon as she learned about the start of test photos, she decided to undergo sinus surgery so as not to have to take part in them. She hoped that the director would find a worthy replacement for her at that time, but this did not happen. – So the photos took place without me, but when I returned home from the hospital, I received a message to come immediately for an additional photo session. I said that I was swollen and that it didn’t make any sense – . Hoffman, however, did not intend to give up and despite her objections, he sent a car to take her to the set. – They photographed me with this crooked face, asked me to say a few sentences and I became Stefcia Rudecka – she said.
Despite the sensation it created, it was quickly pigeonholed. The film industry didn’t have much to offer her, she played fewer and fewer roles, mostly episodes, until she finally faded into the background. – It wasn’t a deliberate decision. The offers of film roles I received were simply not for me. I didn’t want to play at any cost – she explained the decision to suspend her career. However, she did not feel defeated, on the contrary. She could fully focus on her family, especially raising two children, and she found fulfillment in her acting by appearing regularly on stage. If you feel like it, vote in our poll below.
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.
