she was still a student when she made her debut in 1982 in the psychological film “Dolina Issa” by Tadeusz Konwicki based on the novel by Czesław Miłosz. The sympathy of the audience and the recognition of critics that she gained thanks to the role meant that she was quickly noticed by the most outstanding directors in the country. She began to perform regularly on the stages of the capital’s theaters, played in films and series such as “Dekalog III”, “Ostatnia mission”, “Prawo Agaty” and “Leśniczówka”. Although she achieved professional success, her private life did not spoil her.
This is what Pakulnis’ childhood looked like. The actress bitterly remembers her addicted father
She was born on July 2, 1956 in Giżycko, the last of four siblings. However, her fate was seriously threatened from the beginning. “I wasn’t supposed to be here either,” she confessed to Dorota Wodecka in an interview for the book “Moja nitka.” When her mother got pregnant, she had serious health problems. At that time, doctors decided that there was no chance she would have another child, but she didn’t even want to hear about it, relying on the mercy of fate. Her intuition, as it turned out later, did not disappoint. However, the actress did not hide the fact that she did not remember her childhood in the best possible way. Her father was addicted to alcohol and it was only his illness that made him quit. However, before that happened, she lived in constant fear. She did not experience love from him, but violence, and there were moments when she wanted to put an end to this ordeal. “I grabbed my little stool and swung at him. I wanted to kill him,” she recalled one of the incidents. There were many more difficult moments in her life.
Pakulnis was a victim of violence. The actress’ first torturer was a priest
In the same publication, the actress confessed that she had been a victim several times. The first time was when she was a little girl. She was a member of a sports team and after winning a medal as a prize, she was invited to the rectory for an afternoon snack with her friends. At first, the time passed in joyful celebration of success. At one point, the parish priest, who initiated the meeting, offered to show the young parishioners photos taken during a vacation in Yugoslavia.
He pulls me towards him, my back to his belly and his legs spread wide. And he shows me a photo. For the first time in my life I see color photos. And that he is lying on the rocks, naked, and next to him a naked woman.
– Pakulnis described. Being in the priest’s strong embrace the whole time, she felt uncomfortable. However, she did not have enough courage to oppose him. – I feel that something is wrong, I do not know then that he has an erection, because I cannot name it – she related the moment after which, in a surge of impulse, she tore herself out of his embrace and simply ran away. – I was crying. And suddenly I peed in my panties from this fear, and urine ran down my tights to my shoes – she recalled.
However, this was not the last such situation in her life, and she experienced another one when she was already an adult woman. After graduating from high school, she began studies at the Warsaw theater school and thought that she was starting a new life far away from pain and suffering. It quickly turned out how wrong she was. During preparations for the role of Podstolina in the staging of “Zemsta”, her year supervisor Jan Świderski allegedly abused her significantly.
‘Świder’ had his eye on me and was demonstrating on me how to hug a partner on stage, groping me at the same time
– she told the pages of “Moja nitka”. She openly admitted that the lecturer had repeatedly touched her buttocks or breasts against her will, and often even pulled her closer to him with his whole body. At that time, however, she felt fear and respect, she was just a student from the provinces, and he was an artist recognized in the community. Today, however, she is not afraid to talk about what happened to her and encourages all victims to do the same.
Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual contact. According to UNICEF, around 15 million teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have experienced this type of violence worldwide, but only 1 percent of them seek professional help. Studies show that 80 percent of rape victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If you are a victim of sexual violence, you can get help by calling, for example, the Blue Line Helpline – 22 668 70 00 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or the 24/7 emergency line of the Women’s Rights Centre – 600 070 717.
If you are struggling with addiction or want to find out how you can help a loved one, you can contact specialists on the following numbers:
- National Addiction Helpline (daily 4-9 p.m.): 800-199-990
- Behavioral Addictions Helpline (daily 5-10 p.m.): 800-889-880
- Orange line for parents of children drinking alcohol (Monday to Friday 2-8 p.m.): 801-140-068
- National Emergency Service for Victims of Domestic Violence Blue Line (24/7): 800-120-002
For more information, please visit the following pages:
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.
