How a terrible accident became the beginning of a new life: the star of Polish cinema - Anna Dymna

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Films featuring one of the most beautiful actresses in Polish cinema Anna Dymnoy still attract the attention of numerous spectators. Refined facial features, sensual lips, a charming smile … She could be sad on the screen like no one else, and even the tears in her beautiful eyes seemed crystal. But few people know that sadness and suffering, bitterness of loss and tragedy were the companions of several years of her life.

There are movie roles that become a calling card for actors for life. Such a role for the heroine of our today's story was the role of Marysia in the film "Witch Doctor" (1982) by the famous director Jerzy Hoffmann. The choice of the director turned out to be more than successful - the aspiring actress impressed the audience with her high professionalism and incredibly attractive appearance. Almost 40 years have passed since the creation of the film, and the image of the beautiful Marysia still makes you empathize and admire the charming acting of the actress.

To date, the filmography of Anna Dymnoy has more than six dozen roles and many roles played on the stage. Her career in cinema and theater began quite early and very successfully. Anna managed to show her bright talent from the very first role. Correct, delicate features, charming lips, gentle smile, good figure, aristocratic manners. Curiously, the actress practically did not need makeup. The audience watched with interest the delicate, filigree play and beauty of Anna from large screens and was indescribable delight.

She captivated the viewer, but few who then knew what the actress had to go through shortly before the filming of the film. But more on that later.

Turning the pages of a biography

Anna Dzyadek (married Dymna) was born on July 20, 1951 in Legnica, an old town located in Western Poland. The family of the future actress had Armenian roots, but the presence of hot southern blood did not affect her appearance and temperament at all. From early childhood, the girl was distinguished by a gentle character, everyone considered her a very sophisticated, refined person.

The girl's mother wanted to see a ballerina in her daughter's face, and in every way tried to instill in Anna a love of ballet, leading her to ballet performances from childhood. She did not resist, so as not to upset her mother until she grew up. In her youth, Anna realized that in fact she was attracted by a completely different kind of art. A loving mother made her daughter's decision and supported her desire to become an actress. After graduating from school, the young beauty became a student at the Krakow State Higher Theater School.

Excellent inclinations of talent, dedication, diligence helped the girl to perfectly master the lessons of acting. After graduating from the university with the highest balls, Anna was invited to the troupe of the Old Theater. By the way, Anna Dymna sometimes goes to its stage to this day, considering theater to be more important for herself than cinema. She is always glad to have the opportunity to communicate directly with the audience, to be fed by the energy emanating from the audience.

Anna Dymna and cinema. Roles that made the actress famous

She was doing everywhere at the same time - she studied, played in the theater and cinema. In 1971 alone, the actress played in 5 films. There are a lot of main roles in her creative biography. But I would like to dwell on some, thanks to which Soviet viewers also met the talented actress in the distant 70s and 80s.

One of them is the role in the film "The Leper" (1976), where Anna plays a small, but bright and memorable role of Melania Barskaya.

The second - perhaps one of the most beloved by both the actress and the audience - Marysia Vilchur, the professor's daughter - in Jerzy Hoffman's amazing film "The Witch Doctor" (1982). This story touches you to tears, even if you watch the film for the tenth time.

The film was a tremendous success. The rental of the picture was a triumph all over the world. Anna Dymna's face did not leave the covers of magazines, they wrote and spoke about her as a discovery in Polish cinema.

For more information on this film, the background of creation, a great cast and other interesting facts, read our review: Offscreen secrets of the film "Witch Doctor": How much was a gorgeous bouquet of roses thrown at the feet of the main character.

In the same year, 1982, the story of the Polish queen was filmed, which was immortalized in the film "Epitaph for Barbara Radziwill". Anna Dymna played the main role.

In 1988, the actress delighted her fans with another striking role, playing Margarita, in the Polish film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita. Anna went to work with her head, she really starred a lot in her native Poland and refused projects in other countries. It was a deliberate decision to remain faithful to their country, their cause, and national art. Anna had to endure many blows of fate that made this fragile girl strong. And not only to withstand myself, but also to help others.

Personal life. Wieslaw Dymny

At a young age, Anna met the screenwriter and actor Wieslaw Dymny, who became a friend and teacher for the young actress, and eventually her husband. It is his last name that she still bears. Wieslaw was 15 years older than Anna, so it is not surprising that the talented young man by the time they met was already quite famous: he wrote scripts, humoresques, lyrics, performed in a popular Krakow cabaret, played in films, and painted. The young actress was infinitely interesting with him. In 1973 Anna and Wieslaw got married.

Their married life was very happy, but very short. Five years later, Wieslaw died, and Anna was left alone. The whole life of the actress literally collapsed in a few months. It all began in the fall of 1977, when a faulty TV set triggered a fire in their house. Numerous developments and archives of her husband were seriously affected. However, this fire turned out to be only the first link in a chain of terrible events. Less than three months later, Anna found Wieslaw dead in their new house. Until now, the circumstances and causes of death have not been clarified. It happened on February 12, 1978.

Being very young, Anna became a widow. The death of her husband was the greatest shock for the actress, she was inconsolable in her grief, and therefore decided that she would never again act in films and go on the stage.

But one day, by chance, Anna had to take part in one of the charity events dedicated to helping people with disabilities. It was this moment that turned out to be a turning point in her life. The actress realized that from now on her main duty is to live, act in films and help those people who at the moment are much harder and harder than her.

And many years later, giving interviews to journalists, Anna fondly recalls her first love and says that it was Wieslav who helped her to form as a person.

A terrible accident that became the beginning of a new life

The tragic chain in Anna's life turned out to be endless. Apparently fate decided to hit again well, but more painfully. Just three months after the tragic events, in May 1978, Anna was driving her own car to shoot in Hungary. She finally decided that she needed to live on and now, driving past Lake Balaton, she dreamed of finally driving away the endlessly oppressive mourning thoughts and opening a new page in her life.

But what happened next, even Anna could not explain later: either she was thinking, or she fell asleep while driving … The actress woke up already in a Hungarian hospital with severe injuries to her legs and spine. Doctors gave the paralyzed 27-year-old actress neither guarantees nor great chances that she would walk again. Anna scrambled out. Many months of rehabilitation, faith, care of loved ones and completely strangers brought her back to life and to her profession. Therefore, when in 1982 the actress played in "The Witch Doctor", she perfectly understood what she was playing, how and for what.

It was that dramatic emotional experience, as well as the feeling of unbearable physical pain that remained in Anna's memory forever, forcing her to look at the world in a new way:

Trying to find happiness again

As mentioned above, after the accident, Anna had to undergo a long-term rehabilitation and intensive therapy course, which was carried out under the guidance of a young physiotherapist, the best specialist in her profession. Zbigniew Szota (Shota), that was the name of the doctor, did not let Anna give up in moments of despair, was always there. The effect was amazing. Dymna quickly got up not only to her feet, but also, years after Wieslav's death, on the wedding mat. The handsome physiotherapist healed Anna's body, her broken heart, and her tormented soul.

The wedding took place in 1983. In 1986, the couple had a son, Michal (Michal Szota). Well, in 1989 the couple divorced.

Regardless of everything, motherhood has brought a lot of happiness to the life of the actress. With the birth of her son, she just blossomed. I tried to spend every minute with him. And when I grew up, I started acting again, playing in the theater, and engaging in social activities. Moreover, in 1990 Anna started teaching at the University of Krakow. Dymna's creative and pedagogical abilities made themselves felt, she created the first Festival of Music and Theater for the Disabled. This event has been held annually for ten years. Anna is its permanent curator.

In 2002, she founded the Poetry Salon in Krakow at the theater, where Anna herself and her current husband Krzysztow work. Currently, Anna Dymna combines her work with charitable activities. Anna is the founder of many charity events and foundations. Helps refugees. Leads seminars and art therapy for people with disabilities. After all, no matter how much she understands and is close to the problems of such people.

Next year she will turn 70, which cannot be said looking at Anna. At the present time, Anna Dymna is a respected person in her country, she conducts master classes in acting, charity events for refugees and homeless people and, of course, continues to work in the theater and act in films.

Only in her declining years did Anna meet her late love and married for the third time. It is very important for her that her current husband Krzysztow Orzhechowski, director of the Krakow Theater, shares her views on creativity and charity, and also helps and supports her in everything.

Continuing the theme of the famous actresses of Polish cinema, read: Life After Glory: How the Fates of Polish Beauties Shining in Soviet Cinema Developed.