Barbara Brylska
- Actress
Barbara Brylska is a Polish actress who starred in films made in
Poland, Russia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.
She was born on June 5, 1941, in Skotniki, near Lodz, Poland. Her early
childhood was marked by the trauma of survival under the Nazi
occupation of Poland during the Second World War. She made her film
debut at age 15, in a small role in Kalosze szczescia (1958). She studied acting at Lodz
Theatre School, then studied at Warsaw School of Theatre, Cinema and
Television, graduating in 1964 as an actress.
Barbara Brylska shot to fame with her supporting role as Kama in
Pharaoh (1966), an Oscar nominated period drama by director Jerzy Kawalerowicz. Then she
played a supporting role as Krzysia Drohojowska in Colonel Wolodyjowski (1969), a period
film by director Jerzy Hoffman. Brylska established herself as a fine
actress, she was busy in East European cinema during the 60s and 70s.
In 1975 Brylska received a phone call from Moscow director Eldar Ryazanov,
that forever changed her life and acting career, and brought her fame
and jealousy. She brilliantly played the role of Nadia, a female lead
opposite Andrey Myagkov in the cult Soviet TV movie _Ironiya sudby, ili S lyogkim parom! (1975) (TV)_. Her performance
was enhanced by collaboration with popular singer Alla Pugacheva who delivered
enchanting rendition of love songs for Brylska's character. In 1976
Brylska was elected the most popular actress in Russia according to
several polls, she also won the State Prize of the USSR (1977).
At the same time Brylska experienced ostracism in her own country,
Poland, where she was criticized for her acceptance of the state Prize
of the USSR. However, Brylska was critical about the rigid political
and cultural atmosphere in the Soviet Union. She put her popularity at
risk for saying some tough truth about the Soviet regime, albeit the
wide Russian audiences were sympathizing with her criticism and
understanding of how people were suffering under domination of the
Soviet Communist Party. Brylska stated later that she was caught in
political tensions between Poland and the Soviet Union, and her success
in Russia caused jealousy and was largely ignored by the film community
in Poland; also the Russian cult movie did not become as popular there,
because some Russian traditions did not resonate with European
audiences. However, in 2000, after a long hiatus, Brylska played a
supporting role in a grotesque film _Down House (2000)_, then made her stage debut
in Moscow, in popular play 'Quartet' opposite Svetlana Kryuchkova among other
Russian actors.
Barbara Brylska has been highly regarded for her classic noblesse,
beauty, intelligence, and effortless style. She enjoyed a steady
popularity with the Russian-speaking audiences mainly due to her
stellar performance in _Ironiya sudby, ili S lyogkim parom! (1975) (TV)_. For two seasons from 2000-2002 she
returned to the Polish audiences as Barbara Burska, a recurring
character in popular Polish TV series 'Na dobre i na zle'. In 2003 she
starred in a Russian comedy Casus belli (2003) by director Igor Ugolnikov. In 2006
Brylska starred as Olga Samoilova, a wealthy lady who was forced into a
retirement home by her money hungry relatives, in Ukrainian comedy
'Strannoe Rozhdestvo' (aka.. Strange Christmas) by director Maksim
Papernik, reuniting with her fellow actress Liya Akhedzhakova. Brylska is cast as
Nadia in the upcoming sequel to her most popular film, titled 'Ironiya
sudby 2', by director Timur Bekmambetov, filmed at locations in Moscow and in St.
Petersburg, and scheduled for release in 2008.
Barbara Brylska has been married several times, and had a daughter,
Barbara (born in 1973), and a son, Ludwig (born in 1983). Her son,
Ludwig, has been studying management and economy at Warsaw School of
Economics. Her daughter, Barbara, was a model in Paris. After the
tragic death of her 20-year-old model daughter in a car accident, and a
burglary of her apartment in Warsaw, Brylska suffered from a nervous
breakdown, however she continued her acting career. Barbara Brylska is
currently sharing time between her apartment in Warsaw, Poland, and her
summer cottage in the village of Gulchevo, near Warsaw; she also makes
regular visits to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, where she has been
enjoying a steady success.
Poland, Russia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.
She was born on June 5, 1941, in Skotniki, near Lodz, Poland. Her early
childhood was marked by the trauma of survival under the Nazi
occupation of Poland during the Second World War. She made her film
debut at age 15, in a small role in Kalosze szczescia (1958). She studied acting at Lodz
Theatre School, then studied at Warsaw School of Theatre, Cinema and
Television, graduating in 1964 as an actress.
Barbara Brylska shot to fame with her supporting role as Kama in
Pharaoh (1966), an Oscar nominated period drama by director Jerzy Kawalerowicz. Then she
played a supporting role as Krzysia Drohojowska in Colonel Wolodyjowski (1969), a period
film by director Jerzy Hoffman. Brylska established herself as a fine
actress, she was busy in East European cinema during the 60s and 70s.
In 1975 Brylska received a phone call from Moscow director Eldar Ryazanov,
that forever changed her life and acting career, and brought her fame
and jealousy. She brilliantly played the role of Nadia, a female lead
opposite Andrey Myagkov in the cult Soviet TV movie _Ironiya sudby, ili S lyogkim parom! (1975) (TV)_. Her performance
was enhanced by collaboration with popular singer Alla Pugacheva who delivered
enchanting rendition of love songs for Brylska's character. In 1976
Brylska was elected the most popular actress in Russia according to
several polls, she also won the State Prize of the USSR (1977).
At the same time Brylska experienced ostracism in her own country,
Poland, where she was criticized for her acceptance of the state Prize
of the USSR. However, Brylska was critical about the rigid political
and cultural atmosphere in the Soviet Union. She put her popularity at
risk for saying some tough truth about the Soviet regime, albeit the
wide Russian audiences were sympathizing with her criticism and
understanding of how people were suffering under domination of the
Soviet Communist Party. Brylska stated later that she was caught in
political tensions between Poland and the Soviet Union, and her success
in Russia caused jealousy and was largely ignored by the film community
in Poland; also the Russian cult movie did not become as popular there,
because some Russian traditions did not resonate with European
audiences. However, in 2000, after a long hiatus, Brylska played a
supporting role in a grotesque film _Down House (2000)_, then made her stage debut
in Moscow, in popular play 'Quartet' opposite Svetlana Kryuchkova among other
Russian actors.
Barbara Brylska has been highly regarded for her classic noblesse,
beauty, intelligence, and effortless style. She enjoyed a steady
popularity with the Russian-speaking audiences mainly due to her
stellar performance in _Ironiya sudby, ili S lyogkim parom! (1975) (TV)_. For two seasons from 2000-2002 she
returned to the Polish audiences as Barbara Burska, a recurring
character in popular Polish TV series 'Na dobre i na zle'. In 2003 she
starred in a Russian comedy Casus belli (2003) by director Igor Ugolnikov. In 2006
Brylska starred as Olga Samoilova, a wealthy lady who was forced into a
retirement home by her money hungry relatives, in Ukrainian comedy
'Strannoe Rozhdestvo' (aka.. Strange Christmas) by director Maksim
Papernik, reuniting with her fellow actress Liya Akhedzhakova. Brylska is cast as
Nadia in the upcoming sequel to her most popular film, titled 'Ironiya
sudby 2', by director Timur Bekmambetov, filmed at locations in Moscow and in St.
Petersburg, and scheduled for release in 2008.
Barbara Brylska has been married several times, and had a daughter,
Barbara (born in 1973), and a son, Ludwig (born in 1983). Her son,
Ludwig, has been studying management and economy at Warsaw School of
Economics. Her daughter, Barbara, was a model in Paris. After the
tragic death of her 20-year-old model daughter in a car accident, and a
burglary of her apartment in Warsaw, Brylska suffered from a nervous
breakdown, however she continued her acting career. Barbara Brylska is
currently sharing time between her apartment in Warsaw, Poland, and her
summer cottage in the village of Gulchevo, near Warsaw; she also makes
regular visits to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, where she has been
enjoying a steady success.