You recently joined the cast of “Klan” – which immediately electrified fans of the longest-running series in Poland, due to the fact that in private you are the daughter of… Ryś, the iconic character of this soap opera!
Anna Maria Stachoń: – It’s true, my father Piotr Cyrwus played in the Klan, my mother Maja Berełkowska-Cyrwus also played. My father’s role was much greater, he played the role of Ryszard Lubicz for several years, so people remembered him.
This character, otherwise charming, became the object of popular jokes and internet memes. People mocked the obsession with punctures, “washing hands” and other “Lynx” sayings and behaviors. Did you suffer from this at school and among your peers?
– Very. Both my brothers and I struggled with this problem. And since in those times there was no stimulus or help from teachers, we carried this stress within us, which in some way surely influenced our psyche. The most striking thing is that they didn’t even make fun of the famous “washing hands” or other things related to Rysiek, but mainly that he was the father of disabled Maciuś (Piotr Swend). “You have a Down brother!” – they shouted after us, which was very sad. I tried to defend myself: “What’s wrong with you that you can’t tell the difference between a TV series and reality?” – I explained around, without much effect. Fortunately, that’s a thing of the past…
Today you yourself found yourself in the cast of “Klan” – you can’t avoid the suspicion that it was the famous dad who got the role…
– I know, but it’s not true. There was simply a casting that I won and that’s how I ended up in this production. This is my first role in a TV series and my first job at all, although I finished school, the Krakow State Drama School, quite a few years ago. It so happens that my friend from this year, Marcel Borowiec, also plays in “Klan”, so it’s more fun for me.
But of course, everyone on the set knows whose daughter you are?
– Of course. There are plenty of people who worked with my dad and welcomed me with open arms. Dad worked diligently and honestly, and he is also a very good and helpful man, that’s how he is remembered here, and the sympathy of the team is palpable at every step, even though he hasn’t played in it for years. I think that if he had not been a well-liked person, I would not have been able to count on such a nice reception as I received here. So I start in a comfortable atmosphere.
Who is your “clan” heroine who – according to the production’s announcement – will be present in the series for a longer time?
– Her name is Edyta Zaręba, she is a new game developer in Tymon’s (Michał Milowicz) company and his superior. Very professional, focused on her work, to which she devotes herself day and night, and expects the same from her subordinates.
It seems that your heroine lives not only by work. Her appearance aroused the admiration of the gentlemen surrounding her. Are there any romances coming up?
– This is not known yet, for now there is mutual “sniffing” going on – with Tymon, who has clearly had a crush on Edyta from the very beginning, and with Janusz (Michał Lesień-Głowacki), who probably also caught her eye. I think that’s the least of which she thinks about herself. Besides, it was clear from the very beginning that she was the type of woman who was much more at home professionally than in male-female relationships. We’ll see how this goes.
Do you have many features in common with your TV series heroine?
– Oh no, we are very different (smile). She has such a Warsaw style of being, living, working, completely different from mine, Krakow, where I come from. Life in Krakow is slower, the rat race is not so common, it is more intimate. Thanks to the fact that I live in Krakow and now play in Warsaw, two worlds have opened up to me and I like it very much. And getting to know Warsaw is pleasant for me.
Do you go to the set by train?
– Yes – and that suits me too. I always choose the wagon of silence, where I work in peace, and now I also study, because in October I started another studies, psychology. I’ve always been fascinated by this field, and I think it’s good to have another profession in case acting doesn’t work out.
How do you manage organizationally – work, studies and taking care of the house, because you are a mother of a group of children?
– That’s right, I have four children, in early school and preschool age, so there is plenty to do. It’s good that I can count on the help of my family, especially their father, who takes care of them when I’m away from home. We have one son and three daughters – it was especially with the girls in mind that I motivated myself to work and study to show them that a woman can always do what she wants. Despite having a large family and the responsibilities that come with it, you still have your passions, pursue your dreams, and develop yourself. Fight for yourself regardless of the situation.
You have already won one, probably the most important fight in your life – some time ago you publicly admitted to having recovered from addictions. It takes a lot of courage to announce something like this to the world…
– I decided to publish this post on social media not so much out of courage, but out of a sense of pride and great joy that I succeeded. That I managed to free myself from the addictions of alcoholism and substance use that were destroying my life and the life of my family. They say that to take up this fight, you have to be at the bottom. I hit rock bottom and that motivated me to change. It required a lot of effort, specific physical and mental work, and intensive group therapy.
– The support of my family was invaluable, I am especially grateful to my husband who helped me a lot during this difficult time. Such a helping hand from loved ones is a great support for someone trying to break away from addictions. However, in the case of active addiction, taking it out (e.g. financing such a person) is not advisable and does not solve the problem. But I’m already past this stage.
Do you feel free?
– To a large extent yes, although I am aware that addiction is a lifelong disease. I still go to therapy, now individually, I take care of myself, I don’t expose myself to situations that may pose a threat, I avoid stress. I cultivate my relationships with friends – it is good to have people around me whom I trust, it is the basis for good functioning. I am happy to share my experience with people. Perhaps for someone who is struggling with a similar problem, this story will become an inspiration, give comfort and hope. Because there is no such maze that you can’t get out of, you just need to find the strength and motivation. And finally, the sun must peek around some corner…
Interviewed by: Jolanta Majewska-Machaj