It cannot be a coincidence that Daniel Olbrychski and one of the most important films in his career celebrate round anniversaries in the same year. While Daniel Olbrychski celebrates his 80th birthday, “Promised Land” directed by Andrzej Wajda, in which the star played in Karol Borowiecki, he turns 50 and still remains a symbol of the great Polish cinema. It was this role that provided the actor with eternal fame and strengthened his position as one of the greatest artists of his generation.
Today, despite the passage of years, Olbrychski does not slow down and cannot imagine life without acting. There are also no planned parties on his 80th birthday, because he prefers to focus on what is here and now.
“When you live so many years, it must be something that you regret, some words, gestures, role” – he told Newsweek a few years ago, adding that he does not want to ponder and wonder what would happen if.
However, Daniel Olbrychski’s career is worth a flashback. In the end he played with Angelina Jolie, danced in Cannes with Sophia Loren, and in his garage hangs a saddle from Kirk Douglas. It all began with his first big role in 1965, when Andrzej Wajda cast him in “ashes”.
Daniel Olbrychski began his adventure with acting at a time when the Polish cinema had only one king, and his fame was so great that the whole world was delighted with him. Although Zbigniew Cybulski died tragically at the platform of the Wrocław station in Wrocław, just four years after Olbrych’s debut in “Wounded in the Forest”, they managed to meet once on the film set. They played together in “Jedhita”, production, which due to non -planned circumstances gained an extremely symbolic dimension.
“Jowita” turned out to be the last role of Zbigniew Cybulski. He played a coach of the character portrayed by Daniel Olbrychski. Although he was not fully satisfied with his role, one of the scenes he added together with the director to the script, today he is considered a kind of anointing of Olbrychski by Cybulski to his successor. I am talking about a sequence in the bathroom, in which Cybulski talks to Olbrychski about life and career. In this way, a fantastic opportunity was created for the actor to show his artistic craftsmanship and inspire Olbrychski for the next years. This also happened, which Daniel emphasized many times in interviews. What’s more, Olbrychski was the first laureate of the prestigious Zbyszek Cybulski award, which is awarded to young, promising actors.
Although Olbrychski does not like to think about what would happen if something in his life went differently, it is hard to resist the impression that despite Cybulski’s premature death, which strengthened the myth of him, Daniel managed to chase away the legend of his master. He tasted world film festivals, just like Cybulski. He also managed to catch the attention of Hollywood. Just before Cybulski’s tragic accident, the actor got a phone call with a proposal to play a “train called desire”. In turn, Olbrychski not only attracted the attention of producers from the city of angels, he actually played there – he appeared alongside Angelina Jolie in the film “Salt”.
Daniel Olbrychski enjoyed popularity not only at the directors, who in the 70s began to fill him so willingly in his projects that the actor is still considered to be the most outstanding actor of his generation. The star also had great support in fans. Almost all Polish women loved him. His beauty meant that for decades he was considered the greatest amanta of Polish cinema – a charismatic, talented and surrounded by aura of mystery, he did not shy away from turbulent romances and great love.
One of his most famous romances is love for Maryla Rodowicz. He was in love with her so much that he preferred to wear a guitar behind her than to play in the theater, which was supposed to be the director for free many times, because when his beloved was on the tour, he followed her without thinking.
“We were like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie the times of the Polish People’s Republic” – he joked at one of the Olbrychski interviews, remembering the affair with the singer, about which all of Poland was rumored half a century ago.
At one time he was also associated with one of the greatest French actresses of all time – nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Woman and Man” Anouk Aimée. The star set for a point of honor to seduce Daniel and she succeeded. To this day, he remembers him as a wonderful boy from Warsaw who broke her heart. She even wanted to move to Poland for him, but he told her directly that he would never be able to love her as much as her country and daughter Zuzia. He returned to Poland without Anouk and continues his life alongside Łapicka, then his wife, although the marriage did not survive the test of time.
Daniel Olbrychski is reluctant to come back to his affair with the French star today. For years he has been going through life alongside Krystyna Demska, about former wives, friends and lovers – as he jokes – what he was supposed to say, he said. However, his fame went far beyond the area of romance. He was friends with the Hollywood stars, and one of the most important figures in his life was the legendary Kirk Douglas. Olbrychski proved that the Polish actor can successfully conquer the world and be among the largest.
“As a young boy, I danced in Cannes with Sophia Loren. In my garage hangs a cowboy saddle that I got from Kirk Douglas. My photo hangs on the wall with Jean Paul Belmondo, and next to my friend Alain Delon” – he told Newsweek.
Despite the status of legends, international friendships and collection of prestigious awards, Daniel Olbrychski does not think about retirement. What’s more, acting became a real elixir of his youth for him. Convinced that moving away from the film plan would accelerate its aging, does not slow down and still with passion he takes on further challenges. It is the camera, the scripts and the world of cinema that gives him energy, and working with young creators allows him to constantly discover new acting faces.
“On February 27, my 80th birthday will be.
“This is a very exhausting work and for a age of strength is supposedly decreasing. However, I try not to think so and fight so that this eighty people do not see on stage” – he revealed. – “The work preserves, it’s definitely. I am playing in six pieces at the moment”
In his career he played roles in the films of Andrzej Wajda, Janusz Morgenstern, Kazimierz Kutz, Krzysztof Zanussi, Jerzy Hoffman, Stanisław Barea and Krzysztof Kieślowski. He also appeared in foreign productions, including at Volker Schlöndorff, Claude Lelouch or Nikita Michałków. We know him, among others from “Deluge”, “Salt”, “Miss from the Wolf”, “Promised Land”, “Fire and Sword” or “Wedding”. From 2024 it can be seen in the Polsat series “In -laws”.
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Sister relationship against the background of an armed conflict. After returning to Poland, she was still thoughts there