The strength of the series “Klan” is, among others, a constant cast, unchanging for years, heroes – these first and secondary – whose faithful audience treats almost like a family close to itself. Among them she is played by Mrs. Renata Zabużańska, which is significant – your namesake. Is this a coincidence?
Renata Pękul: I think so. At the beginning it was supposed to be a small role of Jerzy Chojnicki’s secretary (Andrzej Grabarczyk), who ran a water distribution company. Such a character – a background for the mainstream of a growing story. It was 2000, the series was broadcast for the third year and immediately became a hit. My heroine was still appearing in it, we even played a lot of scenes and at some point someone asked: What is her actually her name? There was silence, nobody knew it and finally stood on that she was Renata. I do not know if this is a thoughtful decision or rather an impulse and a moment you need, because you had to turn to it somehow, but it is left.
Over time, Renata’s thread has grown up, met Antek (Mirosław Jękot), a partner in Jerzy, married him, becoming Mrs. Zabużańska and everyone supported this couple …
– It is true, we too, we were good in this serial marriage. Well, for something to happen, the scriptwriters began to complicate matters – one scratch, then another, another and so slowly this relationship was falling apart. Until finally there was a divorce, so that I am now a disturbance lady, unfortunately.
There is a chance that everything will turn around and Renata and Antek will be together again?
– To be honest, I don’t know at all. It all depends on the creators’ intentions, with Ela Szczypek at the forefront. She is currently responsible for most of the scenarios. “Clan” is written on a regular basis, it is not entirely clear what will happen in the near future, as in life. By the way, with the real world, it has a lot in common – as the only series it is broadcast in harmony with the current calendar, holidays actually fall on holidays, summer is summer, winter in winter. Topics related to the latest events in politics, social and cultural life are introduced. It can be said that the “clan” is always close to life and I am glad that I can participate in it.
Since you have been playing in it since 2000, it means that this year is exactly a quarter century of this “clan” adventure …?
– However you look, this time flies. This is certainly favored by the atmosphere on the set of the “clan”, where you work in great comfort. We know each other like bald horses, we like each other very much – and with those in front of the camera and behind the camera. I think that this enormity of sympathy and positive energy also pierces through the screen and people feel it, which I have heard more than once.
Certainly your role is met with a positive reception?
– Oh yes, they are usually nice and surprising situations. Even recently, an older marriage came to me in the store. “I’m sorry,” says the Lord. – My wife does not want to believe that this is a lady, we are very pleased to see you – they smile warmly at me. It turns out that loyal fans of the series have been watching for years. A funny situation happened to me when … I dislocated my shoulder. I enter the doctor’s office, I see a handsome 40-year-old, an orthopedist who looks at me carefully. – Is Mrs. Renata Zabużańska? – The question is unexpectedly asked. – My wife will envy me for the rest of my life! – I am enthusiastic. – Do you know that we watch the “clan” from the first episode? Whatever the hour is coming, we sit in front of the TV, obligatory! And our little son first said the first word “mother” and the second … “clan”! – he says with excitement. Really unbelievable …
Today you are associated with the “clan”, In the 1980s, which probably older viewers remember, all of Poland loved in Krysia Duraj, a beautiful flight attendant that you played in the first Vistula tapeworm, that is in the series “In the maze” …
– Tagitis, agrees, but I don’t know why people called him a soap opera, since it was not a daily series, but broadcast only once a week (on Wednesdays). He had a total of 120 episodes and lasted four years, reaching 16 million viewership, which now, when there are many more proposals, it seems unbelievable! This was almost half of the population of our country, so the popularity was incredible, and we, the actors, seemed to come to a paradise, from which you can see the infinity of professional perspectives.
Meanwhile, in your case it became the opposite and the role in the iconic tapeworm turned out to be a trap or – as the saying goes – a drawer?
– Unfortunately, yes. I did not get a proposal for a long time because everyone associated me with this role. Fortunately, there was the Polish Theater, where I could play and think about what to do next. By the way, a strange situation, because everything promised so well. Already in the second year of studies I appeared in front of the camera in the series “Crane and Czapla”, a moment later I starred in the movie “Caesarean section”, then in a television performance entitled “Applicant”, and just after school I got into the cast “in the maze”. It seemed to me that my career would bloom, and yet it happened completely different. This situation was for me a lesson in humbleness and learning that the actor’s profession, although beautiful, is very uncertain and unpredictable.
Actually, you did not intend to become an actress, but … an engineer.
– I was interested in exact subjects, I was a good student, so I easily got to the renowned high school Gottwald (currently Staszica) in Warsaw …
How is it in Warsaw? On the Internet do you say that you come from Łódź!?
– They write nonsense. I tried to fight it, to no avail, I don’t know who came up with it and why it duplicates. I have been a Varsovian for the fourth generation, I was born here, grew up and I live to this day. Returning to the time of education – well, my high school was famous for a high level of teaching, I was in the university mathematical class, classes were conducted by lecturers from the Faculty of Mathematics of the University of Warsaw, most of us were getting ready to study at the Warsaw University of Technology. So that I was basically defined.
And then she met Mrs. Jacek Borkowski, that is … the current Piotr Rafalski from “Clan”!
– Yes (laughs), although then, of course, no one knew that someday there would be a “clan”, and we, after years, will meet again and we both play in it! At that time I was a 3rd high school student, and Jacek was already studying in Warsaw’s PWST. We met in a dance club, he was handsome, funny, he impressed me with his studies and acting, which he talked about so beautifully. I thought that it must be a very interesting occupation and yes, with his inspiration, I changed my plans. Mathematics went away, and I signed up for the acting study of the Machulski State, where I conscientiously prepared for exams for acting school.
Did you get the first time?
– Oh no! I was too polite, I hid my emotions too much to open enough to pass. But I was working on it, and because I am quite stubborn and consistent by nature, I finally got my own. And in this way I got an acting diploma.
It is said that the apple apple rains nearby – which is confirmed by the fact that your only son, Aleksander Sosiński, also became an actor. Not only that – he also played in the “clan”!
– Yes, but not long, his character was badly associated, she was accompanied by unfavorable comments. But he realizes himself in many acting fields, plays in a few theaters, he is a lecturer at the theater school, conducts classes from the poem, he gives in dubbing, which is his strong point. I am extremely proud of him. We have nice relationships, half -friendly, we are both interested in the same, which is why there is always something to talk about.
Two actors at home – for your husband, Leszek Sosiński, who is a businessman, so a man outside the industry, it must be a hard challenge …
– somehow he got used to for so many years. But he still stays in counterattack – this is definitely not his world.
You also, in today’s world, where there is a fashion for self -promotion and making noise around you, remains a bit out of the way. You don’t go to parties, you don’t pose on the walls, you don’t fight for your person’s interest …?
– I am from a generation where the rule reigned: sit in the corner and wait for them to find you. And basically waiting. I do not strive and I have never been particularly striking for roles, I do not go to the castings. I used to play in advertising a bit, now and I accused it. I live calmly, at my own pace, I am happy to go to the set of the “clan”, so that I have a job, besides I run a house and focus on it. The only madness that I allow myself is traveling that I love and realize as much as I can afford temporarily and financially.
Where are you going?
– Once a year I am at my sister who lives in Estepon, in the south of Spain, is perfectly resting there. I also try to penetrate other areas. Once these were further directions, India, Thailand, now I focus on Europe, I try to visit as much as possible, reach places where I haven’t been yet. There are so many beautiful things to see …
What are your dreams?
– Do I know? Professionally, for sure that the “clan” lasts as long as possible and that I have interesting threads to play in it. And privately – like everyone, I would like to be healthy, that there is no pandemic, that we would live in the country in harmony and that no one from the outside would threaten us. Maybe these are not some big dreams, or maybe they are …?
Talked: Jolanta Majewska-Machaj