Daniel Olbrychski

Daniel Marcel Olbrychski (; born 27 February 1945) is a Polish film and theatre actor who is widely considered one of the greatest Polish actors of his generation. He appeared in 180 films and TV productions and is best known for leading roles in several Andrzej Wajda movies including '' The Promised Land'' and also known for playing a defector and spymaster Vassily Orlov alongside Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in the movie ''Salt''.

Life and career

Olbrychski was born in 1945 in Łowicz, Poland to father Franciszek and mother Klementyna (née Sołonowicz). He had an older brother, Krzysztof (1939–2017), who was a physicist. He attended the Stefan Batory Gymnasium and Lyceum in Warsaw. He has been practicing boxing since his youth, he also trained fencing, badminton and judo.

In 1965, he played the character of Rafał Olbromski, his first major film role in Andrzej Wajda's film ''The Ashes''.

In 1971 he won the award for Best Actor at the 7th Moscow International Film Festival for his role in ''The Birch Wood''.

He played one of the leading roles in Volker Schlöndorff's film ''The Tin Drum'' based on Günter Grass's novel '' Die Blechtrommel''. He also appeared in one of the ten short films in Krzysztof Kieślowski's '' Dekalog'' and played a role in the film adaptation of '' The Unbearable Lightness of Being''.

In 1986, he played one of the main roles in Margarethe von Trotta's film ''Rosa Luxemburg''. The same year, Olbrychski received the French Legion of Honor (L'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur). In 2007 he received the Stanislavsky Award at the 29th Moscow International Film Festival for the outstanding achievement in the career of acting and devotion to the principles of Stanislavsky's school. In 1998, he starred in Nikita Mikhalkov's film the ''Barber of Siberia''. In a 1998 survey published by ''Polityka'' magazine he was ranked 7th on the list of the greatest Polish actors of the 20th century.

In 2010, he received a diploma from the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. In addition to acting, Olbrychski has been well known for his abilities as an athlete. A keen horse-rider, a boxer and very able with the sabre, Olbrychski personally performed most of the stunt scenes in his movies.

He was selected to be on the jury for the Cinéfondation and short films sections of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Throughout his career, he appeared in five Academy Award-nominated films, two of which won the award (''The Tin Drum'', 1979 and ''Dangerous Moves'', 1984).

Personal life

In mid-1970s, he was in a relationship with singer Maryla Rodowicz. He has a son Victor from a relationship with German actress Barbara Sukowa. He has been married three times: to actress Monika Dziensiewicz, with whom he has a son Rafał; journalist Zuzanna Łapicka (daughter of Andrzej Łapicki), with whom he has a daughter Weronika, and since 2003 to theatrologist Krystyna Dembska.

He lived for many years in France and speaks French fluently. He practices boxing as a hobby.

During the 2015 Polish presidential election, he endorsed the candidacy of Bronisław Komorowski. He supports the LGBT community.

Filmography

*1964: ''Ranny w lesie'', as Corporal Koral
*1965: ''The Ashes'', as Rafał Olbromski
*1966: '' Potem nastąpi cisza'', as Olewicz
*1967: '' Marriage of Convenience'', as Andrzej
*1967: ''Bokser'', as Tolek Szczepaniak
*1967: ''Jowita'', as Marek Arens
*1968: '' The Countess Cosel'', as Charles XII
*1968: ''Zaliczenie'' (TV Short), as Student
*1969: '' Everything for Sale'', as Daniel
*1969: ''Colonel Wolodyjowski'', as Azja, son of Tugay Bey
*1969: ''The Structure of Crystals

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