Irena Kwiatkowska
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Irena Kwiatkowska 17 September 1912, Warsaw, is a very popular Polish actress, known in Poland for her many cabaret roles and monologues, as well as appearances in (mostly comedy) movies and television shows.
She graduated from the Państwowy Instytut Sztuki Teatralnej (National Theatrical Arts Institute) in 1935. Until the outbreak of the World War II, she appeared in the Teatr Powszechny in Warsaw, Teatr Nowy in Poznań and Teatr Polski in Katowice, and also in Wilno. During the War, she fought in the Armia Krajowa and participated in the Warsaw Uprising.
Her first appearance after the War was in the Siedem Kotów (Seven Cats) cabaret in Kraków, where the renowned Polish poet, Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński, authored a number of roles for her. Gałczyński allegedly created the prominent character of Hermenegilda Kociubińska with Kwiatkowska in mind. In 1948 she came back to Warsaw, appearing in Teatr Syrena and, now legendary, Dudek and Szpak cabarets. She was also a prominent member of the cast in the famous televised Kabaret Starszych Panów.
Her other famous television roles include the cult series, Wojna Domowa (1965-66) and Czterdziestolatek (1974-77). In the latter, she portrayed the memorable "Kobieta Pracująca" ("Working Woman"), a recurring character who is encountered repeatedly as she performs various unusual or absurd jobs. She is best remembered with this role, and the character's "name" has become synonymous with Kwiatkowska. She reprised the role in the series sequel, Czterdziestolatek 20 lat później (1993). She also appeared in many cinematic movies, mostly in comedies and/or musicals, including memorable cameos in later years. Her work experience also includes frequent voice acting on the radio.
She has received numerous awards, including the Wielki Splendor Polish Radio Theatre Award (1993) and the Superwiktor (2002), a special lifetime achievement award for outstanding television personalities. Her 90th birthday celebration in 2002 was a major cultural event which gathered a large array of artists on stage during a special televised show. Currently, she remains bound with the Teatr Polski in Warsaw, where she continues to appear in an interpretation of Gałczyński's Zielona Gęś.
[edit] References
- Irena Kwiatkowska (Polish). WIEM, darmowa encyklopedia. Onet.pl. Retrieved on 29 August 2006.
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Polish Wikipedia article as of 29 August 2006.
