Ania Mucha has acted in numerous films, including Panna Nikt, Młode Wilki, and the series Matki, żony i kochanki. She also had an Englishspeaking role in Steven Spielberg' s acclaimed Schindler' s List. She spoke to Monika Jaworska about her life, her films and how the English language influences her career.
M.J.: How did you start acting?
A. Mucha: In 1989 a friend heard about a casting for Andrzej Wajda' s film Korczak. I went with him to give him support. While I was waiting, a woman came up to me and said," Why don' t you take part in the casting, too?" That' s how it all started. A week later I had a phonecall and I' d got the part.
Schindler' s List is the most famous film you have acted in. How did it go?
I liked Steven Spielberg, and the film definitely helped my English. I had to pass a short exam and there was an English teacher who taught me to say some sentences. After we finished filming, we went to London to record the sound. I said only one or two sentences in the movie, but I had contact with Spielberg and had to understand what he said. I learned a lot there. I also met Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and other members of the cast. I had the opportunity to get familiar with new techniques and new technology. Compared to Polish movies there were never problems with money, and it was marvellous not being limited to such a constraint.
What do you think made Młode Wilki so popular?
I think because such a movie hadn' t been made in Poland before. The characters in the film were something new and different. Suddenly they become idols for women, and role models for guys. The actors were all young and independent - fresh from the street. That' s why the film gained so much recognition. The second part, Młode Wilki 1/2, was even more popular than the first, which seems amazing.
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