Barbara Kwiatkowska-Lass
Encyclopedia
Barbara Kwiatkowska-Lass (1 June 1940 – 6 March 1995) was a Polish
actress.
In 1959 she left Poland for the West and soon starred in a few major films like La millième fenêtre (with Jean-Louis Trintignant
) and Che gioia vivere (with Alain Delon
). She played roles in several Italian, French and German films such as Krzysztof Zanussi
's Blaubart (1983) and in Stachel im Fleisch (1981).
in 1959; they divorced in 1962. The following year she met Karlheinz Böhm
on the set of the movie Rififi in Tokyo (Du rififi à Tokyo, 1963) in Tokyo; the couple later married, their daughter is actress Katharina Böhm
.
Kwiatkowska-Lass divorced Böhm in 1980, and married Polish jazz musician
Leszek Żądło
, with whom she lived until her death.
. She was interred in Kraków
's Rakowicki Cemetery
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
actress.
Early life and career
She was born in Partów, a village in central Poland. Although she received ballet and dance education, she eventually took up an acting career. After her debut role in Tadeusz Chmielewski's comedy Ewa chce spać (1957) she gained wider popularity in Poland. The role had been offered to her after she took the first place in a contest organized by a popular Polish cinema magazine.In 1959 she left Poland for the West and soon starred in a few major films like La millième fenêtre (with Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis Trintignant is a French actor who has enjoyed an international acclaim. He won the Best Actor Award at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.-Career:...
) and Che gioia vivere (with Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
). She played roles in several Italian, French and German films such as Krzysztof Zanussi
Krzysztof Zanussi
Krzysztof Zanussi, is a Polish producer and film director.He is a professor of European film at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland where he conducts a summer workshop...
's Blaubart (1983) and in Stachel im Fleisch (1981).
Personal life
She married film director Roman PolanskiRoman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
in 1959; they divorced in 1962. The following year she met Karlheinz Böhm
Karlheinz Böhm
Karlheinz Böhm is an Austrian actor. The son of conductor Karl Böhm, he is best known internationally for his role as Mark, the psychopathic protagonist of Peeping Tom, directed by Michael Powell...
on the set of the movie Rififi in Tokyo (Du rififi à Tokyo, 1963) in Tokyo; the couple later married, their daughter is actress Katharina Böhm
Katharina Böhm
Katharina Böhm is an Austrian actress. She played the role of Livia Burlando in the Italian TV series Il commissario Montalbano based on the character Salvo Montalbano from the novels created by Andrea Camilleri.She is the daughter of Karlheinz Böhm and Barbara Kwiatkowska-Lass, as well as the...
.
Kwiatkowska-Lass divorced Böhm in 1980, and married Polish jazz musician
Leszek Żądło
, with whom she lived until her death.
Politics
Kwiatkowska was opposed to the Communist regime in Poland and cooperated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty which transmitted information and programmes to Poland which were free from censorship.Death
On 6 March 1995, Kwiatkowska-Lass collapsed and died from a brain hemorrhage aged 54, in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. She was interred in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
's Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery
Rakowicki Cemetery is one of the best known cemeteries of Poland, located in the centre of Kraków. It lies within the Administrative District No. 1 Stare Miasto meaning "Old Town" – not to be confused with the historic Kraków Old Town further west...
.
Selected filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | Ewa chce spać | Ewa Bonecka | Credited as Barbara Kwiatkowska |
| 1959 | When Angels Fall | Alternative title: Gdy spadają anioły Credited as Barbara Kwiatkowska |
|
| 1960 | Zezowate szczeście Bad Luck (film) Bad Luck is a 1960 Polish comedy film directed by Andrzej Munk. It was entered into the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Bogumił Kobiela – Jan Piszczyk* Maria Ciesielska – Basia* Helena Dabrowska – Wychówna... |
Jola Wrona-Wronska | Alternative title: Bad Luck Credited as Barbara Kwiatkowska |
| 1961 | Che gioia vivere The Joy of Living The Joy of Living is a 1961 Italian-French comedy film directed by René Clément. It was entered into the 1961 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Alain Delon - Ulysse Cecconato* Barbara Lass - Franca Fossati* Gino Cervi - Olinto Fossati... |
Franca Fossati | Alternative title: The Joy of Living |
| 1962 | L'Amour à vingt ans Love at Twenty Love at Twenty is a 1962 French-produced omnibus project of Pierre Roustang, consisting of five segments directed by five directors from five different countries... |
Basia | Segment "Warszawa" |
| 1963 | Du rififi à Tokyo | Françoise Merigne | |
| 1965 | Serenade für zwei Spione | Tamara | |
| 1967 | Jowita | Agnieszka "Jowita" | Credited as Barbara Kwiatkowska |
| 1970 | Der Pfarrer von St. Pauli | Dagmar | Alternative title: The Priest of St. Pauli |
| 1974 | Jak to sie robi | Holiday-Maker | Alternative title: How It's Done |
| 1981 | Stachel im Fleisch | Ines | |
| 1986 | Die Geduld der Rosa Luxemburg Rosa Luxemburg (film) Rosa Luxemburg is a 1986 West German drama film directed by Margarethe von Trotta. It was entered into the 1986 Cannes Film Festival where Barbara Sukowa won the award for Best Actress.-Cast:* Barbara Sukowa as Rosa Luxemburg... |
Rosa's mother | Alternative title: Rosa Luxemburg |
| 1987 | Das Schweigen des Dichters | Janina | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1970 | Hauser's Memory | Angelika | Television movie |
| 1972 | Doppelspiel in Paris | Renée Borni, seine Geliebte | Television movie |
| 1984 | Blaubart | Rosalinde | Television movie |
| 1990 | Eine Wahnsinnsehe | Herta | Television movie |
| 1991 | Moskau - Petuschki | Fürstin | Television movie |