Barbara Brylska is a Polish actress who starred in films made in Poland, Russia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.
She was born on June 5, 1941, in Skotniki, near Lodz, Poland. Her early childhood was marked by the trauma of survival under the Nazi occupation of Poland during the Second World War. She made her film debut at age 15, in a small role in Kalosze szczescia (1958). She studied acting at Lodz Theatre School, then studied at Warsaw School of Theatre, Cinema and Television, graduating in 1964 as an actress.
Barbara Brylska shot to fame with her supporting role as Kama in Faraon (1966), an Oscar nominated period drama by director Jerzy Kawalerowicz. Then she played a supporting role as Krzysia Drohojowska in Pan Wolodyjowski (1969), a period film by director Jerzy Hoffman. Brylska established herself as a fine actress, she was busy in East European cinema during the 60s and 70s.
In 1975 Brylska received a phone call from Moscow director Eldar Ryazanov, that forever changed her life and acting career, and brought her fame and jealousy. She brilliantly played the role of Nadia, a female lead opposite Andrey Myagkov in the cult Soviet TV movie Ironiya sudby, ili S lyogkim parom! (1975) (TV). Her performance was enhanced by collaboration with popular singer Alla Pugacheva who delivered enchanting rendition of love songs for Brylska's character. In 1976 Brylska was elected the most popular actress in Russia according to several polls, she also won the State Prize of the USSR (1977).
Barbara Brylska has been highly regarded for her classic noblesse, beauty, intelligence, and effortless style. She enjoyed a steady popularity with the Russian-speaking audiences mainly due to her stellar performance in Ironiya sudby, ili S lyogkim parom! (1975) (TV). For two seasons from 2000-2002 she returned to the Polish audiences as Barbara Burska, a recurring character in popular Polish TV series 'Na dobre i na zle'. In 2003 she starred in a Russian comedy Casus belli (2003) by director Igor Ugolnikov. In 2006 Brylska starred as Olga Samoilova, a wealthy lady who was forced into a retirement home by her money hungry relatives, in Ukrainian comedy 'Strannoe Rozhdestvo' (aka.. Strange Christmas) by director Maksim Papernik, reuniting with her fellow actress Liya Akhedzhakova. Brylska is cast as Nadia in the upcoming sequel to her most popular film, titled 'Ironiya sudby 2', by director Timur Bekmambetov, filmed at locations in Moscow and in St. Petersburg, and scheduled for release in 2008.
Barbara Brylska has been married several times, and had a daughter, Barbara (born in 1973), and a son, Ludwig (born in 1983). Her son, Ludwig, has been studying management and economy at Warsaw School of Economics. Her daughter, Barbara, was a model in Paris. After the tragic death of her 20-year-old model daughter in a car accident, and a burglary of her apartment in Warsaw, Brylska suffered from a nervous breakdown, however she continued her acting career. Barbara Brylska is currently sharing time between her apartment in Warsaw, Poland, and her summer cottage in the village of Gulchevo, near Warsaw; she also makes regular visits to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, where she has been enjoying a steady success.
Filmography
1. Kalosze szczescia (1958)
2. Yokmok (1963)
3. Potem nastapi cisza (1965) ... Ewa
4. Faraon (1965)... Kama
5. Bumerang (1966)
6. Pózne popoludnie (1967) … Jezykowna
7. Stawka wieksza niz zycie (TV series) (1967) … Inga
8. Spur des Falken (1968) … Catherine Emmerson
9. Mord am Montag (1968) … Hanna Stern
10. Przygody Pana Michala (TV series) (1969) … Krystyna Drohojowska
11. Pan Wolodyjowski (1969) … Krzysia Drohojowska
12. Weisse Wölfe (1969) … Catherine Emerson
13. Osvobozhdenie (1969) … Helena
14. Zbrodniarz, który ukradl zbrodnie (1969) … Ewa Salm
15. Album polski (1970) … Maria/Anna
16. Pogon za Adamem (1970) … Wanda
17. Wiktoryna czyli czy Pan pochodzi z Beauvais? (TV movie) (1971) … Wiktoryna
18. Pygmalion XII (TV movie) (1971) … Erika Bongert
19. Osvobozhdenie: Napravleniye glavnogo udara (1971) … Helena
20. Anatomia milosci (1972) … Ewa
21. Goroda i gody (1973)
22. Scheidungsprozeß (TV movie) (1973) … Hanka
23. Godzina za godzina (1974) … Basia
24. Visa für Ocantros (TV movie) (1974) … Jagoda
25. Dyrektorzy (TV series) (1975) … Elzbieta
26. Ironiya sudby, ili S legkim parom! (TV movie) (1975) … Nadya
27. Tichý American v Praze (1977) … Milena
28. Koncert pre pozostalých (1977) … Alice
29. Umiray samo v kraen sluchay (TV series) (1978) … Linda (as Barbara Brilska)
30. Sto koni do stu brzegów (1979) … Krystyna
31. Kariera Nikodema Dyzmy (TV series) (1980) … Evita
32. Archiv des Todes (TV series) (1980) … Hanka
33. Hotel Polan und seine Gäste (TV movie) (1982) … Comtess Antoinette Ziemlinska (voice)
34. Skalpel, prosÃm (1985) … Med. Assistant
35. W cieniu nienawisci (1986)
36. Kurs na lewo (TV movie) (1986) … Sylwia's mother
37. 07 zglos sie (TV series) (1976-1978) … Ewa / Zofia Gambetti
38. Miedzy ustami a brzegiem pucharu (1987) … Mielzynska
39. Misja specjalna (1987) … Pharmacist Grazynka
40. Chas polnoluniya (1988) … Zakonnica
41. Ballada o Januszku (TV series) (1988) … Teacher
42. Vera - Der schwere Weg der Erkenntnis (TV movie) (1989) … Martha Drews
43. Rzeka klamstwa (TV mini-series) (1989) … Actress
44. Gdansk '39 (TV mini-series) (1989) … Burchardtowa
45. Au! Ograblenie poezda (1991)
46. Tylko strach (TV movie) (1993)
47. Wynajme pokój (TV movie) (1994) … Olek's Mother
48. Polska smierc (1995) … Psychiatrist
49. Wirus (1996)
50. Ekstradycja 3 (TV mini-series) (1999) … Osowski's wife
51. Down House (2000) … Yepanchina
52. Dalej niz na wakacje (TV short) (2000) … Grandma
53. Symphony of Silence (2001) … Eva (as Barbara Brilska)
54. Na dobre i na zle (TV series) (2002) Barbara Burska
55. Casus belli (2003)
56. Samo zycie (TV series) (2005) … Celina Zmuda
57. Jasne blekitne okna (2007) … Nina
58. Ironiya sudby 2 (2007) … Nadezhda Vasilevna
59. Admiral (2008) … Nanny of young Kolchak (uncredited)
60. Niania (TV series) (2009) … Agata
61. Milosc na wybiegu (2009) … Marta