Joanna Pacuła (Polish: [jɔˈanːa paˈt͡suwa]; born 30 December 1957) is a Polish-born actress residing in Southern California. Pacuła was born in Tomaszów Lubelski, Poland. In 1979, Pacuła graduated from the Aleksander Zelwerowicz State Theatre Academy and embarked on a successful film career. She has a sister Ewa Pacuła, a model and TV personality who has also worked in the United States.
Ranked #9 in FHM magazine's '100 sexiest women of all time'.
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Appeared on cover of Vogue 2 times.
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Her performance as "Irina Asanova", in Gorky Park (1983), is ranked #57 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
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When she immigrated to America, she moved in with legendary Polish actress Elzbieta Czyzewska. It was Elzbieta who connected her with many people to help Joanna get her career in the US started. This meeting also later inspired Anna (1987).
When martial law was declared in Poland in December 1981, Pacula was vacationing in Paris. She remained there and became romantically involved with director Roman Polanski, who got her work as a model shortly after she moved to the United States, where she was featured in 'Vogue' magazine. Polanski recommended her for the female lead in Gorky Park (1983), her first lead role.
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Education; Polish National Theatre School, Warsaw, Poland (Acting)
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bones
2014
TV Series
Drina Mirga
Kill Her, Not Me
2013
Judith
ICE Agent
2013
Sheila Hayman
The Banksters, Madoff with America
2013
Ruth Madoff
Stolen Child
2012
TV Movie
Tatiana
Good God Bad Dog
2011
Short
Ruth Averill
Black Widow
2010
Olivia
Shannon's Rainbow
2009
Emily Blair
Monk
2008
TV Series
Leyla Zlatavich
Chicano Blood
2008
Video
The Judge
When Nietzsche Wept
2007
Mathilda
Honor
2006
Rose Tyrell
Forget About It
2006
Talia Nitti
The Cutter
2005
Elizabeth Teller
Jake in Progress
2005
TV Series
Elsa Winters
Dead Easy
2004
Teresa Storm
Moscow Heat
2004
Sasha (as Dzhoanna Pakula)
El padrino
2004
Jessica Lancaster
Dinocroc
2004
Paula Kennedy
Lightning: Bolts of Destruction
2003
TV Movie
Dr. Valery Landis
Cupid's Prey
2003
Iris Wetherton
No Place Like Home
2002
Gretchen Klein
Robbery Homicide Division
2002
TV Series
Trisha Sandifer
Warrior Angels
2002
Elizabeth
Night Visions
2002
TV Series
Head Immigrant
The Hit
2001
Video
Sonia
Crash and Byrnes
2000
Video
Lissette
Brutally Normal
2000
TV Series
Gogi
The Art of Murder
1999
Elizabeth Sheridan
Error in Judgment
1999
Liz
Dead Man's Gun
1999
TV Series
Yvonne Ballinger
Virus
1999
Nadia
The White Raven
1998
Julia Konneman
Sweet Deception
1998
TV Movie
Risa Gallagher
My Giant
1998
Lilliana Rotaru
Heaven Before I Die
1997
Selma
The Haunted Sea
1997
1st Mate Bergren
Business for Pleasure
1997
TV Movie
Anna
In Praise of Older Women
1997
Marta
Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys
1995
Brenda Franelli
Not Like Us
1995
Anita Clark
Last Gasp
1995
Nora Weeks
Timemaster
1995
Evelyn Adams
C'è Kim Novak al telefono
1994
Emilia
Every Breath
1994
Lauren
Deep Red
1994
TV Movie
Monica Quik
The Silence of the Hams
1994
Lily Wine
Normandy: The Great Crusade
1994
TV Movie
Ursula von Kardoff (voice)
Tombstone
1993
Kate
Under Investigation
1993
Video
Abbey Jane Strong
Warlock: The Armageddon
1993
Paula Dare
Private Lessons II
1993
Sophie Morgan
Condition: Critical
1992
TV Movie
Dr. Lena Poole
Black Ice
1992
Vanessa
Eyes of the Beholder
1992
Diana Carlyle
Body Puzzle
1992
Tracy
The Good Policeman
1991
Husbands and Lovers
1991
Alina
Marked for Death
1990
Leslie
E.A.R.T.H. Force
1990
TV Series
Diana Randall
Breaking Point
1989
TV Movie
Anna / Diana
Options
1989
Princess Nicole of Belgium
The Kiss
1988
Felice
Sweet Lies
1987
Joëlle
Escape from Sobibor
1987
TV Movie
Luka
Death Before Dishonor
1987
Elli
Crossings
1986
TV Mini-Series
Marissa Freilich
Not Quite Paradise
1985
Gila
07 zglos sie
1984
TV Series
Prostitute
Gorky Park
1983
Irina Asanova
Yokohama
1982
TV Movie
Jan Serce
1982
TV Mini-Series
Gabi
Czule miejsca
1981
Nurse
Ultima noapte de dragoste
1980
Lena Gheorghiu (as Ioana Pacula)
Zielona milosc
1980
TV Mini-Series
Jola Morawiecka "Sarna"
Dom
1980
TV Series
Ewa Szymosiuk-Talar #1
Córka albo syn
1979
TV Movie
Irena
Zerwane cumy
1979
Young Maryska / Maryska's granddaughter
Nie zaznasz spokoju
1978
Bozena Kaczmarek
Akcja pod Arsenalem
1978
Duska Bytnar
Camouflage
1977
Student (as J. Pacula)
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Special Thanks to Roy London
2005
Documentary
Herself
Nightlife
1987
TV Series
Herself
The 58th Annual Academy Awards
1986
TV Special
Herself - Audience Member
The 56th Annual Academy Awards
1984
TV Special documentary
Herself - Presenter: Best Cinematography
The 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards
1984
TV Special
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
The Making of 'Gorky Park'
1983
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1990
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Actress
The Kiss (1988)
1984
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture