Agata Kulesza (born 27 September 1971) is a Polish film, television and stage actress, and a member of the Polish Film Academy. She was a contestant in season eight of Taniec z gwiazdami (English: Dancing with Stars) in 2008. She gained wide popularity in mass media after winning the competition. Kulesza was also the first winner of the show who donated the prize to charity.
Often plays grief-stricken women who suffer terrible tragedies
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Seductive voice and intense facial features
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Quote
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[on stage work] I continue to work in theatre, therefore I have an opportunity to practice my acting skills all the time, and that's extremely important. Actors are just like sportspeople- they should constantly act, seek, and exercise, in order not to be afraid. Upon entering a stage or a film set, one may suddenly become very shy, it can strike as an isolating experience. Privately we tend to be introverted, but performing is an act of courage, it requires one to open up.
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[on acting school] I really enjoyed the academy, I worked very hard. Then I became afraid about whether it would all work out. At some point I was even thinking about changing my profession. I thought of becoming a production manager, imagining that perhaps acting wasn't for me, after all.
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[on the possibility of an Oscar nomination for Ida (2013)] I do not see myself as a person with hang-ups. I do not need to play in foreign films to prove anything to anyone. My position here is secured and satisfactory. I do not feel any complexes, when thinking of actresses from abroad .
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[on Agata Trzebuchowska] Agata is a very intelligent and emotional young woman, very knowledgeable about art and culture in general. I think this made her extremely curious on set, she really wanted to know what drives the characters to act the way they do. The work was of course different because she didn't have any professional training and I didn't judge her for that. Especially because she is such a fast learner and by the end she had managed to convey great emotion without overplaying anything. When I first saw the completed picture I called her up and said "Agatka, you can't act, but you made a beautiful role!"
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[on Ida (2013)] The background for this story is very significant, but all in all what we see is this solitude and longing for a human connection. It transcends the fact that the characters are Jewish, that these are the 1960s, and is universal. That is its strength.
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[on playing the role of Wanda in Ida (2013)] When I am approached with any script or proposal I always try analyze my character first as a human being, stripped of historic or political circumstances. In this film it was difficult because it is a very special case that is strongly connected to our country's history. Wanda is a tragic character and different emotions are pulling her apart. I had to accept the fact that there were real women - as in this case - who did evil things, but who could also remain charismatic and very easy to relate to.
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[on Pawel Pawlikowski] He is a wonderful filmmaker, very focused, very intent on what he wants to achieve. He was also very open to discussion when we first met and decided the details of Wanda as a whole person. I know he did a lot of research for this picture and I had a feeling of a partnership when we worked together - that was very valuable for me.
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Fact
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Was awarded the honorary title of Ambassador of her native town of Szczecin [3 July 2015].
Having been awarded the Best Actress Eagle (Polish Film Award) for her performances in Róza (2011) and Ida (2013), she's one of only two actresses to win the category twice. The other is Kinga Preis, who won for Cisza (2001) and Komornik (2005).
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She and Jan Frycz are the only actors who worked in the Witcher game series to have received the Polish Film Award.
She received the 2013 'Paszport Polityki' for her film work.
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She provided the voice of the Queen (Julia Roberts) in the Polish dubbed version of Mirror Mirror (2012).
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Took ballet and singing lessons as a child before deciding to become an actress.
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She's also a stage actress, graduating with distinction from the 'Aleksander Zelwerowicz State Theatre Academy' in 1994 and subsequently performing both at the Dramatic and Ateneum Theatre in Warsaw.
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In 2012 she received the 'Annual Award of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage' for her film work.
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Legally known as Agata Kulesza-Figurska due to her marriage to Marcin Figurski. They have one daughter together: Marianna Figurska (b. 1997). Agata and Marianna appeared together in True Crimes (2016).
She's been friends with Hey's lead singer Katarzyna Nosowska since childhood. Has played the ukulele and sung guest vocals with the band during a Krakow concert (April 2014).
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Resides in Warsaw.
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Last name is pronounced Kulesha.
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Agata and dancing partner Stefano Terrazzino were the winners of Taniec z gwiazdami VIII (2008) (the eighth edition of the Polish version of 'Dancing with the Stars'). She was the first winner to donate the reward to charity.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Budapest Diaries
2017
announced
Mother
True Crimes
2016
Marta
I'm a Killer
2016
Lidia Kalicka
Szczescie swiata
2016
Gertruda
The Innocents
2016
Mère Abesse
Moje córki krowy
2015
Marta
Krew z krwi
2012-2015
TV Series
Carmen Rota-Majewska
Sluzby specjalne
2015
TV Series
lekarz onkolog Anna Czerwonko
Warsaw by Night
2015
Ola
Pani z przedszkola
2014
Mom
Secret Wars
2014
Dr. Anna Czerwonko
Pod mocnym aniolem
2014
Jerzy's Mum
W ukryciu
2013
Wanda
Ida
2013
Wanda
Wszystkie kobiety Mateusza
2013
Maciejka
Drogówka
2012
Jadzia
Milosc
2012
Mayor's Wife
Dzien kobiet
2012
Psychologist
Prawo Agaty
2012
TV Series
Krystyna Sikorska
Gleboka woda
2011
TV Series
Hanna Wrzesinska
Ki
2011
Miriam
Róza
2011
Róza Kwiatkowska
Rodzinka.pl
2011
TV Series
Maria
Sala samobójców
2011
Beata
Prosto w serce
2011
TV Series
Aneta Sienkiewicz
Skrzydlate swinie
2010
Karina Klaus
Ojciec Mateusz
2010
TV Series
Renata Szulc
39 i pól
2009
TV Series
Hania
Expecting Love
2009
TV Series
Doctor
Synowie
2009
TV Series
Lucyna Dobrowolska
Zamiana
2009
Miecia
Mala wielka milosc
2008
Doctor
Wiedzmin
2007
Video Game
Abigail
Carmen
Queen of the Night
... (Polish version, voice)
Kilka prostych slów
2007
Short
Krystyna
Hela w opalach
2006-2007
TV Series
Edyta Swoboda / Edyta Swonoda
Niania
2006
TV Series
Actress
Co slonko widzialo
2006
Team Manager
Fundacja
2006
Anka Malecka
Podróz
2006
Short
Jola
Solidarnosc, Solidarnosc...
2005
Filip's Wife (episode 'Petrol')
Fortuna czyha w lesie
2005
Lawyer
Cudownie ocalony
2004
TV Movie
Prisoner Czarna
Pensjonat Pod Róza
2004
TV Series
Danuta 'Dusia' Adamska
Park tysiaca westchnien
2004
Painter
Siedem przystanków na drodze do raju
2003
Deaf woman
Moje pieczone kurczaki
2002
TV Movie
Agata, Wojtek`s wife
Doppelter Einsatz
2002
TV Series
Przedwiosnie
2001
Woman
Na dobre i na zle
2000
TV Series
Maria Kozluk
Poznan 56
1996
Teacher Zoska
Die Straßen von Berlin
1995
TV Series
Katharina Stefanescu
Zegnaj Rockefeller
1993
TV Movie
Czlowiek z...
1993
Anna
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Desire for Beauty
2013
Documentary
Herself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Chlotrudis Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Ida (2013)
2014
LAFCA Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Ida (2013)
2014
Eagle
Polish Film Awards
Best Actress (Najlepsza Glówna Rola Kobieca)
Ida (2013)
2014
Jury Prize
RiverRun International Film Festival
Best Actress
Ida (2013)
2013
Best Actress
Gijón International Film Festival
Ida (2013)
2013
Best Actress Prize
Les Arcs European Film Festival
Ida (2013)
2013
Award for Best Actress
Minsk International Film Festival
Best Actress
Ida (2013)
2013
Best Actress
Polish Film Festival
Best Actress
Ida (2013)
2012
Eagle
Polish Film Awards
Best Actress (Najlepsza Glówna Rola Kobieca)
Róza (2011)
2008
Best Actress
Ourense Independent Film Festival
Best Actress - Short Film
Kilka prostych slów (2007)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
CinEuphoria
CinEuphoria Awards
Best Supporting Actress - International Competition