Actress. A leading light of the Polish stage and screen, she played numerous character roles in the United States after her forced exile from her native land. Raised in Warsaw, she graduated from acting school in 1960, and after appearing in the movie short "Erotique" quickly became a national sex symbol. Starring in the works of director Jerzy Skolimowski (to whom some speculate that she was married), she was held in high esteem, but her life and career took a major turn when she appeared in a 1965 production of Arthur Miller's "After the Fall". Journalist David Halberstram interviewed her at the opening night gala and a romance ensued, with marriage following a few months later. (The couple divorced in 1977). Halberstram wrote a book critising anti-Semitism in Poland, resulting in his expulsion; Czyzewska joined him in New York, then on her return to Warsaw in 1968 to make the film "Everything for Sale" found herself unwelcome. She garnered high praise for her 1974 stage appearance in Albert Camus' "The Possessed", but overall found her opportunities limited by her Eastern European accent. Well-reviewed in the Woodstock, New York, original cast of "Hunting Cockroaches", she saw the lead go to another when the show moved to Manhattan. She nevertheless kept busy, performing in numerous Off-Broadway plays and in such movies as "Cadillac Man", "Putney Swope", and "A Kiss Before Dying". On the small screen her credits included "Sex and the City" (in a comedic take-off on Dr. Ruth), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", and "Third Watch". Czyzewska was said to have been the model for the title character in William Styron's "Sophie's Choice" and for the 1987 film "Anna". She died of esophageal cancer.
Actress. A leading light of the Polish stage and screen, she played numerous character roles in the United States after her forced exile from her native land. Raised in Warsaw, she graduated from acting school in 1960, and after appearing in the movie short "Erotique" quickly became a national sex symbol. Starring in the works of director Jerzy Skolimowski (to whom some speculate that she was married), she was held in high esteem, but her life and career took a major turn when she appeared in a 1965 production of Arthur Miller's "After the Fall". Journalist David Halberstram interviewed her at the opening night gala and a romance ensued, with marriage following a few months later. (The couple divorced in 1977). Halberstram wrote a book critising anti-Semitism in Poland, resulting in his expulsion; Czyzewska joined him in New York, then on her return to Warsaw in 1968 to make the film "Everything for Sale" found herself unwelcome. She garnered high praise for her 1974 stage appearance in Albert Camus' "The Possessed", but overall found her opportunities limited by her Eastern European accent. Well-reviewed in the Woodstock, New York, original cast of "Hunting Cockroaches", she saw the lead go to another when the show moved to Manhattan. She nevertheless kept busy, performing in numerous Off-Broadway plays and in such movies as "Cadillac Man", "Putney Swope", and "A Kiss Before Dying". On the small screen her credits included "Sex and the City" (in a comedic take-off on Dr. Ruth), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", and "Third Watch". Czyzewska was said to have been the model for the title character in William Styron's "Sophie's Choice" and for the 1987 film "Anna". She died of esophageal cancer.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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