Krystyna Janda

Krystyna Janda

Known For

A Short Film About Killing

Biography

Krystyna Jolanta Janda (Polish: [krɨˈstɨ.na ˈjan.da]; born 18 December 1952) is a Polish film and theatre actress, director, and singer. She is best known internationally for playing leading roles in several films by Polish film director Andrzej Wajda, including Man of Marble (Człowiek z marmuru, 1976) and Man of Iron (Człowiek z żelaza, 1981). She is widely considered one of the most popular and successful Polish actresses of her generation and an icon of Polish cinema.

In 1981, she played in the Academy Award-winning movie Mephisto. In 1982, she played the lead character in Ryszard Bugajski's film Przesłuchanie (Interrogation), which first premiered seven years later in 1989, following the collapse of communism. Despite the film's late release, she garnered international acclaim for her performance, including winning Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival and Polish Film Festival in 1990. Janda is also known for her leading role in the second episode of Dekalog series of Krzysztof Kieślowski. In 2020, she won the Polish Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in drama film Dolce Fine Giornata.

Her accolades and honours also include the Zbigniew Cybulski Award (1978), Gold Cross of Merit (1989), Gloria Artis Gold Medal for Merit to Culture (2005), Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2011), and Special Jury Award for Acting at the Sundance Film Festival (2019).

Because of her prominent role in Polish culture, has been described as a "legend of Polish cinema and theatre" and a "national treasure".

Description above from the Wikipedia article Krystyna Janda, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.    

Movies Featuring Krystyna Janda

The Doll

The Doll (2026)

as Joanna Karolowa
The Clowns

The Clowns (2024)

as Krystyna Janda
Kill It and Leave This Town

Kill It and Leave This Town (2020)

as Janek's Mother (voice)
1989

1989 (2019)

as Self (archive footage)
Julius

Julius (2018)

as Krystyna Janda
Aktorka

Aktorka (2015)

as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Damaged

Damaged (2015)

as Dulska, babka Melanii
Wałesa: Man of Hope

Wałesa: Man of Hope (2013)

as Agnieszka (archive footage) (uncredited)
Reverse

Reverse (2009)

as Matka/Babcia Sabiny
Sweet Rush

Sweet Rush (2009)

as Marta / Actress
The Call of the Toad

The Call of the Toad (2005)

as Aleksandra Piatkowska
Przedwiośnie

Przedwiośnie (2001)

as Jadwiga Barykowa
Tato

Tato (1995)

as Magda, lawyer
Polish Cuisine

Polish Cuisine (1991)

as Margaret Szymanko
Interrogation

Interrogation (1989)

as Antonina Dziwisz
Decalogue V

Decalogue V (1989)

as Dorota Geller
Inner State

Inner State (1989)

as żeglarka Ewa Jaskólska
Decalogue II

Decalogue II (1989)

as Dorota Geller
Fik-Mik

Fik-Mik (1988)

as doktor Anita, kochanka wiceministra
Laputa

Laputa (1987)

as Małgorzata
My Mother's Lovers

My Mother's Lovers (1986)

as Krystyna Traczyk
It's Only Rock

It's Only Rock (1984)

as Majka Lenczewska
No Image

On, ona, oni (1983)

as Psychologist (segment 2)
Mephisto

Mephisto (1981)

as Barbara Bruckner
No Image

The Green Bird (1980)

as Katzka Widuchowski
The Border

The Border (1978)

as Elżbieta Biecka