Krystyna Jolanta Janda (born 18 December 1952, in Starachowice, Poland) is a Polish film and theater actress best known for playing leading roles in several films by Polish director Andrzej Wajda, including Man of Marble (Człowiek z marmuru, 1976) and Man of Iron (Człowiek z żelaza, 1981).

Life and work 
Throughout her career, she has received numerous prestigious awards, such as Best Actress at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, Silver Shell for Best Actress at the San Sebastian Film Festival for her role in Waldemar Krzystek's film Zwolnienie z życia, Best Actress Award at the 1987 Montreal Film Festival for the role in Helma Sanders-Brahms's Laputa, Best Actress Award at the Belgrade Film Festival for Interrogation, the Zbigniew Cybulski Award for best young Polish actress,  as well as 4 Golden Duck Awards. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Polish cinema and was selected in a 1998 Polityka magazine survey among the greatest actresses of the 20th century.

In 2005, she established her own private "Polonia Theatre" in Warsaw. She is the founder and head of the Krystyna Janda Cultural Foundation.

Personal life 
During 1974–1979 she was in a relationship with the actor Andrzej Seweryn. In 1981, she married Edward Kłosiński, who died on 5 January 2008. She has three children: daughter Maria Seweryn and two sons Adam and Jędrzej Kłosiński. Janda currently lives in Milanówek near Warsaw.

Selected filmography 

 1976: Man of Marble – Agnieszka
 1977:  (pl ) – Krystyna
 1977:  (pl  ) – Elżbieta Biecka
 1978: Without Anesthesia – Agata
 1978:  (pl  ) – Anna
 1979: Manchmal besucht der Neffe die Tante (guest performance)
 1980:  (de  ) – Katzka Widuchowski
 1980: The Orchestra Conductor – Marta
 1980:  (fr  ) – Rozyna
 1980: W biały dzień – Ewa
 1980: Uoni – Kira Kirova
 1981:  (pl  ) – psychologist
 1981: Man of Iron – Agnieszka
 1981: Mephisto – Barbara Bruckner
 1981: The War of the Worlds: Next Century – Gea
 1981: Fik – Mik – Doktor Anita
 1982: Avant la bataille – as herself
 1982: Ce fut un bel été – Wanda
 1982: Espion, lève-toi – Anna Gretz
 1982: Interrogation – Antonina Dziwisz
 1983: Bella Donna – Lena
 1983:  (pl  ) – Ewa Jaskólska
 1983:  (pl  ) – Majka Lenczewska
 1983:  (pl  ) – Gloria Lamb
 1984: Glut – Anna
 1984: O-Bi, O-Ba: The End of Civilization – Gea
 1984:  (de  ) – Gerlinde
 1985: Vertiges – Maria
 1985:  (pl  ) – Krystyna Traczyk
 1986: Laputa – Malgorzata
 1986:  (pl  ) – Anna Mroczyńska
 1987: On the Silver Globe – Aza
 1987: A Short Film About Killing – Dorota
 1988: Dekalog: Two – Dorota Geller
 1988: Dekalog: Five – Dorota Geller
 1989: Inventory – Julia
 1991:  (pl  ) – Margaret Szymanko
 1992:  (pl  ) – French woman
 1995:  (pl  ) – Agata Koman
 1995:  (pl  ) – Magda
 1995:  (pl  ) – Halina
 1995:  (pl  ) – Ewa Kozłowska
 1997: An Air So Pure – Ms. Leduroy
 2000: Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease – Anna
 2000:  (pl  ) – wife
 2000:  (de  ) – Elka
 2001:  (pl  ) – Jadwiga Barykowa
 2002:  (pl  ) – Krystyna Janda
 2005:  (pl  ) – Jadwiga Stańczakowa
 2005: Call of the Toad – Aleksandra Piątkowska
 2007:  (pl  ) – Wiadro
 2009: Tatarak – Marta / Actress
 2009: Reverse – Irena Jankowska, Sabina's mother
 2011: Elles – Alicja's mother
 2015: Panie Dulskie - Melania Dulska's grandmother

Television series 

 1973: Czarne chmury (pl), Polish TV series – dancer
 1978: Rodzina Połanieckich (pl), Polish TV series – Christina
 1979: Doktor Murek (pl), Polish TV series – Zośka "Arletka"
 1984: Eine blaßblaue Frauenschrift (de), Austrian TV film based on Pale blue ink in a lady's hand novel  – Amelia Tachezy
 1988: Wilder Westen inclusive (de) – Marianne Küssling
 1989: Modrzejewska (pl), Polish TV series – Helena Modrzejewska
 1991: Kuchnia polska (pl), Polish political film and TV series – Margaret Szymanko
 1993: Der große Bellheim (de) – Maria Bellheim
 2002: Przedwiośnie (pl), TV series based on The Spring to Come novel – Jadwiga Barykowa
 2003–2004: Męskie-żeńskie (pl), Polish TV comedy series – Lilka Janicka
 2007: Niania (pl), TV series, remake of American sitcom The Nanny - Episode 66: "Moje perły" – as herself
 2011: Bez tajemnic (pl), Polish TV series – Barbara Lewicka

Discography (guest performances) 

 1984: Krystyna Janda i Marek Grechuta W malinowym chruśniaku (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
 1985: Music from Poland at midem '85 (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
 1990: Marek Grechuta Anawa – Ocalić od zapomnienia (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
 1991: Marek Grechuta Anawa – Ocalić od zapomnienia (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
 1996: Summer Hits 2 – Piosenki na lato (Caston)
 2001: Marek Grechuta Serce
 2005: Marek Grechuta Serce (Pomaton EMI)
 2007: Trójka live! Agnieszka Osiecka – Kobiety mojego życia (3 SKY MEDIA)
 Człowiek z żelaza śpiewa Balladę o Janku Wiśniewskim ("The Man of Marble Sings the Janek Wiśniewski Ballad")
 Pięć oceanów ("The Five Oceans") featuring Agnieszka Osiecka's works, Janda she sings the Na zakręcie song

Honors and awards 

 Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2011)
 Golden Medal of the Medal for Merit to Culture - Gloria Artis (2005)
 Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2002)
 Distinguished Cultural Activist Award (1997)
 Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1991, France)
 Golden Cross of Merit (1989)

Other awards 

 Zbigniew Cybulski Award (1978)
 Silver Asteroid for the role in Piotr Szulkin's film Golem at the 19th Trieste Science+Fiction Festival (1981)
 Best Actress Award at the Montreal Film Festival (1986)
 Aleksander Zelwerowicz Award (1988)
 Polish Cultural Foundation Award for her role in the film Interrogation (1989)
 Vittorio de Sica Medal (1990)
 Golden Duck for Best Actress (1990)
 Best Actress Award at the Gdynia Film Festival (1990)
 Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival (1990)
 Nomination for European Film Awards, Best Actress category (1990)
 Best Actress Award at the Belgrade Film Festival for her role in Ryszard Bugajski's film Interrogation (1991)
 Silver Shell at the San Sebastian Film Festival (1992)
 Golden Duck for Best Actress (1993)
 Best Debut Award for her film Pestka at the 20th Gdynia Film Festival(1995)
 Super Golden Duck for Best Actress in the History of Polish Cinema (1996)
 Telekamera Audience Award for the Most Popular Actress (1998)
 SuperWiktor Lifetime Achievement Award  (1998)
 Nomination for Polish Film Awards for Best Actress Award in the film Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease(2001)
 Golden Lions Award at the Gdynia Film Festival for the film Parę osób, mały czas (2005)
 Medaille Charlemagne pour des Medias Européens (2006)
 Nomination for Polish Film Awards for Best Actress Award in the film Wróżby kumaka (2006)
 Golden Duck for Best Actress of Half a Century (2007)
 Hiacynt LGBT Award for "her unwavering support for the idea of tolerance in her theatre, film and Internet activity" (2007)
 Nomination for Polish Film Awards for Best Actress Award in the film  Parę osób, mały czas (2008)
 The Capital City of Warsaw Award for her contributions to the promotion of the city of Warsaw (2011)

References

Other websites 

 Krystyna Janda at filmpolski.pl
 
 Krystyna Janda's official website (in Polish)
 Krystyna Janda  at culture.pl

1952 births
Living people