Helena Modrzejewska, born Helena Krzyżanowska, was a renowned Polish actress and one of the most prominent figures in the history of Polish theater. She is often referred to as the “Queen of the Polish Stage” and is credited with revolutionizing the Polish theater scene during the late 19th century.
What Will Be The Current Age of Helena Modrzejewska?
Helena Modrzejewska will be 185 years old. Helena Modrzejewska passed away on February 27, 1909, in Paris, France. She was 68 years old at the time of her death.
Quick facts about Helena Modrzejewska:
- Born: Helena Krzyżanowska on October 12, 1840, in Podkarpacie, Poland
- Stage Name: Helena Modrzejewska (changed in 1862 to reflect her commitment to the Polish national cause)
- Early Career: Made her stage debut in Warsaw at the age of 16 and became a leading actress at Warsaw’s National Theater in the 1860s
- Paris Years: She moved to Paris in 1864 to further her acting career and studied under renowned French actress Rachel. She made her debut in Paris in 1867, playing the lead role in Victor Hugo’s “Angelo” in 1867.
- Touring: Toured extensively throughout Europe, playing both classical and contemporary roles with great success.
- Polish National Theater: Became a founding member of the Polish National Theater in Warsaw in 1869 and served as its director until 1872.
- American Debut: She moved to the United States in 1876 and made her American debut at the Park Theater in New York City, playing Lady Macbeth, to critical acclaim.
- Citizenship: I became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1879.
- Advocacy: I was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and education. She founded a school for girls in Warsaw in 1872 and served as a board member for several women’s organizations in the United States.
- Honors and Awards: She received numerous honors and awards throughout her career, including an honorary degree from Columbia University in 1903 and a gold medal from the Polish Academy of Learning in 1905.
- Death: Died on 8 April 1909, at the age of 68.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Helena Modrzejewska was born on October 12, 1840, in Kraków, Poland. Her birth name was Jadwiga Benda, but she was later baptized Helena Opid. Her parentage is unclear, but some sources suggest that she was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Władysław Hieronim Sanguszko, a wealthy and influential Polish nobleman. She had a younger sister, Josephine, and several half-brothers from her mother’s first marriage. She was raised by her great-aunt Teresa, who encouraged her interest in literature and theater.
She married her former guardian, Gustaw Zimajer, an actor and theater director, in 1861. She adopted the stage name Helena Modrzejewska and made her debut in 1861 in a provincial theater troupe. She soon gained recognition for her gift and beauty, especially in romantic and woeful places. She performed in various cities in Poland, such as Bochnia, Nowy Sącz, Przemyśl, Rzeszów, Brzeżany, Lwów, Stanisławów, and Czerniowce. She also played numerous roles by Juliusz Słowacki, one of the topmost Polish muses and playwrights.
In 1865, she divorced Zimajer and married Count Karol Bozenta Chłapowski, a Polish nobleman, journalist, and politician. She moved to Kraków, where she joined the external theater and became its commanding star. She played numerous roles by William Shakespeare, similar to Lady Macbeth, Ophelia, and Juliet. She also performed in other classic and contemporary plays, such as Maria Stuart by Friedrich Schiller, Faust by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, and Karpackie górale by Józef Korzeniowski.
Career Highlights
In 1876, Modrzejewska emigrated to the United States with her family and musketeers, including Henryk Sienkiewicz, an unborn Nobel Prize-winning novelist. They settled in Anaheim, California, where they tried to establish a romantic colony and a ranch. still, the adventure failed and Modrzejewska decided to renew her acting career. She simplified her name to Helena Modjeska and learned English in six months. She made her American debut in 1877 in San Francisco, playing Adrienne Lecouvreur by Ernest Legouvé and Eugène Scribe. She entered rave reviews and became a sensation.
She voyaged to the United States and Canada, playing substantially Shakespearean places, similar to Rosalind, Portia, Cleopatra, and Cordelia. She also performed in other plays, such as Camille by Alexandre Dumas Fils, As You Like It by Shakespeare, and Adrienne Lecouvreur by Legouvé and Scribe. She was praised for her natural and suggestive style, her grace and charm, and her mastery of the English language. She was also respected for her fineness and complication, and her costumes and jewelry became fashionable.
In 1880, she made her London debut at the Court Theatre, playing Juliet and Adrienne Lecouvreur. She was warmly entered by the British critics and cult and became a musketeer with numerous prominent numbers, similar to Oscar Wilde, Robert Browning, and Ellen Terry. She returned to London several times, playing in other places, similar to Beatrice, Lady Macbeth, and Marie Antoinette. She also visited other European countries, such as France, Germany, and Italy, where she performed in Polish, English, and French.
She continued to act in the United States until 1907 when she retired from the stage. She made her last appearance in Los Angeles, playing Volumnia in Coriolanus by Shakespeare. She was recognized with numerous awards and paeans, similar to memorial degrees, orders, and witnesses. She was also involved in colorful social and artistic causes, such as supporting Polish independence, promoting Polish literature and art, and helping Polish emigrants and deportees.
Personal Life
Modrzejewska had two children from her first marriage, Rudolf and Marylka. Marylka died in infancy, while Rudolf became a famous engineer and bridge builder in the United States, known as Ralph Modjeski. He designed numerous islands, similar to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, the HueyP. Long Bridge in New Orleans, and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Modrzejewska was very close to her son and often visited him and his family.
Modrzejewska had a happy and harmonious marriage with Chłapowski, who was her devoted companion and manager. He supported her career and helped her with her affairs. He also wrote papers and books about her life and work. He died in 1904, leaving Modrzejewska heartbroken. Modrzejewska died on April 8, 1909, in Newport Beach, California, from Bright’s disease, a kidney disorder. She was 68 times old. She was buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Kraków, Poland, coming to her hubby and her family.
Legacy and Impact on Polish Theater
Modrzejewska is regarded as the greatest actress in the history of theater in Poland. She’s considered a public icon and a symbol of Polish culture and identity. She’s flashed back for her cultural excellence, her versatility, and her seductiveness. She’s also respected for her nationalism, her liberality, and her humanism. She told numerous generations of Polish actors and actresses, such as Gabriela Zapolska, Irena Eichlerówna, and Zofia Jaroszewska. She also inspired numerous pens and artists, such as Henryk Sienkiewicz, Stanisław Wyspiański, and Jacek Malczewski.
Helena Modrzejewska’s life and work have been the subject of many books, plays, movies, and documentaries. Some of the most notable ones are:
- Modrzejewska, a memoir by Kazimierz Chłędowski, published in 1910.
- Modjeska, Her Life, and Art, a memoir by Mabel Collins, was published in 1883.
- Modjeska, a play by Gabriela Zapolska, was written in 1907 and offered in 1912.
- Modjeska, a movie by Bolesław Newolin, was released in 1910.
- Modjeska, a movie by Joseph Kaufman, released in 1916.
- Modjeska, a movie by Józef Lejtes, released in 1937.
- Modjeska, a talkie by Maria Kwiatkowska, was released in 1969.
- Modjeska, a talkie by Andrzej Wajda, released in 1977.
- Modjeska, a play by Barbara Lebow, was written in 1980 and offered in 1987.
- Modjeska, a play by Marta Górnicka, was written in 2010 and offered in 2011.
Helena Modrzejewska’s name and image have been used for various purposes, such as:
- Modjeska Peak a mountain in Orange County, California, was named after her in 1888.
- Modjeska Canyon is a community in Orange County, California, where she lived from 1888 to 1906.
- Modjeska House is a major house in Modjeska Canyon, California, where she lived from 1888 to 1906.
- Modjeska Park is a demesne in Anaheim, California, where she lived from 1876 to 1878.
- Modjeska Theatre a theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened in 1924 and was named after her.
- Modjeska Theatre a theater in Kraków, Poland, opened in 1945 and was named after her.
- Modjeska Monteith Simkins House, a major house in Columbia, South Carolina, where Modjeska Monteith Simkins, a civil rights activist named after the actress, lived from 1932 to 1992.
- Modjeska Simkins School, a academy in Columbia, South Carolina, named after Modjeska Monteith Simkins.
- Modjeska a type of caramel-covered marshmallow delicacy, was constructed in 1896 and named after her.
- Modjeska a rose variety, was bred in 1992 and named after her. Modjeska a Polish vodka brand, was launched in 2006 and named after her.
Conclusion
Helena Modrzejewska, also known as Helena Modjeska, was a Polish actress who specialized in Shakespearean and tragic roles. She was successful first on the Polish stage, then on the American and British stages. She is regarded as the greatest actress in the history of theater in Poland. She was also a patriot, a philanthropist, and a cultural icon. She influenced many generations of Polish actors, writers, and artists. She left behind a rich legacy of artistic excellence, elegance, and generosity.
FAQ
1. Who was Helena Modrzejewska?
Helena Modrzejewska, born Helena Krzyżanowska on October 12, 1840, in Podkarpacie, Poland, was a leading actress of the 19th century known for her naturalistic acting style and commitment to social causes.
2. What was Modrzejewska’s stage name?
Modrzejewska changed her name to Helena Modrzejewska in 1862 to reflect her commitment to the Polish national cause.
3. Where did Modrzejewska begin her acting career?
Modrzejewska made her stage debut in Warsaw, Poland, at the age of 16.
4. What theater did Modrzejewska become a leading actress in the 1860s?
Modrzejewska became a leading actress at Warsaw’s National Theater in the 1860s.
5. Where did Modrzejewska move to in 1864 to further her acting career?
Modrzejewska moved to Paris, France, in 1864 to further her acting career and study under renowned French actress Rachel.
6. What was Modrzejewska’s debut play in Paris?
Modrzejewska made her debut in Paris playing the lead role in Victor Hugo’s “Angelo” in 1867.
7. What organization did Modrzejewska become a founding member of in Warsaw in 1869?
Modrzejewska became a founding member of the Polish National Theater in Warsaw in 1869.
8. Where did Modrzejewska move to in 1876 and what role did she play there?
Modrzejewska moved to the United States in 1876 and made her American debut at the Park Theater in New York City playing Lady Macbeth to critical acclaim.
9. When did Modrzejewska become a naturalized U.S. Citizen?
Modrzejewska became a naturalized U.S. Citizen in 1879.
10. What causes did Modrzejewska advocate for and what organizations did she serve on the board of in the United States?
Modrzejewska was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and education. In the United States, she served as a board member for several women’s organizations, including the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union and the New England Woman Suffrage Association.