Journalist: Good evening, today in our studio we have a pleasure to host Helena Modrzejewska. Helena is an actress. She mainly plays Shakespearean roles but she also promotes the works of William Shakespeare. I would like to ask you few questions.
Helena : Good evening, of course.
Journalist: At the beginning I would like to ask you about your family. Are you a daughter of Józefa Bend, a widow of a wealthy merchant?
Helena: Yes, that is true. I am illegitimate child of Józefa Bendowa, from the house of Misel. Officially I have never met my father. There are lots of rumors that I am a daughter of a prince – Eustachy Sanguszko and that I am a real princess. The fact is that the prince had a daughter – her name was Helena as well. She looked almost like me… but I never believed in what they were saying. My father was Michał Opida, a friend of my mother. I have three half-brothers – Józef and Feliks, who are actors and Szymon who is a musician.
Journalist: Why is acting your passion? Why do you love it? People are calling you the most outstanding actress of these days.
Helena: Since I remember at home there has always been an atmosphere of fascination about the theater. My brothers, Józef and Feliks are great actors too. In the beginning of my career an older friend of ours, Gustaw Zimajer, helped me . When other actresses from my generation were speaking their native language I was speaking English. I learned this language when I was 35 years old. The most demanding reviewers appreciated this, the audience loved me, honestly speaking.
Journalist: Was English the main reason for you to go to the United States of America?
Helena: The trip to America was a bit against common sense – I was 36 years then, I knew just a bit of English, but we bought a farm in Anaheim and that was the main reason of the trip. I wouldn’t have been myself if I couldn’t make it. I began learning English intensively. I acted under a pseudonym – Modejska, also I was performing in California Theatre in San Fransisco, where I became a star..
INTERVIEW WITH HELENA MODRZEJEWSKA
46
Journalist: Are you interested in political and social commitment?
Helena: Yes, I don’t forget about that I am a star but I am also a human being. I'm getting involved politically and socially, but I never forgot about my Polish origin. In 1893 in Chicago I spoke about the situation of women under Russian and Prussian partition. I finished my stage career with a show in Los Angeles. The money I earned there was allocated to the victims of the earthquake in Sicily.
Journalist: Okay, that is all. Thank you for coming and for this interview, it was a pleasure to meet you. Have a nice evening.
Helena: Thank you.
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