We recently connected with Ewelina Zawada and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ewelina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I think there were many moments in my life when I got out of my comfort zone and took a risk. Every time I was terrified, sometimes even shaking. I feel one of the most memorable moments turned my life upside down. I couldn’t believe that here I was facing my dream which is now my reality. What am I talking about?

I’m talking about my applying for the Fulbright scholarship when I was almost graduating with my MFA in Acting (after five years of studying the craft, because in Poland BFA and MFA in acting are cojoined).
I was always passionate about my craft, acting meant the world to me, but I felt that Poland was not the final point. I wanted to learn more from the best of the best. I wanted to be in the middle of the champions. In my opinion, the best place for me was in New York or Los Angeles.

And I made the first difficult step, I wrote and then sent my application, I went through the stages of receiving a Fulbright scholarship and I got a nomination. It sounds easy, but believe me, it wasn’t.

Then I needed to save money for the auditions in New York. I decided to move to Reykjavik in Iceland and work as a waitress. And then ring-ring. I got information that I got a role in one of the Dramatic Theatres in Poland and soon another one that I got an audition for another performance in a different Dramatic Theatre in Poland. It was like a dream come true! I always wanted that! And I worked, so hard for that! I could come back to Poland, but that meant not saving enough money for the auditions in New York and not becoming the first actress from Poland with a Fulbright scholarship in Graduating Studies. I knew that I might not get into the University, but I went so far with the Fulbright nomination. So … I decided to take a risk!

And you know what? I made it again! I had two successful auditions in New York and also in the meantime I got one more invitation for the next step in the third University. I decided to pursue my career and learn the craft at New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, MFA Acting for Film. I wanted to work more in the movies, I already have much more theatrical credits.
It was a great decision.

I can confess that now I work as an actress. I did a supporting role in one of the best shows in Poland “1670” for Netflix and now I’m in the middle of the preparation for the second season. I did a dramatic role and a comedic role for two different theatres. I worked as a young professor at the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Bialystok. I worked as an acting coach on set for the feature film. And I try to find a balance between living in Los Angeles and Warsaw. So as you can see everything turned out great :)! I could stay safe in my home country and still work as an actress, but now I have much more to offer as international actress .

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As I mentioned before I am an actress. I work in films, theatres and voice-over. I also work as an acting coach.

I am the first actress from Poland who was awarded the Fulbright scholarship in Graduating Studies, I still need to pinch myself to believe that it is true :)
I graduated first at The National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Białystok MFA in Acting spec. Puppets and then as a Fulbrighter at New York Film Academy in Los Angeles in MFA Acting for Film.

Currently, you can see me in the show “1670” for Netflix in the role of Ula. The second season is coming!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

From my early years, I knew that I wanna be an actress. The first time I expressed my idea was when I was a little girl. I was six years old and I was watching the Oscars with my grandfather. That was the moment when the first time I whispered “I wanna be an actress!”.

It may seem like a ridiculous fantasy for a child, especially when you are raised in a small village in the south of Poland and nobody in your big family is an artist. However, I was called an old soul and I knew that I was gonna make it even though it sounded like a crazy and not practical idea for creating your future.

I wanted to have my voice and to perform on behalf of others who can not manifest by themself. I wanted to create or be a part of meaningful creation. I wanted to have an impact on people’s lives. I want to prove that there isn’t something like “impossible”, when you work hard, you are a good person and always lift others with your positive energy.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think I’m in a good spot in my life journey because I worked so hard to fully accept and love myself. I have to always remember that I am good enough.
Once I heard that I would never become an actress, because I was not beautiful or not ugly enough. I have to be in one of the categories. Those words for years stayed in my head “Not enough”.

I am stubborn and I decided to follow my heart and do everything to get into acting school. I took several exams for acting studies (it is extremely difficult to get into the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Poland, it is a very competitive field; around 20 places and 1000 people who wish to become a part of the elite). And I did!

Unfortunately, every time I didn’t get a part I had those words in my head. I put an effort to unlearn that crazy statement. It’s just one opinion in the ocean of others. I am good enough and everyone is! We’re different and unique and that is wonderful!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ewelinazawada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ewelina.zawada/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewelina.zawada.73

Image Credits

Photographers:
Patrycja Koczur
Mikołaj Starzyński
Julia Mazgaj