A legend on his own lifetime. With reference to him the magic word "SUCCESS" retains its true meaning. During the very early part of his acting studies at the Warsaw Drama Academy, he was offered various film roles. He successfully performed as a World War II resistance fighter in the film "RANNY W LESIE" directed by Janusz Nasfeter. In 1963, when Daniel was a first year student, he played a leading role in POPIOL with Andrzej Wajda directing. This role proved pivotal for his future career, being followed by many major Polish film productions, namely:
POTEM NASTAPI CISZA (1966), MALZENSTWO Z ROZSADKU and BOKSER (1967), HRABINA COSEL (1968), STRUKTURA KRYSZTALU, WSZYSTKO NA SPRZEDAZ, SKOK, PAN WOLODYJOWSKI, POLOWANIE NA MUCHY (1969), KRAJOBORAZ PO BITWIE, SOL ZIEMI CZARNEJ, BRZEZINA (1970) ZYCIE RODZINNE (1971), and later POTOP, ZIEMMIA OBIECANA and PANNY Z WILKA.
To fulfil such a diverse range of characterizations in such a short time takes an unusual talent. Since the very beginning of his acting career Daniel Olbrychski has been compared to the charismatic Zbyszek Cybulski with whom he shared the indefinable qualities of unorthodox, unconventional and uncompromising youth. Subsequently Daniel Olbrychski was a recipient of the Zbigniew Cybulski Award.
During his almost 40 year-long career, Daniel performed in about 150 films. Apart from leading in 10 of Andrzej Ewajda's major film, he performed in productions directed by Krzysztof Zanussi, Jerzy Hoffman, Kazimierz Kutz, Janusz Kijowski, Krzysztof Kielowski, Filip Bajon, Radoslaw Piwowarski, Krystyna Janda.
On the international scene he successfully appeared in films by Miklos Jancso, Jurij Ozierow, Volker Schoenderf, Claude Lelouch, Joseph Losey, Mauro Bolognini, Michael Anderson, Nikita Michalkov and many others.
Five of the films in which Daniel participated were Oscar nominated, with three being successful.
Additionally, Daniel Olbrychski performed magnificently in the stage productions of Shakespeare's tragedies: HAMLET, MACBETH and OTHELLO.
He is definitely one of the greatest Polish actors of all times and the greatest of his generation.
In June 1990 the French Government awarded Daniel Olbrychski with the highest cultural accolade - the Commandery of Arts and Literature. The Polonia Restituta Order was bestowed upon him by the Polish President in October this year.
