Gabriela Anna Kownacka (née Kwasz) (25 May 1952 in Wrocław – 30 November 2010 in Warsaw) was a Polish film and stage actress, best known for playing in the Polish TV series Rodzina zastępcza. Kownacka was a Lutheran.
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Biography
She has starred in over 60 television theater roles and starred in over 40 theater productions across the country.
By the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of August 22, 2005, she was awarded the Cross of Merit.
Kownacka died on 30 November 2010, aged 58, after a long battle with breast cancer that began in 2004. On 7 December 2010, she was interred at the Evangelical Cemetery of the Augsburg Confession in Warsaw.
Illness and death
In 2004, Kownacka was diagnosed with breast cancer. Several months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy proved successful, allowing her to return to work on the set of the television series Rodzina zastępcza.
At the turn of May and June 2008, the disease relapsed and her health deteriorated considerably. On 9 March 2009, a charity concert was held at the National Theatre, Warsaw, with all proceeds donated towards Kownacka's treatment.
Kownacka died on 30 November 2010. She was buried on 7 December 2010 at the Evangelical-Augsburg Cemetery in Warsaw (avenue 41, grave 27).
The funeral ceremony was attended, among others, by Maja Komorowska, Joanna Szczepkowska, Gołda Tencer, Ewa Ziętek, Marian Opania, Wojciech Malajkat, as well as members of the cast of Rodzina zastępcza, including Piotr Fronczewski and Jarosław Boberek. Actor Marcin Hycnar read a farewell letter on behalf of Jan Englert, director of the National Theatre, Warsaw.
Filmography
1972: The Wedding – Zosia
1975: Skazany – Kasia
1976: Trędowata – Rita Szylinżanka
1977: Ciuciubabka – Grażyna
1977: Pani Bovary to ja
1977: Rebus – Ania
1977: Rekolekcje – Myszka
1977: Szarada – Ewa
1978: Hallo Szpicbródka – Anita
1979: I, Claudius − Drusilla (voice, Polish dub)
1980: Urodziny młodego warszawiaka – Jadźka
1980: Ukryty w słońcu – Joanna
1980: Bo oszalałem dla niej – Sylwia
1981: Dziecinne pytania – Bożena
1981: Przypadki Piotra S. – prostitute
1981: Spokojne lata – Iza
1983: Nadzór – Danusia Wabik
1983: Visitors from the Arkana Galaxy − Biba (voice, Polish dub)
1984: Jak się pozbyć czarnego kota – Krystyna Danek
1984: Pismak – Maria
1984: Zamiana – Ola
1985: Kronika wypadków miłosnych – Olimpia