Walesa actor honoured in Warsaw

Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski (L) and actor Robert Wieckiewicz (R). Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Wieckiewicz, who played Lech Walesa in Andrzej Wajda's 2013 biopic of the former Solidarity leader (Walesa: Man of Hope) received a Gloria Artis medal from Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski.

“I'm very happy, it's a very pleasant moment for me,” Wieckiewicz told the TVN news station.

“It's the kind of moment that reminds me that the direction I took is probably the right one.”

The 46-year-old actor has just completed his latest role, with shooting winding up a fortnight ago on A Grain of Truth, an adaptation of Zygmunt Miloszewski's crime thriller of the same title.

Wieckiewicz plays a public prosecutor investigating a series of brutal murders in the picturesque town of Sandomierz.

The movie marks the return of award-winning director Borys Lankosz, whose 2009 debut The Reverse was a hit with both the critics and the public.

Wieckiewicz has worked with directors including Agnieszka Holland (In Darkness) and Wojciech Smarzowski (The Mighty Angel, The Dark House).

Also honoured on Wednesday were cinematographer Pawel Edelman (Walesa: Man of Hope, Katyn, The Pianist among others), writer Pawel Huelle and actors Jan Peszek and Malgorzata Niemirska. Rock veteran Kora (Olga Sipowicz) was unable to attend the ceremony owing to poor health. (nh)