The long-awaited 5th season of „The Crown” can be watched on Netflix since early November. The plot, taking place in the 1990s, includes a Polish element in the second episode of the ongoing season.

One of the series’ main characters, Princess Diana is played by Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki, who has Polish roots. But there is more. In the second episode of season 5, Polish actress Joanna Ignaczewska plays the role of a Polish journalist. 

The scene starring her takes place as Prince Filip (Johnathan Pryce) is attending a horse race. The journalist struggles in her exchange with the Prince. Her lack of professionalism combined with a strong Polish accent makes it difficult for the monarch to grasp what she’s trying to ask him. 

“What, is he dead?” – she asks her colleagues in Polish. Interestingly, the translation of the sentence is not provided by Netflix. It simply mentions “[SPEAKING POLISH]” as the scene unfolds.

Some Polish viewers criticised it as spreading negative stereotypes toward Poles. However, Ignaczewska addressed the matter herself by explaining that the scene was actually inspired by a genuine encounter of Prince Filip with a Polish journalist in the 1990s at a horse race.

The character I played was inspired by a Polish journalist who actually went to a horse race in the 1990s and talked to Prince Philip. I even saw pictures of her and from the archival materials I also learned from the director that the tone of this conversation was similar, although of course there is also an element of drama in the script!” – she explained. 

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Since 2008, Joanna Ignaczewska has been living in London. To date, she has taken part in over 100 productions. She also won many castings for BBC TV series, where her roles were watched by millions. An important moment in her career was playing the main role of Basia in the feature film SCOPIA.

Image: joannaignaczewska.pl

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen