Where Is Poland? | Helena Modrzejewska

Chapter 5

Helena Modrzejewska

Helena Modrzejewska was likely the first Polish immigrant to really hit the headlines on the other side of the Atlantic. She came to America in 1876 when she was already 35 years old. An accomplished actress in Poland, Modjeska had to start again from scratch in America. Read More

Helena Modjeska at her ranch in California. Photo: Library of Congress

Helena Modrzejewska

Within a couple years, she became one of the most famous actresses of her generation, touring America from coast to coast. But even as she was pursuing a career as the greatest Shakespearean actress of all time, she kept Poland in her heart – and found curious ways to remind her audience about it. She wrote to her mother in 1877:

Yesterday I played an Ophelia scene in Polish, because I wanted to show the audience that our Poland is not as minor an issue as they might think.

Becoming an American citizen in 1883 did not change much in her stance towards Poland. She travelled to Poland to give performances, and generously supported Polish (and other) charity projects. In May 1893, at the World Congress of Women organised during the World’s Fair in Chicago, Modjeska gave an impassioned speech about the situation of women in Poland. Her critique of the Russian regime resulted in a travel ban which prevented her from entering Russian territories, including eastern Poland. So, she would perform in nearby Kraków and Lwów instead.