Stefania Grodzieńska

Stefania Grodzieńska (2 September 1914 – 28 April 2010) was a Polish writer, stage and theatrical actress during the Interbellum; dancer, radio announcer, and satirist known as the First Lady of Polish Humor.

Biography Grodzieńska was born in Łódź to a family of a university professor during the final years of the Russian imperial possession. She spent some of her childhood in Moscow, and attended a ballet school in Berlin. During the Nazi German occupation of Poland they lived in the Warsaw Ghetto, but escaped before the murderous Grossaktion Warsaw of 1942.

After World War II she started writing feuilletons for the Polish satirical magazine Szpilki, she also wrote many monologues and sketches. Her essays were performed by Hanka Bielicka, Adolf Dymsza, Loda Halama, Alina Janowska, Kalina Jędrusik, Bogumił Kobiela, Irena Kwiatkowska and others. For several years Stefania Grodzieńska was working in Polskie Radio, and then for a couple of years in the entertainment section of Telewizja Polska.

She was the wife of Jerzy Jurandot, a poet, dramatist, satirist and songwriter. She died after a short illness on 28 April 2010, aged 95, in Skolimów.

Writings She authored several sets of feuilletons: Dzionek satyryka, Jestem niepoważna, Brzydki ogród, Felietony i humoreski, Plagi i plażki, Rozmówki, and Kłania się PRL. She also wrote the novel, Wspomnienia chałturzystki as well as several biographies and memoirs.

Prizes and distinctions

Diamentowy Mikrofon (Diamond Microphone) Hiacynt (Hyacinth)