EWA MARIA WOJCIK

It all started when I was twelve years old and a Polish mob boss demanded we shake hands. But more about that later. I'm a New York based actress with a BA in Theatre from Fordham University and a Master's in Classical Acting from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Growing up just outside NY, I spoke Polish at home, French at school and I honestly can't tell you where I learned English (the post office? CVS?). I have performed in New York, London, Scotland and Poland in contemporary and classical plays, short and feature length films, web series, voice-overs, and poetry/ music recitals. I also play the violin. 

But let's get back to my mafia story, shall we? My family and I were dining at a fancy restaurant in Bydgoszcz (my mother's hometown in Poland) and the local mob boss decided to drunkenly amble over to our table. Upon steadying himself on a large plant pot, he fixed his gaze on me and demanded I shake his hand. Tweenhood was hard enough without threats from criminals, but here I was, in a Polish crossover between Goodfellas and PEN15. My family and the waiters watched in horror as I complied, not sure what else to do. I was almost certain I would never see my hand again. But thankfully it was returned to me, along with a crumpled up hundred dollar bill and the whispered message, "you will be an actress!" Alright, he may not have said that last part, but I got your attention, didn't I? One day, I hope to meet this Polish mobster again to hear his story. And maybe get another hundred dollar bill.