For millions of viewers, Barbara Brylska will forever remain Nadia Sheveleva from the cult comedy 'The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!'. However, behind the on-screen image lay a complicated fate — loud fame, conflicts, personal tragedies, and long years of secluded life. On the day of the 85th anniversary of the Polish actress, we recall the most important events of her biography.
The main romantic heroine of Soviet cinema has been living away from cameras and public life for many years. Today, Barbara Brylska is most often remembered on New Year's Eve, when the beloved Nadia Sheveleva reappears on television screens.
However, her colleagues from the film set remember the actress quite differently — principled, emotional, and difficult to communicate with. After the triumph of 'The Irony of Fate,' her career in Poland did not develop as successfully as one might have expected. On the anniversary of the star, we recount how her life has unfolded after nationwide fame.
Barbara Brylska Today
Currently, Barbara Brylska leads a secluded life. She lives in a house near Warsaw, which she once designed herself, rarely communicates with journalists, and hardly appears in public.
In recent years, the actress's health has repeatedly become a topic of discussion in the press. In 2021, it became known that she had suffered a serious spinal injury, after which she underwent a long rehabilitation. Brylska herself admitted that recovery has not been easy for her.
Despite numerous publications in the media, the actress has repeatedly denied rumors of severe oncological diseases.
Her main support remains her son Ludwig and her grandsons Shimon and Jakub.
How Barbara Brylska Became Nadia Sheveleva
Many famous Soviet actresses, including Lyudmila Gurchenko and Alisa Freindlikh, auditioned for the role of Nadia Sheveleva. However, director Eldar Ryazanov chose the Polish actress after seeing her in the film 'Anatomy of Love.'
According to the director's recollections, he was attracted not only by Brylska's appearance but also by the inner depth that was felt behind her on-screen image.
However, working on the film was not easy. The actress disliked her character's costume, argued with the director about the image, and did not hide her dissatisfaction with some scenes.
Difficult Relationships on Set
During the filming of 'The Irony of Fate,' Brylska did not get along with several colleagues. Later, she admitted that she did not want to shoot kissing scenes with either Yuri Yakovlev or Andrei Myagkov.
Due to the language barrier, the role of Nadia Sheveleva was essentially created by several people. On screen, viewers saw Barbara Brylska, while the character was voiced by Valentina Talyzina, and the songs were performed by Alla Pugacheva.
Later, this fact became the cause of years of disputes when the State Prize of the USSR for the film was awarded only to Brylska.
Career Before and After 'The Irony of Fate'
Barbara Brylska began acting in films at a young age. Her first notable role was in the historical film 'Pharaoh' (1966), and she gained widespread recognition in Europe with the film 'Anatomy of Love' (1972).
After the success of 'The Irony of Fate,' the actress continued to act actively. Her filmography includes works such as 'A Quiet American in Prague,' 'Death Archive,' 'Full Moon Hour,' 'Down House,' 'The Irony of Fate. Continuation,' 'Admiral,' and 'The Secret of the Four Princesses.'
Personal Life and Hardships
The actress's personal life has been complicated. She was married three times, but none of the marriages turned out to be happy.
The longest was her union with doctor Ludwig Kosmal, with whom she had a daughter, Barbara, and a son, Ludwig. But this marriage also ended in divorce.
The hardest blow for Brylska was the death of her daughter Barbara Kosmal in a car accident in 1993. The girl was only 20 years old. After the tragedy, the actress practically disappeared from public life for several years and experienced severe depression.
Later, Brylska admitted that her son helped her cope with grief, for whom she found the strength to live on.
Barbara Brylska's life turned out to be much more dramatic than that of her famous character. Worldwide fame, personal losses, creative highs, and years of solitude made her biography truly challenging. But regardless of time and circumstances, the image of Nadia Sheveleva continues to live on screen, and Brylska herself remains one of the most recognizable actresses associated with the history of Soviet cinema.
