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Bella Darvi became a 50s symbol for one of the many movie "Cinderellas" whose bright and beautiful Hollywood fairy tale would come crashing down, ending in bitterness and tragedy. A self-destructive brunette beauty, her life was full of misfortune. Of Polish/French descent, she miraculously survived the tortures of a WWII concentration camp as a youth, only to get caught up in the phony glitter and high-living style of Monaco's casinos as a young adult in Europe. An inveterate gambler and drinker, she was, by chance, "discovered" by movie mogul Darryl F. Zanuck and his wife, Virginia Fox, who thought she had a foreign cinematic allure à la Ingrid Bergman. Despite her lack of acting experience, the Zanucks paid off her gambling debts and whisked her away to Hollywood to be groomed for stardom. Her marquee name "Darvi" was derived from the combined first names of her mentors. It should have been a dream-come-true opportunity. Fate, however, would not be so kind. After three high profile roles in The Egyptian (1954), Hell and High Water (1954) and The Racers (1955) opposite three top male films stars (Victor Mature, Richard Widmark and Kirk Douglas, respectively), Darvi's limited abilities were painfully transparent. Not only was she hampered by an ever-so-slight crossed-eyed appearance, she had a trace of a lisp which, combined with a foreign accent, made her speech appear slurred and difficult to understand. It didn't take long for the actress to go off the deep end. Within a short time, a major sex scandal involving Mr. Zanuck had wife Virginia packing Darvi's bags and any "career" she once had here in America was over. She retreated back to Europe, made a few inconsequential films, and quickly returned to her adverse habits -- liquor and the gambling tables. But this time there was no one to save her. Mounting debts and despair eventually turned her thoughts to suicide. After several attempts, Darvi finally succeeded in 1971 by turning on the gas stove in her apartment. She was only 42.

Wladyslaw Szpilman was born in 1911 in Sosnowiec. On leaving school, he went to Warsaw to study music (piano) in the Chopin School of Music, under Professor Jozef Smidowicz, and later, under Professor Aleksander Michalowski (both scholars of Franz List). In 1931 he went to Berlin to the Academy of Music studying under Professor Leonid Kreutzer and Arthur Schnabel (piano) and Professor Franz Schreker (composition). At this time he wrote his Violin Concerto, Piano Suite "Zycie Maszyn" (The Life of Machines), Concertino for piano with Orchestra, many works for piano and violin and also some songs. In 1935 Szpilman entered the Polish Radio, where, except during the war, he worked until 1963. In 1946, he published his book "Death of a City" - memories from 1939 to 1945. Since 1945, Szpilman has appeared in concerts as a soloist and with chamber groups in Poland, throughout Europe and in America. He and Bronislav Gimpel formed a very successful piano duet in 1932, which grew in 1962 to the Warsaw Piano Quintet, that performed about 2,500 concerts until 1987 worldwide, with the exception of Australia. In 1936 he also started his career as a composer of songs (about 500). About 150 of them were in Poland's pop charts and they are "evergreens" of Polish pop music culture to this day. In the 50s he wrote also about 40 songs for children, for which he received in 1955 the award of the Polish Composers Union. He also wrote many orchestral pieces (ballet, Small Overture, etc.), musicals, music for children's theater and music for about 50 children's radio broadcasts, as well as film music: "Wrzos" (1937); "Dr. Murek" (1939); "Pokoj Zwyciezy Swiat" (1950); "Call My Wife" (1957), and others. In 1961, he initiated and organized the Sopot International Song Festival in Poland, and also founded the Polish Union of Authors of Popular Music. In 1964, he became a member of Presidium of Polish Composers Union, and ZAIKS (Polish ASCAP). In April 1998, his book "Death of the City" will be published by ECON Verlag, a leading German publisher, with commentary by a famous German writer and poet: Wolf Biermann.

Michal Czernecki is a Polish actor. He graduated from the National Academy of Theatre Arts in Krakow. He gained recognition for his role as Wojtek in the film Doskonale popoludnie (2005). His acting career includes performances at Teatr Stary in Krakow. Additionally, Czernecki has authored a book sharing his personal experiences titled Wybralem Zycie.

Rafael Stachowiak was born in 1981 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for The Teachers' Lounge (2023), Undine (2020) and Hound's Hill (2025).

Lukasz Simlat was born on 11 December 1977 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor and producer, known for Amok (2017), Corpus Christi (2019) and United States of Love (2016).

Malgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik was born on 14 September 1965 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for 33 Scenes from Life (2008), Iluzja (2022) and Woman of... (2023).

Jan Kiepura, the son of a baker, was born in 1902 in the gloomy mining town of Sosnowiec, now in Poland, but situated in Russia at that time. He left his native town, that - although dirty and dark - would always remain dear to his heart, for Warsaw, where he started studying law. At the same time he took singing lessons with Waclaw Brzesinsky and Tadeusz Leliwa. He soon realized that singing was his real vocation and was lucky to benefit from the support of his parents, who understood how talented he was in this field. At age 23, Jan was hired for the first time, as a replacement in the choir of the Warsaw Opera, but he sang so loud that his voice covered all the other ones, which resulted in his being fired. However, three months later, he found himself on the same stage, but in the right place this time, as the lead singer of Gounod's "Faust". This outstanding performance marked the beginning of a rapid rise: from then on, Jan Kiepura was wanted everywhere in the world. In addition,it was not long before the cinema - now talking - required his beautiful voice and his good looks. As of the early thirties he starred in a series of filmed operettas. It was on the set of "Mein Herz ruft nach dir" that he met the woman of his life, Hungarian-born Marta Eggerth, another star singer, with whom he lived until his death in 1966 and who gave him two sons. In March '38, the couple fled Austria and took refuge in the South of France. The following year, he joined the French Polish Legion and shortly after the Phoney War, he was assigned the mission to defend the cause of invaded Poland in the States. He found Marta there and after the end of the War they teamed together on Broadway where they co-starred in "The Merry Widow" and "La Polonaise". In 1953, Jan and Marta settled down in the USA for good and Jan acquired American citizenship shortly afterwards. But his career quickly declined and, at the age of 64, he died of a heart attack in his New York State home.

Agnieszka Podsiadlik is a Polish actress. She graduate from the AST National Academy of Theatre Arts in Krakow. She made her debut at the Teatr Slaski, and was later invited by Grzegorz Jarzyna to join the Rozmaitosci Teatr, where she continues to perform. On screen, Agnieszka Podsiadlik is known for her roles in the TV series Ekipa (2007) and Gleboka woda (2011).

Maciej Englert was born on 17 February 1946 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is a director and actor, known for Teatr Polskiego Radia (2004), Television Theater (1953) and Kobieta w ogrodzie (1991). He has been married to Marta Lipinska since 1968. They have two children.

Jerzy Gralek was born on 23 June 1946 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Krew z krwi (2012), Pan Tadeusz (1999) and General. Zamach na Gibraltarze (2009). He died on 15 February 2016 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland.

Polish theater, television, musical and voice actor. His acting debut was in the performances of the "Vampires", "Grease" and "Sorcerer from the land of Oz". His professional debut on the stage of the theater is the performance "Aladdin" of the Roma Musical Theater. He also starred in the play "Enchanted" in the Rampa Theater in Warsaw. He is a recognized and popular dubbing actor. He gives voice to many film productions as well as hit computer games. He dubbed such global productions as "Spider-Man" or "Pacific Rim: Rebellion".

Jacek Cygan was born on 6 July 1950 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is known for Intacto (2001), Into the Wind (2022) and Facet (nie)potrzebny od zaraz (2014). He is married to Ewa Labunska.

Rena Drexler was born in Sosnowiec, Poland. He died in 2012.

Krystyna Królówna was born on 12 November 1939 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. She was an actress, known for Chlopi (1973), Chlopi (1972) and Bo oszalalem dla niej (1980). She died on 6 July 2022 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.

Maria Zabczynska was born on 14 September 1903 in Sosnowiec, Poland, Russian Empire [now Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland]. She was an actress, known for Za zaslona (1938), Skarb (1949) and Sprawa pilota Maresza (1956). She was married to Aleksander Zabczynski. She died on 27 January 1981 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.

Wojciech Niemczyk was born on 28 December 1982 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Pitbull (2021), Cursed (2017) and Hellhole (2022).

Jacek Czyz was born on 19 July 1953 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Akcja pod Arsenalem (1978), Misja specjalna (1987) and Teddy Bear (1981). He was married to Miriam Aleksandrowicz. He died on 24 July 2020 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.

Maria Modzelewska was born on 15 April 1903 in Sosnowiec, Poland, Russian Empire [now Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland]. She was an actress, known for Ziemia obiecana (1927), Serce na ulicy (1931) and Iwonka (1925). She died on 25 September 1997 in Skolimów, Konstancin-Jeziorna, Mazowieckie, Poland.

Krzysztof Materna was born on 28 October 1948 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor and director, known for Cold War (2018), Za chwile dalszy ciag programu (1988) and Solidarity of Arts (2011).

Jerzy Slonka was born on 22 September 1949 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Quo vadis (2001), Moja Angelika (1999) and Pulkownik Kwiatkowski (1995).

Stanislaw Jedryka was born on 27 July 1933 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He was a director and writer, known for Dom bez okien (1962), Porwanie (1985) and Theatre Macabre (1971). He died on 22 April 2019 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.

Iwona Fornalczyk was born on 9 February 1964 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Strazacy (2015), M jak milosc (2000) and Sztuczki (2007).

Edward Gierek was born on 6 January 1913 in Porabka, Poland, Russian Empire [now Porabka, Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland]. He died on 29 July 2001 in Cieszyn, Slaskie, Poland.

Roger Karwinski was born on 3 June 1994 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Niania (2005).

Haim Hefer was born on 29 October 1925 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He was a writer and actor, known for Kazablan (1973), Tuvia Vesheva Benotav (1968) and Every Mile a Stone (1955). He died on 18 September 2012 in Tel Aviv, Israel.