Anna Prucnal was born on December 17, 1940, in Warsaw, Poland, a city that would later play a significant role in her life's journey. Her early years were marked by tragedy, as her father, a surgeon, was brutally murdered by the Nazis during World War II. This devastating event led to her mother, who was of noble descent and related to the 18th-century King of Poland Stanislaw Leszczynski, taking on the responsibility of raising Anna and her sister.
Anna's passion for the performing arts was evident from a young age, as she began studying piano and lyrical song. Her acting career began in Warsaw at the Studencki Teatr Satyrykow, where she honed her craft alongside other talented individuals. At the age of twenty-two, she made her film debut in the movie "Sun and Shadow," directed by the renowned Bulgarian film director Rangel Vulchanov.
In 1970, Anna made the bold decision to relocate to France, where she embarked upon a theatrical career that would take her to new heights. She appeared in numerous plays by the esteemed Bertolt Brecht, working alongside some of the most important directors of the time, including Jorge Lavelli, Georges Wilson, Roger Planchon, Jean-Louis Barrault, Marc'O, Petrika Ionesco, Lucian Pintilie, and Jacques Lassalle.
Anna's film career was also marked by a series of notable roles, including her appearance in Dusan Makavejev's controversial film "Sweet Movie." This provocative movie was deemed pornographic and anticommunist by the Polish authorities, leading to Anna being banned from using her Polish passport and effectively exiling her from her homeland.
During the 1970s, Anna continued to develop her career as a singer, releasing her popular album "Dream of West, Dream of East." This album initially gained popularity in France, Belgium, and worldwide, before finally being celebrated in Warsaw in 1989, marking a significant homecoming for Anna.
Throughout her illustrious career, Anna has continued to release records, including "Monsieur Brecht" in 2006, and act in movies, such as "Wimbledon Stage" in 2001, and TV, as well as appearing on stage in the acclaimed play "The Vagina Monologues" in 2005. In 2002, Anna published her autobiography, "Moi qui suis née à Varsovie" ("I, who was born in Warsaw"),co-authored with Jean Mailland.
