Kariera aktorska i jej determinanty w społecznym swiecie teatru zawodowego w Polsce
Acting career and its determinants in the social world of professional theater in Poland

Summary/Abstract: The article is an attempt to answer the question about factors affecting the trajectory of an acting career. The author confronts the objective dimensions of a career with a subjective concept of success, clarified by the participants of the social world of theater themselves. The empirical basis of the work are free interviews conducted by the author with actors of Polish public drama theaters (in 2015–2017) and journalistic interviews with theater artists published in books and popular monthly magazines in the last two decades of the 21st century. All sources were subjected to qualitative content analysis. It shows that in addition to talent, which is the basis of an acting career, hard work is also important. The actors pay attention to personality aspects – charismatic people with a natural ability to attract attention have a greater chance of success. The cultural capital of the stage artist and social capital (the relevant role of linking artistic careers) are not without significance for the course of the acting career. Actors also say a lot about coincidence of events, but it is worth remembering that “you have to be good to be lucky”, you have to be more motivated and determined. The author also tries to answer questions whether awards actuate the course of acting career and whether migrations are an opportunity for creative progression.

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