ANNA PRÓCHNIAK
Anna Próchniak is a Polish film and television actress and a graduate of the Łódź Film School. She first gained wide recognition for her role as Kama in Jan Komasa’s Warsaw ’44, which brought her international attention and several awards and nominations. Over the past decade, she has built a strong international career, appearing in productions presented at major festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Karlovy Vary, BFI London and Tallinn Black Nights. In 2025, she received a BAFTA Scotland nomination for her leading role in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring opposite Harvey Keitel, and in 2026 appeared alongside Jean Dujardin and August Diehl in Xavier Giannoli’s Les Rayons et les Ombres. She is a member of the European Film Academy.
1. What is the one thing you never leave the house without?
I never leave the house without a spray of perfume. At the moment it’s either Megamare by Orto Parisi, created by the extraordinary perfumer “The Nose” Alessandro Gualtieri - a true magician of scent - or Santal 33 by Le Labo, which I’ve worn for years. Sometimes I layer them, sometimes I add another scent, but I can’t imagine my life without those fragrances.
For me, perfume is much more than an accessory. It’s like an invisible field of protection. It gives me confidence, a sense of grounding, and reminds me to return to the here and now - to the eternal present, one step and one breath at a time.
2. Which piece in your wardrobe has stayed with you through every version of yourself?
It’s probably of more an idea than a single piece. I have a beautiful vintage leather jacket that I found on Facebook Marketplace years ago and it travels everywhere with me. A pair of Levi’s 501s and a simple black tank top are also constants in my wardrobe.
But the most meaningful piece I own is actually a small gold ring that I wear on my little finger. My father bought two identical rings many years ago - one for my mom and one for me when I was about five years old. Today I wear both of them, and they carry an incredible amount of family history and emotional weight.
3. What is your personal style code?
For me, style is never just about fashion. It’s a collection of influences from art, music, literature, perfume, dreams, films, conversations and stories that make you cry. Mixed with your own vulnerability and charisma, they become something deeply personal.
If I had to describe my style in one word, it would be honesty. I love wearing pieces that feel aligned with who I am. Sometimes I need them to give me strength on the red carpet; sometimes I need them to help me disappear into a busy street. Clothes can become companions, even armour.
There’s a story that Cleopatra loved to surround herself with snakes. They were said to be her protectors, silently judging whether those who entered her presence came with good intentions or not. I’ve always loved that image. It’s one of the reasons I find Bvlgari’s Serpenti motif so fascinating. I love the idea that beauty can also be armour.
4. What do you value most in your relationships with people?
Honesty, without question. I’ll probably sound like a broken record, but everything meaningful starts there.
I also deeply value creativity and a certain sense of playfulness. I love people who never lose their curiosity or their inner child. Those are usually the people who create the most interesting art, ask unexpected questions and aren’t afraid to be vulnerable. That’s where real connection begins.
5. What is your ritual for feeling well, grounded, and truly yourself?
I meditate every morning before I do anything else - even before I look at my phone.
The moments just after waking up feel incredibly precious to me. You’re still connected to your dreams and your subconscious and I try to stay in that space for a little longer before the outside world rushes in.
Life can become overstimulating very quickly, and meditation helps me return to myself before the day begins.
6. What is one thing—in fashion, culture, or life—that you have truly enjoyed lately?
I’ve been reading constantly lately. During my holiday I reread The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and now I’m reading A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf. I also love reportage and poetry as much as fiction.
One book I’ve been recommending to everyone is She’s Always Hungry, by Eliza Clark. It’s a collection of wonderfully strange short stories - some surreal, some body horror - all incredibly imaginative. I really appreciate writing that takes risks and embraces weirdness.
One of my favourite contemporary writers is Sayaka Murata. I loved Convenience Store Woman and her short stories are equally brilliant.
When I’m working on a film or television project, I become completely immersed in it. I have ADD, so I find it difficult to divide my attention - I tend to give everything to the work I’m doing. Reading becomes a luxury I return to between projects and right now I’m making the most of it. As an actress, I’m constantly looking for inspiration and books are one of the richest places to find it.
