My Take
Roman Polanski is one of those directors whose filmography you genuinely cannot ignore — Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown, The Pianist — each one a masterclass in dread, atmosphere, and control. Born in Paris, raised in Poland through the horrors of World War II (including the Krakow ghetto), he turned personal trauma into some of cinema's most psychologically dense work. The Pianist alone, his 2002 Holocaust drama, earned him a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Director. But you simply cannot discuss Polanski without acknowledging that in 1977 he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl in California, pled guilty, then fled the country before sentencing — and has lived in Europe ever since, largely beyond the reach of U.S. justice. His films are brilliant. The crime is real. Holding both truths at once is uncomfortable, which is probably why his name never stops generating debate.
Overview
Raymond Roman Thierry Polański (né Liebling; born 18 August 1933) is a Polish and French filmmaker and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three British Academy Film Awards, ten César Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, as well as the Golden Bear and a Palme d'Or. In 1977, Polanski was arrested in the United States for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Roman Polanski
- Name (Japanese)
- ロマン・ポランスキー
- Reading
- ろまん・ぽらんすきー
- Born
- August 18, 1933 (age 92)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Rooster
- Origin
- Paris, France
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 160 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film director / actor / film producer / screenwriter / writer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2014 César Award for Best Director
- Golden Medal for Merit to Culture
- 2010 Silver Bear for Best Director
- 2003 Academy Award for Best Director
- Commander of the Legion of Honour
- Medal for Merit to Culture
- 1999 European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award
- 2006 European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.