Year of Film People: Helena Grossówna becomes patron of Toruń primary school
The choice of patron for Primary School No. 6 in Toruń is no coincidence.
The renowned pre-war actress and dancer Helena Grossówna, originally from Toruń, was once a student at the school located on Łąkowa Street. It was there that she began her education and developed her first artistic interests. A commemorative plaque dedicated to her is placed on the building’s façade.
Teachers and students of “School No. 6” emphasized in their proposal that Grossówna is a “complete figure” – a former pupil, an exceptionally talented artist, and a heroic resistance fighter. They believe her name will serve as a guiding inspiration for students, combining artistic ambition with core human and national values. The school will now become informally known as the “Helena Grossówna School.”
Born in 1904 in Toruń, Helena Grossówna spent her childhood and early youth there. At 15, she began working in a men’s clothing store. Her artistic career started with dance — she graduated from a Toruń ballet school in 1926. She also made her stage debut at the Municipal Theatre in Toruń.
She later moved to Paris to refine her ballet technique, and her film career began shortly afterwards. Grossówna appeared in 17 pre-war films alongside stars such as Eugeniusz Bodo and Adolf Dymsza, including titles like Piętro wyżej, Paweł i Gaweł, Zapomniana melodia, Serce matki, and Królowa przedmieścia. Her roles contributed to popular songs still known today, such as “Ach, śpij kochanie” and “Już nie zapomnisz mnie.”
Known as “the most beautiful smile of Warsaw” and “Helenka from Toruń,” she became one of the biggest stars of Polish cinema. During World War II, she joined the resistance and served in the Home Army under the pseudonym “Bystra.” She also took part in the Warsaw Uprising, commanding the women’s battalion “Sokół.”
After the war, she appeared only in minor film roles. She died in 1994 in Warsaw.
The school community stresses that naming the institution after Grossówna will strengthen its identity and create a recognizable cultural “brand,” linking education with regional heritage. It also contributes to a broader historical and tourist narrative of Toruń.
In addition to the school, her name is already present in the city — a roundabout in Toruń commemorates her, and her family home has been restored and relocated thanks to regional authorities. The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Film Fund also supported publications dedicated to her life, including a book by Marek Teler and a comic book about her story.
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Parlaiment has declared 2026 the Year of Film People of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, marking anniversaries of key cultural figures from the region — including the centenary of Helena Grossówna’s graduation from ballet school in Toruń.
Department of Promotion
Dariusz Czołgowski
30 April 2026