The complex relationship between acclaimed Polish actor Jan Englert and his younger brother, Maciej Englert, a respected theatre director, has remained a subject of quiet fascination within Polish cultural circles for years. Recent revelations, stemming from Jan Englert’s candid reflections in the interview series “Bez oklasków” (Without Applause), have brought the extent of the familial estrangement into sharper focus.
In the interview, Englert, 80, stated plainly, “I don’t know him, he doesn’t know me.” This stark declaration, reported by Viva.pl and Świat Seriali, underscores a decades-long disconnect between the two brothers. The actor went on to say he has “nothing to do with these people,” referring to his brother and his family, and feels no need to maintain contact.
Both Jan and Maciej Englert, born in 1943 and 1946 respectively, achieved prominence within Poland’s vibrant theatre scene. Jan Englert established himself as a leading actor in theatre, film, and television, while Maciej Englert found success as a theatre director, notably with the Teatr Współczesny (Contemporary Theatre). Despite sharing a professional landscape and a family name, their paths diverged significantly, ultimately leading to a near-complete severing of ties.
The roots of the rift appear to lie, at least in part, with Jan Englert’s marriage to actress Beata Ścibakówna in 1995, following his divorce from Barbara Sołtysik. According to Ścibakówna, as reported by Viva.pl, Maciej Englert did not approve of the new relationship. She recalled Englert attempting to shield her from “full of venom comments” and offering reassurance that things would eventually return to normal.
The dynamic between the brothers was further complicated by professional competition. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, both brothers found themselves vying for opportunities, including a potential leadership role at the Teatr Współczesny following the departure of Erwin Axer, the theatre’s long-time director. Axer, it was noted, had initially shown interest in both Jan and Maciej, but ultimately recommended Maciej for the position. Jan Englert subsequently moved to the Teatr Polski (Polish Theatre) in 1981, a decision he described as a matter of loyalty to his brother’s vision for the Współczesny.
The period following Maciej Englert’s appointment as director of the Teatr Współczesny marked a turning point in their relationship. Jan Englert acknowledged that he and his brother “never really got along,” attributing the distance to fundamental differences in personality. He described a sense of detachment, stating that they lived only a few kilometers apart but saw each other only once a year, and felt no need for more frequent contact.
Maciej Englert, now 78, is married to actress Marta Lipińska and has two children. His daughter, Anna Englert, works as a costume designer, while his son, Michał Englert, is a cinematographer, and is in a long-term relationship with actress Maja Ostaszewska, with whom he has two children. The family dynamic, however, remains separate from Jan Englert’s life.
Jan Englert’s blunt assessment of his relationship with his brother, delivered with characteristic directness, offers a rare glimpse into the complexities of family dynamics within a prominent artistic lineage. He characterized his family as one that only meets “at funerals,” a somber reflection on the enduring estrangement. While the reasons for the divide are multifaceted, the interview paints a picture of two men whose paths diverged irrevocably, leaving behind a legacy of professional achievement overshadowed by personal distance.
