In Poland, Filming has Kickstarted for a Movie about Churchill's Beloved Spy
In Poland, a film is being shot about the incredible life of Krystyna Skarbek, who gained fame for her brave feats during World War II in Nazi-occupied Europe. Krystyna was called "Churchill's favourite spy", but for most, her exploits remained classified. This is reported by the Daily Mail.
For the filming, the Polish town of Bystrzyca Kłodzka has been transformed into a replica of the French town of Crest, where nearly all the shops resembled small provincial establishments of the war era, and a multitude of extras arrived from all over the region.
The role of Krystyna is played by Morgane Polanski, daughter of the controversial director Roman Polanski, and also starring in the film is Malcolm McDowell, star of "A Clockwork Orange". Currently, battle scenes are being shot in Poland.
The working title of the film is "Partisan". This is the first film about Krystyna Skarbek. It is believed that she was the one who inspired Ian Fleming to create female characters from the Bond series: Tatiana Romanova from "From Russia With Love" and Vesper Lynd from "Casino Royale". Rumours even circulated that they were lovers.
Executive producer of the film, George Brichtinski, said about Krystyna: "She was the bravest of the brave".
Krystyna Skarbek was born in 1908 in Warsaw. Her father was a poor Polish aristocrat, and her mother came from a wealthy Jewish family. He married to pay off his debts.
Krystyna grew up as an only child, and as her companions told, she was absolutely fearless. Krystyna loved horse riding and skiing, which she honed during her visits to Zakopane in the Tatras in the south of Poland. In all this, she followed her father.
She met her husband on the same mountain. It was Jerzy Giżycki, an eccentric and rich guy who ran away from home at an early age and eventually became a writer. They fell in love with each other and married on November 2, 1938 in Warsaw. By the time the USSR and Germany invaded Poland, her husband held the position of consul general. He and Krystyna were forced to flee to London.
Enraged by the invasion, Skarbek asked the British secret service to hire her. Initially, they refused until acquaintances, who introduced her to the secret intelligence service, helped her. Soon they described her as a "bright Polish patriot, experienced skier and fearless adventurer". She became the first female British agent to serve in field conditions. She was known under the pseudonyms Christine Granville and Pauline Armand.