Anna Próchniak on playing Gita, in the Sky TV series, The Tattooist of Auschwitz

“My partner gave the book to me when it was first published and said it would make a great movie or TV series. He wasn’t wrong! When I read the script, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy story to tell, but I love playing characters that scare me, which Gita did. I had a gut feeling about the role so I wasn’t surprised when I was offered it. But I was beyond happy to get to tell this story.”

“It was the hardest and the most challenging role I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding one. I shaved my head and lost weight. I thought that changing my image completely would be very difficult and emotional, but I was ready for it simply because it was what I had to do to tell Gita’s story. I was doing it in memory of her. In terms of research, I’d already been to Auschwitz and Majdanek, which is in eastern Poland. There is something about those camps that you cannot describe in words. I’m from Poland, which means the subject of the Holocaust has been present in my life since I was a kid.

“In terms of Gita’s character specifically, there is one book that has been especially impactful and important for me. An Interrupted Life: The Diaries and Letters of Etty Hillesum 1941-43, a Dutch Jewish author who died in Auschwitz. Her diaries are recognised as the most important moral documents of our time and they helped me build Gita’s background and work on her inner life. I watched Gita’s testimony, which was recorded in 1997 when she was 72 and in which she talks about her family, the camp and her life with Lali after the war. It was a very powerful experience that helped me bring her to life. I also watched other Holocaust survivor testimonies, which was especially usefully in terms of exploring trauma in survivors, which is explored in some of the scenes set in the 60s.”

“Tali is extremely passionate about the project. She directed all six episodes, which meant she didn’t have a break. She loves to challenge actors and I love being challenged, so it was a perfect match. It confirmed how important it is to be honest with each other on a project like this; to always remind each other to follow your instincts, listen to your intuition and be brave. As an actress, I need someone to encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and Tali did just that. I also created a safe space for myself so that I could sit with my emotions. I meditated every day, I went on long walks, I did yoga. I tried to stay as mindful as possible. It wasn’t always easy, but my rituals helped deal with the stress of such a difficult subject matter.”

“Extremely important. The world is so full of evil and hatred and it’s getting worse. This is our responsibility to remember, honour and respect personal stories of Holocaust victims and survivors. We must prioritize educating the next generations, remind ourselves what man is capable of and remember that we shouldn’t take anything for granted.”