--- name: "Roman Polanski" canonical: "https://film.one/person/roman-polanski" fi1m_id: "roman-polanski" imdb_id: "nm0000591" tmdb_id: 3556 wikidata_id: "Q51552" roles: ["Director","Writer","Actor"] born: "18 August 1933" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 85 average_as: "director" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-23T04:13:49.729615+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Roman Polanski ## Identity Roman Polanski - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/roman-polanski - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** roman-polanski - **IMDb ID:** nm0000591 - **TMDB ID:** 3556 - **Wikidata ID:** Q51552 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Polanski, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51552, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3556 Director and writer. Born 18 August 1933 in Paris, France. ## Details - **Work:** Director, Writer, Actor - **Born:** 18 August 1933, Paris, France - **Active:** 1960–2007 - **Also known as:** Роман Поляньскі, Raymond Roman Thierry Liebling, Роман Полянский, Роман Поланский, Роман Поланскі, Rajmund Roman Thierry Polański, Roman Raymond Polanski, Раймунд Роман Тьерри Либлинг - **Titles on Fi1m:** 7: 1 acting, 6 directing - **Frequently works with:** [Gérard Brach](https://film.one/person/gerard-brach.md), [Robert Evans](https://film.one/person/robert-evans.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 4 nominated) - **Average Fi1m score:** 85, as director, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 90 (2), 1970s 84 (2), 1990s 74 (1), 2000s 62 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 85 to 78 across 6 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 5, Thriller 4, Horror 2, Crime 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1 - **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $215m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Polanski, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51552, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3556 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Chinatown*](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md) (93), [*Repulsion*](https://film.one/film/repulsion.md) (88), [*The Pianist*](https://film.one/film/the-pianist.md) (87), [*Death and the Maiden*](https://film.one/film/death-and-the-maiden.md) (74) - **Apple TV:** [*Rosemary's Baby*](https://film.one/film/rosemarys-baby.md) (92) - **Tubi:** [*Rush Hour 3*](https://film.one/film/rush-hour-3.md) (38) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Roman Polanski > Roman Polanski makes suspense out of people under pressure, often with little room to escape. We rate his patient, unsettling work highly, especially *Chinatown*, though the confined settings and repeated struggles for control can become familiar. In *Chinatown* (1974), Jack Nicholson makes private investigator Jake Gittes's confidence dangerously persuasive. Polanski keeps the enquiry close to what Gittes can understand, so following a clue does not necessarily make us feel safer. We were unsettled by the way Nicholson's assurance stopped being reassuring; we had been persuaded to rely on it. This is Polanski working at a high level, giving us an investigator worth following without asking us to accept his judgement. His first feature, *Knife in the Water* (1962), built tension around a psychological triangle. *Repulsion* (1965) used confined space for horror, while *Rosemary's Baby* (1968) developed his interest in paranoia and isolation. These restrictions suit his attention to atmosphere, but they also establish habits that can become predictable. *Chinatown* benefits from giving that suspicion something concrete to investigate: an irrigation scandal in 1930s Los Angeles. Robert Towne and Polanski's screenplay makes ownership and control part of the mystery rather than background information to be endured. The people withholding information are interesting enough to keep the case alive. There are crowded stretches when tracking the enquiry takes work, but the complication rarely overwhelms our interest in those involved. Sam O'Steen's editing gives new information time to register, though even his patience cannot make every connection easy to follow. Jerry Goldsmith's restrained score lets the unease persist without continually announcing danger. These are crucial contributions to a film that still offers the satisfaction of following clues. Polanski does not need to discard the pleasures of a detective story to make us question the detective. His later European work includes *The Pianist* (2002), followed by chamber pieces and adaptations through the 2010s. The less adventurous *Based on a True Story* (2017) is a reminder that his familiar methods need not produce the same tension each time. Start with *Chinatown*, and give its crowded investigation your full attention. ## Biography Roman Polanski is a Polish-French film director, screenwriter and actor. Born in Paris on 18 August 1933, he trained at the Łódź Film School in Poland after surviving the Second World War. His feature debut *Knife in the Water* (1962) brought international attention. Subsequent films include *Repulsion* (1965), *Rosemary's Baby* (1968), *Macbeth* (1971), *Chinatown* (1974) — on which he served as director and writer and appeared as the man with a knife — *Tess* (1979) and *The Pianist* (2002). Polanski has received an Academy Award for Best Director, multiple BAFTA and César awards, a Golden Globe and the Palme d'Or. *Sources: britannica.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, bfi.org.uk.* ## On Fi1m (7) ### Performed in (1) - *Rush Hour 3* (2007), Fi1m 38, as Det. Revi — [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour-3.md) ### Directed (6) — the average rests on these - *The Pianist* (2002), Fi1m 87, Director, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-pianist.md) - *Death and the Maiden* (1994), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/death-and-the-maiden.md) - *Tess* (1979), Fi1m 74, Director, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/tess.md) - *Chinatown* (1974), Fi1m 93, as Man with Knife — [page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md) - *Rosemary's Baby* (1968), Fi1m 92, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/rosemarys-baby.md) - *Repulsion* (1965), Fi1m 88, as Spoon Player — [page](https://film.one/film/repulsion.md) ## Complete filmography (93) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *La scripte* (2026), as Lui-même - *The Palace* (2023), Director, Writer - *An Officer and a Spy* (2019), as Concertgoer (uncredited) · Director, Writer - *Sharon Tate Home Movies* (2019), Director - *Valerie* (2019), Actor - *Based on a True Story* (2017), Director, Screenplay - *Captain Jokes Parrot's Disaster of the Caribbean* (2017), Characters - *Face of Evil: The Charles Manson Murders* (2015), Actor - *Roman by Polanski* (2015), Actor - *Henri Langlois vu par...* (2014), Director - *Venus in Fur* (2013), Director, Screenplay - *Tower Heist* (2011), Thanks - *Carnage* (2011), as Neighbor · Director, Screenplay - *Cracow by Polanski* (2010), Idea - *The Ghost Writer* (2010), Screenplay, Director, Producer - *Memories of a Young Pianist* (2009), as Man in Tavern (archive footage) - *Bicycle* (2008), as Boy who wants to buy a bicycle · Writer, Director - *Quiet Chaos* (2008), as Steiner - *Making of Chinatown* (2007), Actor - *To Each His Own Cinema* (2007), Director, Producer - *Rush Hour 3* (2007), as Det. Revi — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/rush-hour-3.md) - *The Best of Twist: Sets, Costumes & Photography* (2006), Actor - *Twist by Polanski* (2006), Actor - *Le court des grands* (2005), Director - *Oliver Twist* (2005), Director, Producer - *Hedda Gabler* (2004), Stage Director - *Dance of the Vampires* (2002), Original Film Writer - *The Revenge* (2002), as Józef Papkin - *The Pianist* (2002), Director, Producer — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/the-pianist.md) - *The Unbeatable Bruce Lee* (2001), Actor - *The Ninth Gate* (1999), Screenplay, Producer, Director - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *Sex, Lies and Jerzy Kosinski* (1995), Actor - *Dead Tired* (1994), as Roman Polanski - *A Pure Formality* (1994), as Inspector - *Death and the Maiden* (1994), Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/death-and-the-maiden.md) - *Bitter Moon* (1992), Screenplay, Producer, Director - *Back in the USSR* (1992), as Kurilov - *Dracula in the Movies* (1992), as (archive footage) - *The King of Ads* (1991), Director - *En attendant Godot* (1989), as Lucky - *Frantic* (1988), as Taxi Driver (uncredited) · Director, Writer - *Pirates* (1986), Director, Writer - *Clive James Meets Roman Polanski* (1984), Actor - *Chassé-croisé* (1982), Actor - *Tess* (1979), Screenplay, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/tess.md) - *The Evolution of Snuff* (1978), Actor - *The Tenant* (1976), as Trelkovsky · Director, Screenplay - *Blood for Dracula* (1974), as Gambler - *Chinatown* (1974), as Man with Knife · Director, Additional Writing, Writer — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/chinatown.md) - *What?* (1972), as Mosquito · Screenplay, Director - *Con bravura* (1972), as Caroler - *Weekend of a Champion* (1972), Producer - *Macbeth* (1971), Director, Screenplay - *The Boat on the Grass* (1971), Writer - *A Day at the Beach* (1970), Writer, Producer - *The Magic Christian* (1969), as Solitary Drinker - *Rosemary's Baby* (1968), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/rosemarys-baby.md) - *The Girl Across the Way* (1968), Writer - *The Fearless Vampire Killers* (1967), as Alfred · Director, Screenplay, Story - *G.G. Passion* (1966), Co-Producer - *NET Playhouse* (1966), series, Director, Writer - *Cul-de-sac* (1966), Director, Writer - *Repulsion* (1965), as Spoon Player · Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/repulsion.md) - *The World's Most Beautiful Swindlers* (1964), Director, Writer - *The River of Diamonds* (1964), as Random Citizen · Director, Writer - *A Taste for Women* (1964), Screenplay - *Mammals* (1962), Director, Writer - *Knife in the Water* (1962), as Young Man (voice) · Director, Screenplay - *The Fat and the Lean* (1961), as the lean · Director, Producer, Writer - *Samson* (1961), as Partner of Malina's Blackmailer (uncredited) - *Ostrożnie yeti* (1961), as Driver - *Innocent Sorcerers* (1960), as Dudzio - *Goodbye, Till Tomorrow* (1960), as Romek - *Bad Luck* (1960), as Tutor (uncredited) · Assistant Director - *When Angels Fall* (1959), as Old Woman · Screenplay, Director - *Lotna* (1959), as Musician (uncredited) - *The Lamp* (1959), as A passer-by (uncredited) · Director, Screenplay - *What Will My Wife Say to This?* (1958), as Dancer - *Two Men and a Wardrobe* (1958), as Bad Boy · Director, Writer - *Koniec nocy* (1957), as 'Mały' · Assistant Director - *Wraki* (1957), as Romek - *A Toothful Smile* (1957), Director, Screenplay - *Kanal* (1957), as Resistance Member pushed into a Sewer (uncredited) - *Murder* (1957), Director, Writer - *Break Up the Dance* (1957), Director, Writer - *Nikodem Dyzma* (1956), as Porter (uncredited) - *Magical Bicycle* (1955), as Adaś - *Trzy starty* (1955), as Basia's Brother - *A Generation* (1955), as Mundek - *Godzina bez słońca* (1955), Actor - *Three Stories* (1953), as Genek "Mały" (segment 2) - *The Stalking Moon*, as Fabrice Fournier ## Gallery - ![Roman Polanski](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-7421bdb119dc.jpg) Roman Polanski — Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Roman_Polanski_Cannes_2013.jpg/1280px-Roman_Polanski_Cannes_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-196ee8e46626.jpg) Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_01.JPG/1280px-2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_01.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-750a3e3d273d.jpg) Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_02.JPG/1280px-2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_02.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-0ee16b992b10.jpg) Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_03.JPG/1280px-2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_03.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Roman Polanski](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-7c7f2c22c63a.jpg) Roman Polanski — Image via TMDB - ![Roman Polanski](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-82d82c61fbae.jpg) Roman Polanski — Image via TMDB - ![Roman Polanski](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-4fb120f275a8.jpg) Roman Polanski — Image via TMDB - ![Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-1f9d7bfd42e4.jpg) Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_04.JPG/1280px-2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_04.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-43e86894c3aa.jpg) Roman Polanski (born August 18, 1933 in Paris, France) - French-Polish director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He lives in Paris 8e , France — Mariusz Kubik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_05.JPG/1280px-2023.11.13._Roman_Polanski_Photo_Mariusz_Kubik_05.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Roman Polanski](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-a3b310f22c11.jpg) Roman Polanski — Image via TMDB - ![Roman Polanski](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-834aa0777d32.jpg) Roman Polanski — Image via TMDB - ![Roman Polanski](https://film.one/media/person/59479/gallery-f8928742992a.jpg) Roman Polanski — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won, 4 nominated - 2003: Best Director (won), for *The Pianist* - 2003: Best Picture (nominated), for *The Pianist* - 1981: Best Director (nominated), for *Tess* - 1975: Best Director (nominated), for *Chinatown* - 1969: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Rosemary's Baby* ### BAFTA Film Awards — 2 won - 2003: Best Direction (won), for *The Pianist* - 1975: Best Direction (won), for *Chinatown* ### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won - 2010: Best Director (won), for *The Ghost Writer* ### Other awards — 13 won, 8 nominated - César Award for Best Adaptation 2020: César Award for Best Adaptation (won), for *An Officer and a Spy* - César Award for Best Director 2020: César Award for Best Director (won), for *An Officer and a Spy* - European Film Award for Best Director 2019: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *An Officer and a Spy* - European Film Award for Best Film 2019: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *An Officer and a Spy* - European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2019: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *An Officer and a Spy* - César Award for Best Director 2014: César Award for Best Director (won), for *Venus in Fur* - European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2012: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Carnage* - César Award for Best Director 2011: César Award for Best Director (won), for *The Ghost Writer* - Honorary Lumière Award 2011: Honorary Lumière Award (won) - European Film Award for Best Director 2010: European Film Award for Best Director (won), for *The Ghost Writer* - European Film Award for Best Film 2010: European Film Award for Best Film (won), for *The Ghost Writer* - European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2010: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (won), for *The Ghost Writer* - European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2010: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *The Ghost Writer* - European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award 2006: European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (won) - European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2006: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *Oliver Twist* - César Award for Best Director 2003: César Award for Best Director (won), for *The Pianist* - European Film Award for Best Director 2002: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *The Pianist* - European Film Award for Best Film 2002: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Pianist* - honorary citizen of Łódź 2000: honorary citizen of Łódź (won) - European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award 1999: European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award (won) - César Award for Best Director 1980: César Award for Best Director (won), for *Tess* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/roman-polanski