Biography of Mia Wasikowska
Mia Wasikowska is an Australian and Hollywood actress, director, and photographer. She gained international fame for her role as Alice Kingsleigh in Tim Burton's adventure film "Alice in Wonderland". In 2010, Time magazine included Mia in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The total box office earnings of her films exceed one billion dollars. She has been nominated several times for prestigious awards in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Childhood and Youth
Mia was born in the autumn of 1989 to Marzena Wasikowska and John Reid in Canberra, Australia. Her mother is Polish, and her father is a native Australian. She grew up with her older sister Jess and younger brother Kai.Her parents, professional photographers, traveled extensively around the world with their young children, and Mia absorbed the atmosphere of the European cities they visited. Saint Petersburg, which the family visited in winter, made a vivid impression on her. When she turned eight, they all went to her mother's homeland, Poland, and lived there for a whole year.
In Europe, Mia began studying ballet. After returning to Australia, she continued attending ballet classes. Despite having a wide circle of friends, she grew up shy and quiet, loving to read above all else. If she didn’t have to leave her room, she admitted, she would spend all her time there.
Mia never considered a film career. She was convinced that her future lay in dance, which she took very seriously:
At fifteen, she was surprised to find herself increasingly interested in acting. A ballet career was no longer an option due to an ankle injury.I started ballet at eight and went en pointe at thirteen. I spent 35 hours a week at the barre. But at some point, I didn't exactly lose interest in ballet; I just stopped enjoying it as much. This art form focuses too much on physical perfection. Cinema, on the other hand, explores and showcases our imperfections. We always had quality European films at home... I loved Krzysztof Kieślowski.
Upon learning that actors have their own agents, she started researching online. As she later mentioned in an interview: "I googled acting agencies in my hometown of Sydney, found what I was looking for, and began acting."
Acting Career
Mia Wasikowska made her film debut at fifteen, playing Lily in the crime drama "Suburban Mayhem," which premiered in 2006. Simultaneously, she portrayed Lily Watson in the medical TV series "All Saints."In 2007-2008, Mia appeared frequently in minor roles: Amelia Hamilton in the teen drama "September," Sherry in the horror movie "Rogue," and Sophie in the TV series "In Treatment." She acted alongside Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber in the war film "Defiance" (Chaya Dziencielsky), and with Richard Gere and Hilary Swank in the drama "Amelia" (Elinor Smith).
When the fantasy film hit the screens, Wasikowska achieved tremendous success. For the young actress, it was her first significant role in a major film, and she fondly remembered her co-stars – Johnny Depp, who brilliantly played the Mad Hatter, and the two queens – the White and Red – Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter.
She played the terminally ill cancer patient Annabel Cotton in the drama "Restless" (2011). Her character defies fate and fully devotes herself to her love for a young man who lost his parents. Henry Hopper portrayed Enoch Brae on screen.
In 2013, Wasikowska starred in the psychological thriller "Stoker." Her character, India Stoker, cannot come to terms with her father's death, and her strained relationship with her mother (played by Nicole Kidman) becomes even more complicated. Her life turns into a nightmare with the arrival of Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who had been absent for about twenty years.
The actress also explored the works of Russian classic Fyodor Dostoevsky by starring in the thriller "The Double," and the writings of Gustave Flaubert by playing the lead role in the adaptation of his novel "Madame Bovary."
Mia also tried her hand as a screenwriter and director, creating one of the segments in the film anthology "The Turning," and another in the international anthology "Madly." At one point, she even mentioned that directing appealed to her more than acting.I mean a specialist in literary works featuring ghosts. He advised me on what to read to get into the right creative mood and immerse myself in the mystical atmosphere. Over five months of filming, I read a ton of books. I even found a favorite – Henry James' novella 'The Turn of the Screw.' I recommend it to all lovers of psychological-mystical stories!
In 2016, the actress reprised her role as Alice in "Alice Through the Looking Glass," and a year later, she dramatically changed her image by playing Anna Novak in the biographical thriller "The Man with the Iron Heart."
Wasikowska's standout performance came as Judy in the noir comedy "Judy and Punch," and then she transformed into Helen Hatton, the preacher's wife, in the crime thriller "The Devil All the Time." In 2021, she appeared on screen as Amy in the drama "Bergman Island," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2022, the actress appeared in Robert Connolly's new film "Blueback," an adaptation of Tim Winton's novel. The story is about a young diver named Abby, who befriends a blue groper. This unusual friendship compels Abby, played by Wasikowska, to protect the unique fish from poachers.
Personal Life of Mia Wasikowska
Mia Wasikowska doesn't like to publicize her relationships with men. She explains this secrecy not by being difficult or snobbish, but by her character and principles.The only confirmed romance the press talked about was her relationship with actor and star of "The Social Network," Jesse Eisenberg. She met him on the set of "The Double" in 2013.
For two years, this couple maintained an aura of mystery: both disliked loud parties and media attention. But in 2015, it became known that Jesse went back to his former girlfriend, assistant Anna Strout, who soon gave birth to his child. Neither Wasikowska nor Eisenberg discussed the reasons for their breakup.
In 2017, rumors linked Mia to actor Robert Pattinson.
Mia Wasikowska Now
In 2023, Mia starred in the dark satirical thriller "Club Zero." She played the lead role of a young teacher who arrives at an elite school and forms close relationships with the students.Her character, Miss Novak, has a strange philosophy – she convinces the children to stop eating to achieve eternal life. Surprisingly, she finds followers. Mia explained this phenomenon as follows:
...Many want to think independently and become self-reliant. I believe she expands their possibilities while imposing her beliefs, trying to touch on the vulnerability and fear they already have.
Interesting Facts
- Mia was a timid girl from an early age. She found it difficult to communicate with other children and adults. However, her world of imagination was boundless. Mia could create her own worlds where she walked with an invisible puppy and talked to invisible friends who understood her.
- Regarding her role as Alice, Wasikowska said she often had to work with imaginary partners, replaced on set by cardboard cutouts. The director believed this method helped the actress engage her imagination more quickly.
- After filming "Alice in Wonderland," Wasikowska cut her hair very short and donated her luxurious red curls for wigs for Children’s Cancer Foundation to draw attention to young cancer patients' issues.
- Mia loves taking candid photos. In her pictures, people do not pose deliberately. She likes to "spy" on scenes on set during preparation and framing. For her role in "Jane Eyre," the costume designers even made hidden pockets in her dresses at her request, where she could stash a small camera to keep it handy.
- It is known that Wasikowska declined the Polish government's offer of citizenship, which would have been prestigious for Poland. Mia did not comment on her decision.
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