Born in Zielona Góra, Lubuskie, Poland, Magdalena Wieczorek is known for Zadra, the drama about a teen who fights for her dreams in the music industry. She also performed in Erotica 2022, a mystery drama about women’s issues. In The Last Spark of Hope, Magdalena is Eva, the last human on Earth struggling to survive with only her robot companion. As she battles the harsh realities of her existence, the stakes intensify when her once-trusted robot, Arthur, turns against her. This begins a deadly battle for survival.
What drew you to this dystopian thriller?
Magdalena Wieczorek: When producer Beata Pisula called me about it, I was very excited. She told me about the project and that someone had recommended me. But I only had 24 hours to record a scene, which was 17 pages long. I spent an entire evening and afternoon on the script. I was a little reluctant because when she told me that it was a low-budget sci-fi movie and that I’d be the only actor in it, it was a bit of a red flag. So I recorded a test tape, which was one of the longest and hardest scenes in the film. I sent back the tape, and I got the role of Eva.
What did you draw from to so convincingly play the last woman on Earth?
Magdalena: Working on the character of Eva was pretty dynamic. From the moment I learned I’d gotten the part to the first day on set, only two weeks had passed. I had to work very quickly, absorbing 100 pages of text, and do rehearsals with director Piotr Biedron. We were trying to figure out what Eva is like and what matters most in each scene. Eva is completely on her own.
She needed to be a very strong and independent character like Ellen Ripley in Alien. She knows how to fix everything, but she is also very lonely. We meet Eva at the moment when she starts losing her mind, at the start of her mental breakdown. She’s been living with this robot for months, perhaps even years. She really misses a human connection to the point of starting to talk to herself. She’s beginning to see Arthur as a friend, a sibling with whom she can play games. All the while, Eva still tries to contact people on the short wave every day. She finds it hard to believe that she’s the only one left alive on Earth. And it’s this hope that keeps her alive. But eventually, she makes a human mistake, which turns Arthur into her worst enemy.
The location appeared strange, deserted, and isolated. Where did you film?
Magdalena: It was an abandoned power plant.
What was the biggest challenge you faced?
Magdalena: Obviously, it would be having to work with a robot. It was completely different from any of my previous roles, where I had the opportunity to play with great actors. Acting with humans can be magical. You give of yourself, and you get something in return. There was none of that in this film. Working with a robot felt really strange and frustrating at times. There was nothing in Arthur’s eyes and no energy between us. It was like acting with an object. Eva’s situation felt hopeless. I believe my personal state really helped portray many of the film’s emotional scenes. With each day outside the base, Eva grew weaker. One of the more difficult scenes for me was when Eva was so exhausted and injured that she knew she might die soon. She tells Arthur that it’s a pity that he didn’t marry her because if he did, he would have to protect his wife. I’ve never acted in such abstract scenes, where you have to express emotions toward an object. But I committed to it and gave it everything I had.
Can you go into your favorite scene?
Magdalena: It was just incredible to act in this film, which was shot in just nine days. It was so fast, I just can’t pick out one scene. It was a real physical challenge because we shot in the middle of the Polish summer, and it was extremely hot. Director Biedron admitted that he was looking for a physically fit actor. My heavy clothes and coat didn’t make things any easier. I wore a leather jacket and trousers, an oxygen mask that was hard to breathe through, and a heavy oxygen tank. That said, it was a great adventure, and I would absolutely do it again.
You’ve worked in TV and film. What have you learned about this business that surprised you?
Magdalena: I’ve performed two lead roles and one big supporting role. And I’m surprised that these roles haven’t helped me break through into major films. I feel that I’m always having to start from the beginning of every project. We don’t produce many films like you do in the West. So it’s hard to even get an audition. But I love working as an actress in movies. When I finally get a part, I’m excited that I can work with amazing artists and creators.
Was there a film or actor that got you into acting?
Magdalena: Not a movie or actor; it was acting in my primary school drama class that inspired me to become an actress. It was a feeling I got on stage and performing that drew me into acting. I knew I wanted to act since I was 12 years old.
Any advice for aspiring young actors eager to get into acting?
Magdalena: The same advice I give myself, which is never give up. It’s a very unpredictable profession, and everything can change in just one day.
What were you like in high school?
Magdalena: I was training in acrobatics, playing a lot of sports. And I was involved in drama class and theater.
Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MHkTI5_mhs
