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Lena Góra is bringing her captivating presence to the small screen in a new series.
The Eastern Gate presents Góra with a role that demands both physical and emotional rigor. She portrays Ewa Oginiec, a Polish intelligence officer, navigating the treacherous landscape of geopolitical intrigue.
The series, set against the backdrop of escalating tensions in Eastern Europe, is a masterclass in suspense, and Góra’s performance is its beating heart, recalling heavy preparation for the role. Newsweek spoke to Góra about the role, who shared the ins and outs of her performance, along with all the preparation she did before taping.
“I got to learn Russian before I even started with my lines, which was incredible. I told them that Ewa is so precise and constantly listening to everything that’s happening in the room, so it would be important for me to know more of the language than just my lines,” she recalled. Góra then mentioned that she got to meet women who are actually intelligence officers to help with her authentic portrayal of the role.
“It was six months of my life that I gave to Eastern Gate … three months of learning the language along with boxing and training, and then three months of shooting. It was so cool to have been able to do that because your body, your soul, the way you think and speak, and the way you can read changes. You would sort of shift realities, and when you come to set, your muscle memory is there,” Góra reminisced.
Beyond her on-screen presence, Góra is also a force behind the camera, with writing and producing credits to her name. “The thread that keeps me going, or at least the center point of all of it, is that I’m allowed to be an artist right now. To speak my voice freely and to create art and entertainment, be a part of a catharsis for people to watch and take in. I think the decision of what I’m going to give my time and energy to is important to show and for people to see. Sometimes I feel like I need to go and write something and I am! I’m writing something now that I’m really excited about,” she revealed.
The Eastern Gate marks a significant moment in Góra’s career, as her talent is poised to reach a wider audience. In addition to the series, Góra just wrapped Erupcja where she filmed alongside Charli XCX. “I just wish for everyone to find collaborators like that. She’s amazing and she’s so talented. She has this capacity and ability to really tune in, whether it’s music, whether it’s the youth culture and what they need, or whether it’s connecting with her acting partner, which happened with me,” she said of working with the pop star.
The Eastern Gate premiered on January 31 and can be streamed on Max.
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