Malgožata Apse: From Poland to the Latvian Stage

Malgožata Apse, a Polish actress now captivating audiences in Latvia, has quickly grow a familiar face in the Latvian arts scene. Her journey to Riga was sparked by love, and she has since embraced both the Latvian language and the challenges of a new career path.

A Love Story Leads to Latvia

Apse moved to Latvia five years ago after meeting Rūdolfs Apse, now a fellow actor and director at the Latvian Puppet Theatre, while both were students. Rūdolfs was studying in Poland through the Erasmus program at the Warsaw Theatre Academy’s Białystok branch, where they first connected. With a child on the way, Apse joined her husband in Latvia, as reported by Jauns.lv.

Rising Star at the Latvian Puppet Theatre

Since 2023, Malgožata Apse has been an actress at the Latvian Puppet Theatre. Her roles include performances in “The Nutcracker and the Rat King,” “Slowy: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Subtle Afflictions,” and “Playthings,” as detailed on the Latvian Puppet Theatre website. She has also participated in productions like “No! No! No!” and “Lotte from Gadgetville.”

Embracing the Latvian Language

Apse has dedicated herself to learning Latvian, finding the language “melodious” and unlike any other. She particularly admires the word “smuki” (beautiful), calling it a “superword.” But, she admits to struggling with words like “strūklaka” (fountain). She even keeps notes in three languages – Latvian, English, and Polish – to aid her learning, as she shared with Jauns.lv.

Expanding Roles and Recent Projects

Beyond the stage, Apse has appeared in Latvian television series, including “The Unloved” and “Accused of Love.” She is currently involved in the new Latvian series “Favorites,” where she shares a scene with Maksim Buseli, playing his on-screen partner. Apse playfully notes that her real-life husband is understanding of her function, stating, “We are both actors and we realize that this is just work, because in real life I am my husband’s best lover.”

A Bilingual Family

Apse and Rūdolfs are raising their six-year-old son to be bilingual, with the child speaking both Latvian and Polish. Apse believes that learning multiple languages is incredibly valuable.

Early Life and Education

Originally from Poznań, Poland, Apse holds a Master’s degree in Acting from the Puppet Arts Department of the Aleksander Zelwerowicz Theatre Academy in Warsaw, Białystok. Before focusing on acting, she studied French philology and was involved in a French theatre company. According to the Latvian Puppet Theatre website, she also participated in an international film acting masterclass in Ludwigsburg, Germany.