Agata Załęcka: Balancing Two Distinct Worlds, The Stage and The Sea (Award Winning Polish Actress, Record Holding Freediver)

Agata Załęcka Interview

"That phrase “The depths call, and I always answer” has become my personal mantra."

Q. From the stage lights to the ocean’s depths, your journey spans two worlds that demand extraordinary presence. What first drew you to both acting and freediving—and what keeps that passion alive today?

From a young age, I was drawn to storytelling and the power of transformation, which naturally led me to acting. Freediving came later, but the pull was just as strong it was like discovering another dimension of myself. 

Both disciplines require presence, breath, and vulnerability. What keeps me going is the constant evolution each role and each dive teaches me something new about who I am.

Q. You recently set new national records at the CMAS Depth World Cup in the Philippines—an extraordinary achievement. What was going through your mind as you resurfaced after those dives?

As I resurfaced in the Philippines, after setting the national records (I have already 8 Batoonal Records for Poland) there was a moment of stillness complete presence followed by a quiet explosion of joy. 

I felt gratitude, not just for the achievement, but for the journey and the people who supported me along the way. It was an inner triumph as much as a public one.

Q. As a member of Poland’s national freediving team and a multi-record-holding athlete, how do you mentally prepare to push the limits of human endurance on a single breath?

Mental preparation in freediving is everything. I work a lot with visualization, breathwork, and grounding techniques. Before each dive, I remind myself to trust my body, stay connected to the moment, and let go. It’s about transforming fear into focus and silence into strength.

Q. You’ve said, “The depths call, and I always answer.” What does that calling mean to you now, and how does it mirror the emotional journeys you take as an actress?

That phrase “The depths call, and I always answer” has become my personal mantra. Today, it’s about listening deeply to my instincts, both underwater and on set. 

Whether I’m descending into the blue or diving into a complex character, I seek truth, presence, and emotional resonance. Both journeys require surrender.

Q. You’ve been recognized both in the entertainment world—with a major television award—and in sports, being named Personality of the Year. What does this dual recognition mean to you personally and professionally?

Receiving recognition in both worlds has been deeply meaningful. Personally, it validates that it’s possible to live passionately in more than one realm.

Professionally, it’s opened doors to connect with people across very different audiences and I’m grateful for that. I hope it inspires others to pursue their own unique paths without compromise.

Q. How do you move between two such contrasting disciplines—freediving, rooted in stillness and control, and acting, full of expression and emotion? Is one a sanctuary from the other?

Acting and freediving might seem like opposites, but they actually balance each other beautifully. Freediving is where I go to reconnect, to listen to silence it’s my sanctuary. 

Acting, on the other hand, allows me to express the full range of human emotion. They feed each other in unexpected ways. One grounds me, the other ignites me.

Q. Whether it's your next artistic role or a deeper dive, what’s the story you’re excited to explore next—in your own words and on your own terms?

Right now, I’m drawn to stories that explore inner strength, transformation, and freedom whether in front of the camera or beneath the surface. 

I want to keep creating roles and moments that feel authentic, raw, and alive. The next chapter? It’s still unfolding but I know it will be bold, deep, and true to who I am becoming.

Bio

Agata Załęcka is an award-winning Polish actress and record-holding freediver, known for balancing two distinct worlds: the stage and the sea. She received the Telekamera Award for Best Actress in 2023 and was named Personality of the Year in 2024.

Trained at the Warsaw Film School and the Lee Strasberg Institute, Agata has starred in acclaimed productions like Rewers, Miasto Skarbów, Komisarz Alex, and currently plays lead roles in Dzielnica Strachu and Miłość nie z tego świata.
Outside of acting, she is a six-time Polish freediving record holder and a CMAS World Cup 2024 bronze medalist, with a personal best of -79 meters on a single breath. 

For Agata, the water is both a passion and a place of peace—a powerful counterpart to the emotional world of acting.

Follow Agata on Instagram

Interviewed By Irene Elina Eldhose