What are Poles like? 5 Polish stereotypes Hollywood loves (or loves-to-hate)

1. The Walking Red Flag: Stanley Kowalski – A Streetcar Named Desire

Stanley Kowalski, as played by Marlon Brando, is one of the most iconic (and problematic) Polish characters in Hollywood history.

He’s rough, aggressive, and embodies the brute-force masculinity that many old-school stereotypes associate with Polish men. Tennessee Williams, the screenwriter, paints him as an almost animalistic figure, contrasting sharply with Blanche DuBois’ refined Southern elegance. Let’s just put it like this: if there were a contest for "Polish Guy Most Likely to Start a Bar Fight". Stanley would win by a landslide. Ot by a knockout punch, as is this case.

While undeniably a powerful character, Stanley doesn’t exactly do wonders for the Polish PR department. If anything, he’s more of a walking red flag.

2. The Man of Steel Teeth: Zbigniew Krycsiwiki (Jaws) – James Bond Franchise

That’s right, one of James Bond’s most famous villains, Jaws, has Polish roots!

Zbigniew Krycsiwiki, aka "Jaws", played by Richard Kiel, is the towering, metal-toothed henchman who takes on 007 in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. While he doesn’t have many lines (bar one), he does what Poles are known for: being incredibly resilient. This guy survives falls from incredible hights, fights with other villains, Bond and sharks, and all manner of ridiculous situations.

Sure, he’s a thug, but at least he’s an iconic one.

Also, let’s be honest – those metal teeth are kind of cool.

3. If it's not the butler (it's the maid): Lilliana Wosilius – The Sopranos

While we are on the subject of Polish no-good-doers, The Sopranos features a Polish housekeeper, who is stealing silverware from the Soprano family – and is planning to swipe the champagne glasses next. Because, of course, if you need a shady, background-level crime in a mob show, why not throw in some thieving Polish servants? It’s another unflattering stereotype – this time reinforcing the image of Eastern Europeans as sneaky, untrustworthy immigrants. So yeah, The Sopranos didn’t exactly do Poles any favors.

Interestingly, that role was portrayed by a Hungarian actress – so when the time came for the few lines to be spoken in Polish, it wasn’t a "Yay, so cool, a Polish accent!" moment for many fans in Poland, but more of a "Hey, not cool, what’s with her accent?" lament.

4. The saint in the city of sinners: Dorota Kishlovsky – Gossip Girl

Dorota is one of the most beloved side characters on Gossip Girl, and guess what? She’s Polish!

As Blair Waldorf’s loyal housekeeper, Dorota is portrayed as hard-working, fiercely loyal, and religious – all classic Polish immigrant stereotypes. But here’s the thing: she’s also the real MVP of the show. While the Upper East Siders are busy scheming, backstabbing, and throwing dramatic temper tantrums over brunch, Dorota is holding down the fort. She’s proof that if you want something done right, get a Polish person to do it.

Sure, she’s still "the help," but she’s the one character who has her act together.

5. The "wrong thing, right reasons" kind of guy: Frank Sobatka – The Wire

In The Wire, Frank Sobatka is a Polish-American dock worker caught up in smuggling and corruption.

But before you say "great, another Polish guy working for the mob," let’s be fair – he’s also a deeply nuanced character. Frank is a tragic figure, a man trying (and failing) to keep his community afloat in an era of economic decline. Frank is complex, morally conflicted, and genuinely sympathetic, unlike many Polish characters who exist just for comic relief or as background figures. Sure, his storyline involves crime – which isn’t idea, sure – but at least he’s got layers.

If Hollywood absolutely must give us Polish criminals, let them at least be as compelling as Frank.

So, do these characters reflect stereotypes about Polish people?

Yes, and no. Many of them lean into classic Polish tropes: the hardworking immigrant (Dorota, Frank Sobatka), the tough brute (Stanley Kowalski), or the thieving servant (Lilliana Wosilius). But in between the clichés, there are also moments of depth and humanity that make these characters more than just stereotypes.

The verdict? Polish representation in American media has been something of a mixed bag.

There’s definitely room for improvement, but at least we’re getting characters with real personalities, capable of being both scene- and silverware-stealers.