Tomasz Borkowy

Tomasz Karol Borkowy (born 17 September 1952 in Warsaw, Poland) is a celebrated Polish actor who has built a transnational career spanning more than four decades. After graduating from the Theatre College in Kraków in 1977, he quickly entered the Polish television and film scene, appearing in a variety of domestic productions before moving to the United Kingdom in 1978, despite not yet speaking English. His early determination to master a new language while pursuing acting set the tone for a remarkably adaptable career. In 1980 he settled permanently in the UK, where he began to secure roles in both cinema and television, most notably in the internationally recognized film The Unbearable Lightness of Being and the thriller Murder on the Moon. Television audiences later noticed him in iconic series such as Doctor Who (in the episode “The Curse of Fenric”), The Bill, Love Hurts, Sleepers, Lovejoy and the long‑running soap Doctors. While his British work flourished, Borkowy never abandoned his roots; he achieved iconic status in Poland as the lead of the beloved series Dom, which ran for seven series over two decades (1980–2000). Beyond acting, he has been an active playwright and producer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for nearly two decades, showcasing a commitment to live theatre. Currently residing between Edinburgh and southern Spain, he founded and runs Universal Arts, an international agency dedicated to the performing arts, further demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit. Throughout his multifaceted career, Borkowy has consistently blended artistic talent with cultural bridge‑building, making him a unique figure in both Polish and British entertainment landscapes.