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Joanna Pacula

Joanna Pacula

Actor · Born December 30, 1957 (68) · Tomaszów Lubelski, Lubelskie, Poland

Joanna Pacula (born January 2, 1957) is a Polish actress. Pacula joined Warsaw Dramatic Theatre where she acted until 1981. She started her career playing in productions of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Othello and As You Like It. She also found work in a handful of films, including Krzysztof Zanussi's Barwy ochronne/Camouflage (1977). In 1981, Pacula was caught in Paris when communist authorities in Poland declared martial law. In 1982 she eventually emigrated to the U.S. where she has specialized in playing European temptresses since her feature debut opposite William Hurt in Gorky Park (1983). She played the part of the exotic beauty in numerous American TV series and movies, including the Holocaust drama Escape From Sobibor (CBS, 1987), The Kiss (1988), E.A.R.T.H. Force (CBS, 1990), and the TV series, The Colony (ABC, 1996). She was featured in Marked for Death (1990) as an expert on Jamaican voodoo and gangs; in the Italian erotic thriller Husbands And Lovers (1992) as a free spirited adultress (which featured a rather controversial bare-bottom spanking scene, a first in a mainstream film); Tombstone (1993) as Doc Holliday's lover, Kate (also known as Big Nose Kate and Mary Catherine Haroney, born November 7, 1850); in The Haunted Sea (1997); and in the movie Virus (1999), playing a Russian scientist. She currently resides in Southern California. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joanna Pacula, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 30, 1957 (68)
From
Tomaszów Lubelski, Lubelskie, Poland
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 81 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27

What are Joanna Pacula's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Thriller3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 4th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
28%
Survival
25%
Bonds
18%
Self
16%
Power
11%
Ideas
2%
Society
1%
Survival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 12 · Dark 14

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 23 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 17 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 5

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 5

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 16 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 24 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 15 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 15
Shadow
3 of 15
Shapeshifter
3 of 15
Mentor
2 of 15
Trickster
1 of 15
Ally
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Dread
9
Thrilling
10
Melancholic
11
Absurd
6
Other
18

How their films linger

Fun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous9
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joanna Pacula's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joanna Pacula's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

81 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page.

  • Buckle Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Evelyn Elger

  • Break Even(2020)

    as Agent Crowe

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Kill Her, Not Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Judith

  • ICE Agent(2013)

    as Sheila Hayman

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Banksters, Madoff with America(2013)

    as Ruth Madoff

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Stolen Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Tatiana

  • Black Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Olivia

  • Amazing Racer(2009)

    as Emily Blair

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Chicano Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as The Judge

  • When Nietzsche Wept(2007)

    as Mathilda

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Forget About It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Talia Nitti

  • Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Rose Tyrell

  • The Cutter(2005)

    as Elizabeth Teller

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Drina Mirga

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Easy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Theresa

  • Moscow Heat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sasha

  • El padrino(2004)

    as Jessica Lancaster

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Dinocroc(2004)

    as Paula Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Lightning: Bolts of Destruction(2003)

    as Valery Landis

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • No Place Like Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Gretchen Klein

  • Warrior Angels(2002)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Leyla Zlatavich

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Cupid's Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Iris Wetherton

  • The Hit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Sonia

  • Crash and Byrnes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Lissette

  • Brutally Normal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 8 episodes · as Gogi

  • The Art of Murder(1999)

    as Elizabeth Sheridan

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Error in Judgment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Liz

  • Virus(1999)

    as Nadia Vinogradova

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The White Raven(1998)

    as Julia Konneman

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Deception(1998)

    as Risa Gallagher

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • My Giant(1998)

    as Lilliana Rotaru

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Haunted Sea(1997)

    as 1st Mate Bergren

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Business for Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Anna

  • In Praise of Older Women(1997)

    as Marta

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Heaven Before I Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Selma

  • The Colony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Noelle Simms

  • Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys(1995)

    as Brenda Franelli

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Last Gasp(1995)

    as Nora Weeks

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Not Like Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Anita Clark

  • Timemaster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Evelyn

  • Every Breath(1993)

    as Lauren

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Deep Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Monica Quik

  • The Silence of the Hams(1994)

    as Lily Wine

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Kim Novak Is on the Phone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Emilia

  • Normandy: The Great Crusade(1994)

    as Ursula von Kardoff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Tombstone(1993)

    as Kate

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Under Investigation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Abbey Jane Strong

  • Warlock: The Armageddon(1993)

    as Paula Dare

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Private Lessons II(1993)

    as Sophie Morgan

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Condition: Critical (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dr. Lena Poole

  • A Passion for Murder(1992)

    as Vanessa

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Body Puzzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Tracy Grant

  • Eyes of the Beholder(1992)

    as Diana Carlyle

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Husbands and Lovers(1991)

    as Alina

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Good Policeman(1993)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Marked for Death(1990)

    as Leslie

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Commando Earth Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Diana Randall

  • E.A.R.T.H. Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Diana Randall

  • Breaking Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Anna / Diana

  • Options (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Princess Nicole

  • The Kiss(1988)

    as Felice Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Joëlle

  • Escape from Sobibor(1987)

    as Luka

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Death Before Dishonor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Elli

  • Crossings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as Marissa Freilich

  • Not Quite Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Gila

  • Gorky Park(1983)

    as Irina

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Życie Kamila Kuranta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Elwira

  • Yokohama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Jan Serce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gabriela 'Gabi' Metelska

  • Tender Spots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Pielęgniarka

  • Przyjaciele (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 5 episodes · as Krystyna

  • Dom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ewa Szymosiuk

  • Last Night of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Lena Gheorghiu

  • Puppy Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jola Morawiecka "Sarna"

  • Córka albo syn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Irena

  • You Will Not Have Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Bożena Kaczmarek

  • Camouflage(1977)

    as Student

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Operation Arsenal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Duska Bytnar

  • Calling 07 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as prostytutka pracująca dla Walaska

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 81 titles from 1976 to 2023; peak year 1992.

Biggest box office

Marked for Death (1990)

$58M worldwide

Highest rated

Tombstone (1993)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19762023

Peak 1992 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting81 of 81: 81 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score16th

By decade

1970s5 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s33 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s5 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 6% of 17 roles
839303

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Joanna Pacula's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 15th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 17th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

17thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

17thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th21

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned3
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

The Banksters, Madoff with America (2013)

92nd percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Tombstone (1993)

Midcredits 96th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 47/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 29. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Joanna Pacula's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles69–88 · median 79 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles23–67 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 60 · intenseMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 56 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles55–82 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Joanna Pacula work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joanna Pacula's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Madsen shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles