Lena Góra(I)
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Lena Góra is a Polish-American actress, screenwriter, and filmmaker known for her bold, authentic performances and raw, character-driven storytelling. She stars as the lead in The Eastern Gate, a MAX Original miniseries that premiered in 2025. The timely and politically charged thriller follows Ewa Oginiec (Góra), a female intelligence officer caught in the escalating global tensions with Russia. Critics have praised her performance, with The New York Times calling her "terrific."
Góra first gained international recognition with Imago, a film she wrote and starred in, portraying a deeply personal story inspired by her mother. The film won multiple awards, including the Silver Lions, Best Music, and the prestigious FIPRESCI Critics Award for Best Film at the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Her performance earned her Poland's Best Actress in a Leading Role award, with Cineuropa hailing her character as "one of the most memorable arthouse film performances in recent years."
She has since starred in a variety of acclaimed projects, including Roving Woman, which she co-wrote and headlined alongside Academy Award nominee John Hawkes. Executive produced by Wim Wenders, the road movie premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. Góra has also appeared in Traveling Light (dir. Bernard Rose, co-starring Danny Huston), Netflix's dark comedy Night at the Kindergarten, the crime-romance Saint, and the critically acclaimed CANAL+ series The King of Warsaw (2019). In 2025, she also stars in Erupcja, directed by Pete Ohs and co-starring Charli XCX, produced by Jeremy O. Harris.
Originally from Poland, Góra began her career in theater, performing in London and New York before transitioning to film and television.
Recognized for her contributions to European and international cinema, Góra was awarded the Bella Women's Golden Angel for Best European Actress (2023) and Poland's Best Actress in a Leading Role (2023).
Góra first gained international recognition with Imago, a film she wrote and starred in, portraying a deeply personal story inspired by her mother. The film won multiple awards, including the Silver Lions, Best Music, and the prestigious FIPRESCI Critics Award for Best Film at the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Her performance earned her Poland's Best Actress in a Leading Role award, with Cineuropa hailing her character as "one of the most memorable arthouse film performances in recent years."
She has since starred in a variety of acclaimed projects, including Roving Woman, which she co-wrote and headlined alongside Academy Award nominee John Hawkes. Executive produced by Wim Wenders, the road movie premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. Góra has also appeared in Traveling Light (dir. Bernard Rose, co-starring Danny Huston), Netflix's dark comedy Night at the Kindergarten, the crime-romance Saint, and the critically acclaimed CANAL+ series The King of Warsaw (2019). In 2025, she also stars in Erupcja, directed by Pete Ohs and co-starring Charli XCX, produced by Jeremy O. Harris.
Originally from Poland, Góra began her career in theater, performing in London and New York before transitioning to film and television.
Recognized for her contributions to European and international cinema, Góra was awarded the Bella Women's Golden Angel for Best European Actress (2023) and Poland's Best Actress in a Leading Role (2023).
