Karolina Muller has been burning up the catwalks and setting magazines on fire since she blazed onto the fashion world seven years ago. One of Europe’s elite class of top models, she was discovered at the tender age of 15 while on a trip to Denmark. She initially spurned offers from agencies and photographers, preferring instead to concentrate on her love of languages, journalism, and the performing arts. It was the famed late-great director, Krzysztof Kieslowski, the discoverer of countless great acting beauties, who first recognized her raw acting talent and urged her to pursue what he presciently knew she was meant to do. However, she wisely chose to complete her studies before embarking on either career.
At the age of 17, she finally followed through on the relentless urging and constant entreaties to model. She was immediately signed by the Elite Modeling Agency, and almost as quickly flown to Paris. In short succession, she graced the pages of Italian Vogue, French Vogue, W, Elle, Marie Claire, and Glamour and worked with the pantheon of fashion photography: Peter Lindbergh, Paolo Roversi, and Patrick Demarchelier. Her character, spirit, and spark made her an instant hit and a favorite of the most respected and important designers in the world. She was in such demand that runway work soon followed. Designers everywhere wanted her to wear their clothes for her unique grace, unparalleled style, and intense beauty. Versace, Ungaro, Chanel, Valentino, Armani and Christian Dior routinely had to wait in line to book Karolina. Yet, she has always remained unassuming and wholly unaffected by the world of fashion, and has longed to stretch her creative impulses.
Four years ago she found just that opportunity when the multiple-award winning, international director, Michael Winterbottom, spotted her on the pages of Italian Vogue and demanded she take part in his next film. Karolina was cast in a major role in The Claim, a multimillion-dollar epic shot entirely in the brutal frozen tundra of Northern Canada and starring Wes Bentley, Mila Jovovich, and Nastasja Kinski. Her striking beauty made her the perfect actress to play the younger Elena to Nastasja Kinski’s older version of the same character. Karolina not only held her own against these seasoned veterans, but earned their respect and was met with critical approval when the film was released. Karolina had instantly and effortlessly proven to be a future acting talent worth reckoning.
It would be two more years as her fame as a globe trotting model continued to grow before Karolina would decide that her love for acting was to ultimately prevail. After one meeting, famed acting coach, Harold Guskin, recognized her talent and took her on as a client (a rare exception he made for so raw an actor.) She has since dedicated her attentions to cutting-edge independent films that showcase her ability to transform herself from a top model into a stunningly diverse actress willing to take-on the complexities of challenging roles. Karolina had instantly and effortlessly proven to be a future acting talent worth reckoning.
FMD had the chance to interview the greatest Polish export since Roman Polanski...



What do you like most about modeling? What do you like least?
Karolina: What I love the most about modeling is that it opens you a lot of different doors of opportunities and takes you too many different places, which then put you in touch with various people and cultures.
What I like the least though, is that, it’s a very hard and competitive business in which you have to fight everyday in order to impose yourself and unfortunately, modeling, takes you with no transition, from being a girl to being a business woman.

Have you encountered any surprises along the way?
Karolina: I think everyday brings surprises; you just have to keep your eyes wide open and let things fall into their place.
Some surprises are more pleasant, some less...

Ever get tempted to get pulled into the party scene?
Karolina: Everyone likes and deserves to have some fun. In the end, when you smile, life smiles back at you!!
First, let's define the party scene...
There is the glamour side of it which allows you to meet great variety of people with whom you simply can have a good time, but there's also the sad side of it that drags you into a superficial and artificial world. It is then up to us to make the right choice and take the right decisions.

Have you developed any new interests since you started modeling?
Karolina: Since I started modeling, many of my interests have stayed the same; they just evolved to a more mature level. I always had enormous passion for cinema and acting, as well as writing journals, painting, reading and I guess, overall, learning new things.

What are your favourite things to do in your free time?
Karolina: Whenever I'm free, I spend time with people I love, people that inspire me in many different ways.
I love sailing and water sports; whether it's water skiing, body boarding or surfing or simply swimming in the Ocean; hiking in "undiscovered" places is a lot of fun too.

Out of all the places your career has taken you, where was the most memorable?
Karolina: Throughout my modeling career I was fortunate enough to visit a lot of beautiful places around the world. Nevertheless, the most astonishing and memorable experiences were my trips to Africa and Australia. One must go and see for themselves...

Do you have a mentor? Who? What is it about them that affects you? Why?
Karolina: Do I have a mentor? Oh yes, I would even say, a few... Apart from my father, who taught me how to make the right choices and believe in myself, there's my mother, who showed me how to appreciate the beauty around us. And of course, my acting coach, who makes impossible accessible.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? What could be your next career?
Karolina: So many things can happen in ten years… but I hope to be able to continue building my acting career and work more and more on projects that fulfill my artistic “thirst”.

What are your beauty secrets? How do you stay in shape?
Karolina: Beauty Secrets...hmm... I would say that the beauty comes with the balance. Everyone should find his own balance in his personal as well as his professional life. Once you do so, you will feel and look beautiful.
Love yourself instead of abusing yourself and simply, enjoy life and the great pleasures that come with it.

Any advice for new models? What advice would you give other models starting out?
Karolina: A girl who is interested in becoming a model must first accept the fact that she (her image) is the “product”. She must be ready to deal with a lot of rejection, as well as, not to loose her head in the sea of compliments. Don't take anything personally!! And most important thing is to remember who you are and where you come from; otherwise, you don't know where you are going.

Favourite all-time model:
Karolina: My favorite model... well, there are so many beautiful creatures around, it's hard to choose. But I guess Helena Christensen and Linda Evangelista.

Favourite kind of food:
Karolina: Favorite food...yummy...I love to eat!! Great food is one of the biggest pleasures in life. My taste depends on my mood; sometimes French, other times Italian, Japanese, Thai...

Favourite kind of music:
Karolina: Music...another great pleasure of life. I like all sorts. Rock&Roll, 60's 70's 80's... again it depends on whether I want to simply relax listening to some Jazz or dance my heart out listening to House, TripHop and all sorts of funky electronics. I love all good music!

Favourite quote:
Karolina: "Far better is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure. Than to take rank with those poor spirits who live the grey twilight...
That knows neither victory nor defeat." (F.D.Roosevelt)

I'd like to meet:
Karolina: There are so many people I wish I could have met as well as those I'm looking forward to...
Oscar Wilde, Andy Warhol, Mother Theresa, Dali Lama, Quentin Tarantino, Saint Nicolas or Santa if you wish;))) The list can go on...

If I were trapped on an island I'd take:
Karolina: I love the Ocean, the send and the beach...I don't think I would feel trapped on any Island unless it were cold.
In any case, I would take my “beloved one”, a lighter and a fishing rod and we would be grilling and eating fish and enjoying the island life.:)))


Thank you Karolina for this great interview!

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