Paulina Porizkova
Biography, Age, Net Worth, House, Cars, Husband, Children, Parents, Siblings, Movies & TV Shows
Paulina Porizkova Basic Information
| Stage Name: | Paulina Porizkova |
| Real Name: | Paulina Porizkova |
| Occupation: | Actress, Writer and Model |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | 9 April 1965 |
| Place of Birth: | Prostějov, Czechoslovakia |
| Gender: | Female |
| Nationality: | Swedish-American |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Education: | – |
| Height: | 5Ft 10In |
| Net Worth: | $12M |
Paulina Porizkova Biography
Porizkova was born on April 9, 1965, to anti-Soviet dissident parents Anna Pozková and Ji Pozka in Prostjov, then Czechoslovakia. Her parents fled to Sweden to avoid the Warsaw Pact invasion, leaving her in the care of her maternal grandmother. She became a cause célèbre after the Czechoslovak government refused to let her parents take her back. The ensuing legal battle was heavily covered in the Swedish press. In an attempt to save Porizkova, her pregnant mother used a fictitious passport to return to Czechoslovakia when she was seven. Following the unsuccessful attempt, her mother and her family were placed under house arrest and her mother was briefly detained by the national police. The reunion of the Pořízek family was made possible by the communist government in 1973 thanks to international political pressure spearheaded by Olof Palme.
Family
Parents
Jiří Pořízek and Anna Porizkova are her parents. In the late 1960s, her parents were active in local politics and held solid anti-communist beliefs. When Paulina was still a toddler in 1968, the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia, forcing Paulina’s parents to escape to Sweden. Paulina was sent to live with her Prostějov-based grandmother and later a foster home. Her parents tried for three years to get custody of their daughter through the legal system, but they were unsuccessful. Porizkova’s father had an affair, which led to her parents divorcing. Since she was a young girl, she and her father—who refused to give his children child support—have not been in contact. In 2010, it was reported that her mother, a midwife, was serving in the Peace Corps in Uganda. She had remarried at least twice.
Siblings
Raised as the oldest child in the family, she had a younger brother, Jáchym Pořízek, whom she first saw when she was ten years old.
Children
Together with Ric, the couple had two sons before divorcing in 2017. Oliver Orion Ocasek and Jonathan Raven Ocasek are their names.
Husband
While filming the music video for the band The Cars’ song “Drive,” Paulina Porizkova got to know American singer Ric Ocasek. After they started dating, they were wed in August 1989. Ric passed away while their divorce procedures were still pending. As a result, Paulina experienced acute depression.
In his will, Ric claimed that Paulina had abandoned him just as he was about to undergo surgery and at his most vulnerable point. Porizkova once dated screenwriter Aaron Sorkin in 2021. She has also been associated with Jeff Greenstein.
Lifestyle
While growing up, Paulina Porizkova had a tough life. Her father had severed all ties with them and refused to pay child support. Her mother was rarely present because she worked as a nurse during the day and attended classes in the evenings. In addition, Paulina experienced bullying at school due to her immigration status.
She endured many name-calling and bullying but also made a few close friends. One of her high school friends applied her makeup when she was fifteen to pursue a career in makeup artistry. The photos were submitted to Elite Modeling Agency, a Paris-based modelling agency. Paulina Porizkova’s photos were chosen, and she was invited to Paris to start her modelling career instead of the makeup gig. She accepted the offer and relocated to Paris because she had always wanted to leave her life in Sweden.
Her modelling career started in Paris in the early 1980s; she gained popularity fast and did photo shoots all over France. Her fame in the United States also suddenly skyrocketed in 1983 after she wore a swimsuit on the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine. She was once more highlighted in Sports Illustrated in 1984—this time on the cover—which helped her land more significant modelling assignments. The exterior and interior of New York Magazine’s July 1985 issue included Paulina Porizkova. She was featured on the covers of several of the world’s most well-known fashion and lifestyle publications in her early 20s, including Elle, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour.
She appeared on “Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes” talk show in the middle of the 1980s. Andy Warhol, the artist, interviewed celebrities and up-and-coming artists for the show. When Estee Lauder offered her a $6,000,000 contract, she became the highest-paid model in the world in 1988. She had replaced Willow Bay, the company’s well-known model. Received praise from critics, the black and white advertisement for Estee Lauder was shot visually beautifully. Until the mid-1990s, she continued serving as the magazine’s face.
By the middle of the 1990s, she had also undergone a significant image transformation, going from a bikini model to an elegant European socialite. She also signed a multi-million dollar contract with Escada, a German luxury designer clothing company for women. Paulina Porizkova was named the model of the 1980s by American Photo magazine and one of the top ten most beautiful women in the world by Harper’s Bazaar in the early 1990s. As a result, she became even more well-known, and by the middle of the 1990s, she was a supermodel. She also walked the ramps for numerous international fashion designers and appeared in print ads for well-known brands of fragrances, makeup accessories, and fashion and beauty products.
Since she started modelling, she has starred in commercials for numerous companies, including Chanel, Versace, Perry Ellis, Mikimoto, Ellen Tracy, Revlon, and Hermes. She has also made multiple runway appearances for Calvin Klein. She debuted as an actress in the mockumentary “Portfolio,” which was based on the modelling industry, in 1983. She debuted as a fully-fledged actor in the 1987 movie “Anna,” where she portrayed Krystyna in a supporting role. Her performance received criticism, although the film became a critical success. Her performance in the movie “Her Alibi” drew even more negative reviews.
She started receiving offers to participate in American television shows by the 2000s, and in 2008, she made her debut as a judge on the fourth season of the reality series “America’s Next Top Model.” For one season, she served as a judge on the show, taking Twiggy’s place as the beloved English fashion icon. She did not, however, make an appearance in the ensuing seasons. She gained notoriety in the US as a judge on the talent hunt program. In an interview with “The Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” she stated that the producers felt she had a “big ego” when questioned about the reasons behind her termination.
She added that another judge, Tyra Banks, was frequently late to the sets, which prompted her to voice concerns and, ultimately, resulted in her dismissal from the program. She was fired, but the show’s producers insisted it was for financial reasons. In the latter part of the 2000s, Paulina Porizkova made additional appearances in five episodes of the soap opera “As the World Turns” in a supporting role. She co-directed the 1993 film “Arizona Dream,” starring Johnny Depp, with renowned director Emir Kusturica. She portrayed her first significant role in the critically and commercially disastrous movie “Thursday” in 1998.
She has also made guest appearances in television shows like “Desperate Housewives,” “Head Case,” and “Jane by Design.” She has been blogging for magazines like Modelinia and The Huffington Post in addition to her acting and modelling roles. Her first book, “A Model Summer,” was released in 2007. It was partially inspired by her experiences as a teenage girl moving to Paris alone. She also co-authored the picture book “The Adventures of Ralphie the Roach” for young readers.
Net Worth
Swedish actress and model Paulina Porizkova has a $12 million fortune.
Cars
Paulina has a sizeable collection of high-end automobiles and luxury rides despite being cut off from Cars frontman Ric’s will, though specifics aren’t known now.
House
Paulina Porizkova had a fresh start by purchasing her New York City apartment in 2021. She returned to New York City and moved into her new apartment after selling the Gramercy Park Townhouse she shared with her late husband, Ric Ocasek, for three decades and after the legal battles with his estate.
Movies & TV Shows
She debuted in the film business with the 1987 picture “Anna” and went on to feature in other films, including “Dark Asylum,” “Arizona Dream,” and “Female Perversions.” Additionally, she is a candidate for the Golden Raspberry Award.
In her career as an actress and model, she has significantly advanced. Her outstanding performances have elicited positive reactions from the audience and her fans. During her career, she has also made appearances on television shows. Her initial TV appearance was on Saturday Night Live, and more recently, she appeared on “Beyond the Edge.”
Paulina is a published author of several books. She recently published a book on the subject of modelling titled “A Model Summer.”
