The How I Fell in Love with a Gangster cast features Tomasz Wlosok, Aleks Kurdzielewicz and Antoni Królikowski. This info article contains minor spoilers and character details for Maciej Kawulski’s 2022 Netflix movie. Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast section.

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster chronicles the life story of Polish criminal Nikos Skotarczak. The narrative begins during the 70s as the subject scams tourists in Hungary and runs a stolen car operation in Germany. By the 80s and 90s, Nikos attempts to maintain control in the criminal underworld while dealing with personal setbacks. Here’s every main performer and character in How I Fell in Love with a Gangster, otherwise known as Jak pokochalam gangstera.

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Heartstopper’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Tomasz Wlosok as Nikos Skotarczak

Character Profile: An infamous Polish criminal. He develops a following in 1970s Budapest and later runs his operation from Germany. Nikos trusts his inner circle and strategizes against Europeans authorities throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Wlosok’s Resume: Tomek Wójcik aka “Rudy” in Raven (2018-21), Walden in Jak zostalem gangsterem. Historia prawdziwa (2019), Kuba in Corpus Christi (2019), Tadek in Operation Hyacinth (2021), Robert Jaroszynski in Songs About Love (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Russian Doll’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Antoni Królikowski as Komo

Character Profile: Nikos’ long-time best friend. He assists with operations in Hungary and Germany. Komo loses power when a new right-hand man emerges.

Królikowski’s Resume: Zielu in 39 i pól (2008-09), Kacper Kaleta in Diagnoza (2017-19), Daniel Sniezek in Petla (2020) Pawel in Bad Boy (2020), Sebastian Krasinski in Mecenas Porada (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Taming of the Shrewd’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Agnieszka Grochowska as Milena aka Jet

Character Profile: Nikos’ first sexual partner. She re-emerges in Budapest and becomes a loyal companion for the primary subject. Milena has a complicated relationship with Nikos but values his legacy.

Grochowska’s Resume: Basia in Obce niebo (2015), Maria in Upperdog (2009), Nina in Beyond the Steppes (2010), Nina Andreyeva in Child 44 (2015), Grazyna Popiel in Leave No Traces (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Choose or Die’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Magdalena Lamparska as Halina Ostrowska

Character Profile: Nikos’ second wife. She is the sister of a gangster. Halina divorces Nikos because of trust issues but maintains a friendship with him.

Lamparska’s Resume: Marta in 39 I pól (2008-09), Wanda Englert in The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017), Olga in 365 Days (2020), Magda in Banksters (2020), Alicja Szumil in W rytmie serca (2020)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Krystyna Janda as Rita

Character Profile: The narrator of the film. She reflects about Nikos’ life while speaking with a journalist. Rita’s true identity is revealed in the final act.

Janda’s Resume: Antonina “Tonia” Dziwisz in Interrogation (1989), Agata in Pestka (1995), Jadwiga in A Few People, a Little Time (2005), Irena Jankowska in The Reverse (2009), Ineza Klin in Królestwo kobiet (2020)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Outer Range’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Klaudiusz Kaufmann as Karl

Character Profile: A German police officer who gets scammed by Nikos in 1970s Budapest. He tries to take down the Polish criminal for several decades. Karl becomes obsessed with his work.

Kaufmann’s Resume: Stasio Walczak in Dziki (2004), Jerzy Walczak in Dziki 2: Pojedynek (2005), Janusz in Verliebt in Masuren (2018), Colonel in My Name Is Sara (2019), Czech Spy Benesz in The Crown of the Kings (2019)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Furioza’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Eryk Lubos as Inkblot

Character Profile: Nikos’s street mentor in the early 70s. He urges his protege to avoid trouble. Inkblot learns that Nikos ignored all of his advice.

Lubos’ Resume: Indor in The Offsiders (2008), Igor in My Flesh My Blood (2009), Eryk in To Kill a Beaver (2012), Krzysztof in The Girl from the Wardrobe (2012), Cezanne in Brigitte Bardot Forever (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘All the Old Knives’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Sebastian Fabijanski as Silvio

Character Profile: Nikos’s right-hand man during the mid 80s. He spends time in an Italian jail and later applies mafia concepts to his work. Silvia is fiercely loyal to Nikos but struggles with a drug problem.

Fabijanski’s Resume: Wojciech Marzec in Jeziorak (2014), Maciek Zajda in Strazacy (2025), Patryk in Pakt (2015-16), Michal Holender in Ultraviolet (2017-19), Jezus in Other People (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Dirty Lines’

How I Fell in Love with a Gangster Cast: Julia Wieniawa-Narkiewicz as Nikita

Character Profile: Nikos’ long-time Polish girlfriend during the 80s and 90s. She is a promiscuous woman and a drug addict. Nikita values Nikos’ power.

Wieniawa-Narkiewicz’s Resume: Sandra aka Futro in Kobiety mafii (2018), Zosia Wolska in Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight (2020), FitAneta in The Hater (2020), Anastazja in All My Friends Are Dead (2020), Ola in Small World (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Dancing on Glass’

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The How I Fell in Love with a Gangster cast also includes Aleks Kurdzielewicz (feature debut), Mikolaj Kubacki (Clergy, The King of Warsaw), Dawid Ogrodnik (Ida, Silent Night), Karol Bernacki (The Border, Open Your Eyes) and Janusz Chabior (The Londoners, Komisarz Alex).

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor and chief film critic.