‘Schindler’s List’ “Red Coat Girl” Traumatized by Movie

Polish actress, Oliwia Dabrowska, was only 3 years old when she appeared in Steven Spielberg’s landmark 1993 Holocaust drama, ‘Schindler’s List’. Best known as the “red coat girl”, Dabrowska made one promise to her beloved director: she would not watch the film until she turned 18. When she broke her promise, she was left forever traumatized.

Dabrowska managed to wait until she was 11 years old- still far too long to watch such an emotional, heavy, and disturbing picture.

“It was too horrible. I could not understand much, but I was sure that I didn't want to watch ever again in my life," Dabrowska shared.

"I was ashamed of being in the movie and really angry with my mother and father when they told anyone about my part," she said.

The young actress “really regretted” ignoring Spielberg’s advice to “grow up into the film”. Luckily, when she watched the movie again after turning 18, she realized she “had been part of something I could be proud of".

For those unfamiliar with ‘Schindler’s List’, the “red coat girl” is a young child wearing a bright red coat in an otherwise black and white film. She is first seen walking through the city streets amongst German soldiers that are committing unspeakable acts against the civilian population, delivering them to the Krakow ghetto. The same girl is later seen in a pile of bodies on a cart.