Lead Children trailer from Netflix

Lead Children continues to captivate viewers worldwide since arriving on Netflix and has drawn parallels to HBO’s Chernobyl.

The six-part drama chronicles the harrowing true story of paediatrician Jolanta Wadowska-Król (portrayed by Joanna Kulig) and her tireless battle to rescue thousands of children after uncovering that their “mysterious illnesses” are connected to a neighbouring smelter, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Set in 1970s Silesia, Poland, Wadowska-Król challenges the communist government, which attempts to suppress the scandal, and puts everything on the line to expose the truth. Numerous viewers are keen to learn more about the real person behind Wadowska-Król and what happened to her.

Here’s everything you need to know about where she is now.

Where is Jolanta Wadowska-Krol now?

The real Jolanta Wadowska-Król tragically passed away on June 18, 2023, aged 83, in Katowice; nevertheless, her legacy endures. In her homeland of Poland, Wadowska-Król is a hugely celebrated historical figure for her efforts to protect children from lead poisoning in Silesia.

She was also recognised as ‘Our Lady of Szopienice’ or ‘the Silesian Erin Brockovich’ for her unwavering commitment.

As Netflix’s Lead Children portrays, Wadowska-Król initiated investigations into lead exposure affecting children residing near a smelting facility, which resulted in homes nearest to the factory’s chimneys being demolished and families resettled. Consequently, this brought about a significant improvement in the local community’s wellbeing as well as benefiting the environment.

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Jolanta Wadowska-Krol faced opposition from the communist regime as she sought to expose the health scandal(Image: NETFLIX)

The University of Silesia bestowed an honorary doctorate upon her in 2021 and screened a short documentary entitled The Mystery of the Szopienice Children Poisoning, which highlighted her achievements. This recognition followed years after her thesis had been suppressed during the communist period in an act of censorship.

Despite retiring in 2011, Wadowska-Król remained active in social initiatives and academic circles. She championed fellow academic Professor Lucyna Sadzikowska, who leads the newly founded Jolanta Wadowska-Król Centre for Post-Industrial Environment Research at the University of Silesia.

According to the university’s website, the centre aims to “strengthen the research, scientific, organisational, and teaching potential of the University of Silesia in initiating and implementing scientific projects and tasks”.

Lead Children isn’t the first production to celebrate her legacy. Wadowska-Król’s contributions have also been commemorated in the music and dance performance Our Lady of Szopienice, the radio play The Canary Dies First, the documentary The Mystery of the Poisoning of the Szopienice Children, and the film Our Lady of Szopienice.

There’s even a mural in Katowice paying tribute to her.

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Jolanta Wadowska-Krol’s legacy has been honoured in Netflix’s Lead Children(Image: NETFLIX)

Where was Lead Children filmed?

The programme is set during the 1970s in Silesia, a historic region of Central Europe situated predominantly in Poland with smaller portions in present-day Czech Republic and Germany. The territory is extensively industrialised, abundant in minerals and natural resources.

Lead Children was filmed across numerous Polish locations, including Katowice, Ruda Śląska, Świętochłowice, Zabrze, Gliwice, Bytom and Warsaw.

The programme was chiefly shot throughout various sites in Poland’s Silesian Voivodeship province, lending genuine authenticity to the factual drama.

Katowice is a southern Polish city within the Silesian Voivodeship province. Founded by industrialist Friedrich Grundman during the mid-19th century, its architecture bears resemblance to cities like Berlin.

Ruda Śląska is another South Polish city positioned within the Silesian Highlands. Following the conclusion of German occupation in 1945, the region fell under Soviet-backed communist control, which remained until the 1980s.

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Netflix’s Lead Children was primarily filmed in various locations across Silesia in Poland(Image: NETFLIX)

Świętochłowice sits near Katowice and boasts attractions including the Silesian Uprisings Museum, former mine and steelwork headquarters, and Saint Augustine church. The city’s industrial architecture makes it ideally suited for period drama.

Zabrze also neighbours Katowice, and similarly to other filming sites showcases striking industrial architecture perfectly suited to Lead Children’s historical setting.

Another location is Gliwice, an Upper Silesian city representing a crucial industrial hub for Poland. Gliwice has transitioned from steelworks and coal extraction towards the automotive sector and machinery production.

The crew also utilised the historic city of Bytom in the Silesian Voivodeship for filming, a location steeped in a history of steel mills and coal mines.

Lastly, Poland’s capital Warsaw was another filming spot. As the country’s largest city, it boasts an array of impressive and diverse architecture.

Among its top attractions are the Old Town Market Square, the Holy Cross Church, Grand Theatre, Royal Castle, Wilanów Palace, and Łazienki Park.

Lead Children is streaming on Netflix now