Renata Pałys (née Wilkowska; born 12 October 1956) is a stage and television and actress, and theater director. She is best known for her role as Helena Paździochowa, one of the main characters in the sitcom television series The Lousy World (1999–2022).

Renata Pałys (née Wilkowska) was born on 12 October 1956 in Wrocław, Poland, where she grew up. Her parents were artist Henryk Wilkowski and Mira Wilkowska. In 1980, she graduated from the Wrocław Faculty of Puppetry of the National Academy of Theatre.^[1][2]

She performed in the Cyprian Kamil Norwid Theatre in Jelenia Góra from 1980 to 1981, the Wrocław Modern Theatre in 1981, the Wrocław Pantomime Theatre from 1982 to 1987, and the Kalambur Theatre in Wrocław from 1987 to 1989.^[2] From 1993 to 1993 she wrote for the cultural section of the Wrocław-based edition of news magazine Gazeta Wyborcza.^[3]

She appeared for the first time in a feature film in 1977 Indeks as an extra. Since then she had numerous backgrounds film roles between 1977 and 1996.^[2] From 1999 to 2021 she portrayed Helena Paździochowa, one of the main characters in a sitcom television series The Lousy World.^[1][2] She also directed one episode, and together with Adek Drabiński co-directed another four. She also had numerous smaller roles in television series such as in Adam i Ewa (2001), Samo życie (2003), Na Wspólnej (2004), First Love (2005, 2009, 2011), Crime Wave (2006), Family.pl (2013), and Policemen (2021).^[2]

From 2008 to 2013 she wad manager of the rock band All Sounds Allowed.^[4] From 2009 to 2012 she thought acting, and in 2015, she has founded the Wreszcie charity foundation, which supports actors over the age of 55. She is also theatre play director.^[5]

On 27 March 2022, the mayor of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, has honoured her work and artistic accomplishments with the Super Diamond award.^[5]

In 1982 she married Krzysztof Pałys, with whom, she has a son.^[1]