Popri zamestnaní hrával v ochotníckom divadle v Banskej Bystrici. V úlohe Jánošíka, kde sa naplno uplatnila jeho takmer dvojmetrová postava, športové založenie a charizma, ho objavil Karel Plicka a odporučil režisérovi Martinovi Fričovi do titulnej úlohy filmu Jánošík (1935). Táto rola mu priniesla slávu i angažmán v SND, kde pôsobil v rokoch 1939 – 1942. Do roku 1945 pracoval ako režisér krátkych filmov, počas SNP nakrútil dokumentárne zábery z povstaleckých bojov, z ktorých roku 1945 vznikol dokument Za slobodu. Po roku 1945 sa stal režisérom celovečerných hraných filmov (napr. Štyridsaťštyri, Kapitán Dabač, Jánošík, Majster kat). Za film Varúj! Získal Národnú cenu. V roku 1955 mu bol udelený titul zaslúžilý umelec a v roku 1968 národný umelec. V Banskej Bystrici po ňom pomenovali amfiteáter
In his spare time after work Paľo Bielik acted in an amateur theatre company in Banská Bystrica. Playing the role of Jánošík, suited him well since he was almost two meters tall, athletic and charismatic, he was discovered by Karel Plicka who recommended the actor to Martin Frič as the lead for his film Jánošík (1935). Bielik rose to fame after the film was screened and was invited to perform at the Slovak National Theatre from 1939 to 1942. He directed short films until 1945 and filmed the fighting during the Slovak National Uprising. In 1945, he used this material to make a documentary titled Za slobodu (For the Freedom). After 1945, he directed feature films, such as Štyridsaťštyri (Forty-four), Kapitán Dabač (Captain Dabač), Jánošík, Majster kat (Master Executioner). He was awarded the National Prize for his film Varúj! (Beware!) and received the titles of Artist of Merit in 1955 and National Artist in 1968. The open-air cinema in Banská Bystrica is named after him.
Autor textu: PaedDr. Jana Borguľová
