Famous Hollywood stars of Ukrainian descent
27 May 2024 13:30
Ukraine is rich in talented people who have made significant contributions to various spheres of life, including the film industry. Hollywood is no exception, where many famous stars have Ukrainian origins. Read "Komersant Ukrainian" article to find out what is known about the Ukrainian origin of famous actors.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis (Milena Markivna Kunis) was born on 14 August 1983 in Chernivtsi to a Jewish family. Her father, Mark, worked as a mechanical engineer at the Chernivtsi Legmash plant, and her mother, Elvira, was a physics teacher. In 1991, when Mila Kunis was about 7 years old, her family emigrated to Los Angeles, where Mila began her journey to Hollywood fame.
One of her most famous roles is as the ballerina Lily in the film Black Swan, for which she was awarded a Saturn Award and nominated for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress. In addition to acting, Kunis is active in the modelling business, collaborating with brands such as Christian Dior.
Mila Kunis often emphasises that she has Ukrainian roots and, together with her husband Ashton Kutcher, has been helping our country since the first days of the war in Ukraine.
Leonardo DiCaprio
One of the most famous Hollywood actors, Leonardo DiCaprio, is a native of Odesa. His grandmother, Olena Smirnova, used to live in the south of Ukraine, in the city of Odesa, but after the October Revolution, she moved to Germany, where she got married and changed her surname to Edenbirken.
The actor’s mother moved to the United States in 1955, where Leonardo himself was born. He has previously stated: “I have Ukrainian roots, namely Odesa. Moreover, I am almost half an Odessan”.
Milla Jovovich
Mila Jovovich (Militsa Bogdanovna Jovovich) was born on 17 December 1975 in Kyiv. Her father, Bohdan Jovovic, was a Serb of Ukrainian descent who moved to Kyiv from Montenegro to study at a medical institute, and her mother, Galina Loginova, was born in Russia and was a famous actress at the Dovzhenko Film Studio.
In 1981, when the girl was 5 years old, the Jovovich family moved from Ukraine, first to the United Kingdom and then to the United States. Due to her lack of knowledge of the language, her mother was unable to pursue her acting career in Hollywood, so she worked as a domestic worker for a director and also developed her daughter’s talents. Mila started her career as a model and later became a famous actress. She gained international fame for her roles in the films The Fifth Element and Resident Evil.
In 2014, during the Maidan events, she actively supported Ukrainians by raising funds for the victims. In her interviews, Mila expressed her solidarity with the Ukrainian people and expressed her willingness to help her country in any way she could.
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone, a prominent American actor, has Ukrainian roots. The actor’s maternal ancestors, Rosa and Charles Leibovich, left Odesa for the United States in the late 19th century. The family had a large business in Ukraine, including several weaving factories and residential buildings in the centre of Odesa.
Although Stallone’s family had close ties to Ukraine, the actor himself was never able to visit the country. His mother, however, travelled to Ukraine on numerous occasions, keeping in touch with her native land.
Stallone gained worldwide fame for his roles in the Rocky and Rambo film series.
Olga Kurylenko
Olga Kurylenko, also known as the Bond Girl, was born in Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region. At the age of 13, she moved to Moscow where she began her modelling career and signed a contract with a modelling agency at the age of 16.
She then moved to France, where she appeared on the covers of Glamour, ELLE, Madame Figaro, Marie Claire and Vogue.
In 1999, Kurylenko married French photographer Cédric van Mol and took French citizenship. Her film career includes roles in films of various genres, from Quantum of Solace, where she played the role of a James Bond girl, to the science fiction film Oblivion with Tom Cruise. She has also appeared in Marvel’s Seven Psychopaths and Black Widow.
David Duchovny
David Duchovny, a famous American actor, is one of the celebrities with Ukrainian roots. His paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. Duchovny’s photo is on display in the photo gallery of famous Americans of Ukrainian descent at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
For quite some time, David Duchovny considered himself a Russian, but in 2014, he announced on his Twitter page that he had come to understand his Ukrainian roots, stating: “I grew up thinking I was Russian, but only now I realised that I am actually Ukrainian. It’s never too late to change.”
Duchovny is known for his roles in the X-Files and Californication series.
Steven Spielberg
Legendary Hollywood director Steven Spielberg also has Ukrainian roots. His family, also known by the surname Spielberg, is from the Ukrainian city of Odesa. Spielberg’s paternal grandparents were born in Ukraine, but emigrated to the United States in the early twentieth century.
It is known that the Spielberg family maintained ties with Ukraine, and their relatives may still live in Moldavanka in Odesa. In 2006, Steven Spielberg visited Kyiv to present his film about the Holocaust. During this visit, he confessed: “I remember getting off the plane and saying: ‘I’m home’.”
The director, who is known for his work on Schindler’s List and Indiana Jones, has repeatedly admitted that he loves Ukraine. He also shared that his family often cooked borsch.
Winona Ryder
Actress Winona Ryder is also one of the stars with Ukrainian roots. Her parents, Cynthia and Michael Horowitz, are descendants of Jewish immigrants from Kharkiv and Romania. Winona’s ancestors emigrated to the United States to escape Jewish persecution.
Winona Ryder has admitted that she dreams of making a film about the Second World War and the lives of her Ukrainian relatives, paying homage to their history and culture.
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler, a well-known actress, has multinational roots, including Ukrainian. Her paternal grandfather came from Ukraine. Her father, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, spoke about these Ukrainian roots.
Liv Tyler’s mother, American singer and former model Bebe Buell, gave birth to a daughter from musician Steven Tyler. She named the girl after the Norwegian actress Liv Ullman. Liv Tyler is proud of her Ukrainian heritage, which is part of her rich cultural heritage.
Dustin Hoffman
The two-time Academy Award-winning American actor, director and producer Dustin Hoffman is also of Ukrainian descent. His ancestors were Jewish immigrants from Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region. Hoffman did not learn about his Ukrainian ancestry until he was 78 years old.
Hoffman’s grandparents, Ashkenazi Jews Esther Cherkowska and Frank Heichman, emigrated to the United States before the Revolution. When the Civil War and Jewish pogroms broke out, Frank returned to Ukraine to pick up his parents, Samuel and Liba. Unfortunately, this story ended tragically: in 1921, Frank and his father were arrested and later shot by the Chekists.
According to Hoffman, this topic was a taboo in his family, and it was only at the age of 78 that he learned about his family history. His father hid it to protect his children and wife from the horrific events of the past.
Vira and Taisiia Farmiga
Famous actresses of Ukrainian descent, Vira and Taisiia Farmiga, were born to Ukrainian immigrants Mykhailo and Liudmyla. Vira, the older sister, has gained wide popularity for her talent and numerous film roles, while her younger sister, Taisiia, has also achieved success in her acting career.
Both sisters are fluent in Ukrainian. Vira spoke only Ukrainian until she was six years old, and her parents always taught the girls about Ukrainian traditions and customs. When a full-scale war broke out in Ukraine, Vira and Taisiia actively supported Ukrainians. Vera often speaks out about the Russian invasion and calls for help for her native country, emphasising her deep affection for the Ukrainian people and culture.
Most of these celebrities frequently mention their Ukrainian roots, maintain a connection with our culture and history, and help Ukraine in every way possible after the full-scale invasion of Russia. Such a large number of stars of Ukrainian descent proves that Ukrainians are a very talented nation, and the latest achievements of Hollywood celebrities among them give us additional reasons to be proud.
Author: Olya Yushko
