Mila Kunis is Hollywood's most famous Ukrainian actor. At the Oscars, she had a moment to speak about Ukraine—though she didn't mention the country by name—while introducing "Somehow You Do," performed by Reba from Four Good Days. After Reba performed, there was a moment of silence for Ukraine.
"Recent global events have left many events feeling gutted," Kunis said in her introduction. "Yet when you witness the strength and dignity of those facing such devastation, it's impossibly not to be moved."
The screen after Reba's performance readL "We'd like to have a moment of silence to show our support for the people of Ukraine currently facing invasion, conflict and prejudice within their own borders."
Born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, in 1991, Kunis fled Ukraine with her family when she was 7 years old. Her Jewish family left the Soviet Union, arriving in the U.S. on a religious refugee visa. She had no clue about the antisemitism her family dealt with, explaining to Glamour, "My parents went through hell and back. They came to America with suitcases and a family of seven and $250, and that’s it."
She later started acting classes to learn English, was cast at age 14 on That ‘70s Show, and, well, the rest is history.
Earlier this month, Kunis and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, launched a fundraiser to help those fleeing from the current conflict in her native Ukraine, and have raised over $35 million as of this writing.
"The people of Ukraine are strong and brave," Kunis said, "but just being strong and brave doesn't mean you're not worthy of support."
In a video posted to Kutcher's Instagram announcing their "Stand With Ukraine" GoFundMe, Kunis shares, "I came to America in 1991 and I have always considered myself an American. A proud American. I love everything that this country has done for myself and my family. But today, I have never been more proud to be a Ukrainian."
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the celebrity couple for their support, sharing a photo of a Zoom call with them on his Twitter feed. He wrote that Kutcher and Kunis "were among the first to respond to our grief... Grateful for their support. Impressed by their determination. They inspire the world. #StandWithUkraine”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
