Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Previously Voiced Paddington Bear, Won ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a key figure in international news. But before he became president, Zelensky was an actor and comedian. One of his standout roles? Voicing everyone’s favorite marmalade-loving bear, Paddington, in the Ukraine versions of both Paddington and Paddington 2.

Over the weekend, Paddington actor Hugh Bonneville — who plays Paddington’s stepfather, Henry Brown — drew attention to the little-known aspect of Zelensky’s career on Twitter.

“Until today I had no idea who provided the voice of @paddingtonbear in Ukraine,” Bonneville tweeted alongside a video of Zelensky recoding his lines. “Speaking for myself, thank you, President Zelensky.”

The Paddington franchise’s producers at StudioCanal also confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. It just goes to show that all world leaders should heed Paddington’s advice: “If we’re kind and polite, the world will be right.”

Before becoming president, Zelensky also played one on TV! In Ukraine, he’s well-known for the series Servant of the People, in which he plays a schoolteacher who inadvertently becomes the leader of Ukraine after a video of him ranting against corruption goes viral. Oh, and he won the country’s version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006.

In Hollywood, actors Brian Cox and Michael Keaton paid tribute to Zelensky’s political efforts during Sunday’s SAG Awards.

“We have a fellow actor in Zelensky, who deserves some credit for fighting the fight,” Keaton said during the ceremony. Paddington would be proud.

Where to watch Paddington

Where to watch Paddington 2