Mila Kunis is a Ukrainian-American actress who is fluent in both English and Russian. She was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, in 1983, and her family moved to the United States when she was seven years old.
There are a few reasons why Kunis speaks Russian. First, she is a native Russian speaker. She was born and raised in Ukraine, where Russian is the primary language spoken.
Second, Kunis’s parents continued to speak Russian with her and her brother after they moved to the United States. They wanted their children to stay connected to their Ukrainian heritage.
Third, Kunis has worked on several films and TV shows that required her to speak Russian. For example, she starred in the Russian film Black Swan and the American TV show The Spy Who Dumped Me.
The Specific Reasons Why Does Mila Kunis Speak Russian
Mila Kunis speaks Russian because it’s her native language. Here’s a breakdown of the reasons:
Born and Raised in Ukraine: Kunis was born in Chernivtsi, Ukrainian SSR (present-day Ukraine) in 1983. At that time, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, where Russian was the primary language spoken and taught in schools.
Family Background: Kunis’ family spoke Russian at home. Her parents are Jewish Ukrainians who raised her with their cultural heritage, including the Russian language.
Early Life and Education: Kunis spent the first seven years of her life in Ukraine, where she learned Russian as her first language. Even after immigrating to the United States with her family in 1991, she continued to speak Russian at home and maintain her connection to the language.
Maintaining Fluency: Kunis has consistently spoken and used Russian throughout her life, even after becoming a successful actress in Hollywood. This helps her maintain fluency and allows her to connect with her family and cultural roots.
Professional Opportunities: Speaking Russian has opened up professional opportunities for Kunis. She has voiced characters in Russian-language films and been interviewed in Russian media. Her fluency also allows her to connect with fans and audiences in Russia and other Russian-speaking countries.
Cultural Connection: Kunis has spoken about the importance of language in maintaining cultural identity. Speaking Russian allows her to stay connected to her Ukrainian heritage and cultural background.
How Well Does Mila Kunis Speak Russian?
Mila Kunis was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, to a Jewish family. Her mother, Elvira, is a physics teacher who runs a pharmacy, and her father, Mark Kunis, is a mechanical engineer. Kunis has an older brother named Michael.
When she was seven years old, her family moved from Soviet Union to Los Angeles because of anti-semitism in the former country. Mila began attending acting classes with her parents’ approval at age nine after school had ended for the day. She soon landed an agent and started appearing in commercials for Barbie and other products.
In 1991, at the age of 14 years old), Mila starred on That ’70s Show as Jackie Burkhart; the show ran for eight seasons from 1998–2006.
Since Jackie Burkhart was such a main character on “That ’70s Show”, many people are curious about how well Mila Kunis actually speaks Russian since she is originally from Chernivtsi, Ukraine which used to be part of the Soviet Union. The answer?
Pretty darn well! In fact, Mila Kunis is bilingual and can speak both Russian and English fluently. Who knew?!
Many fans were surprised to find out that she could speak Russian so well since she grew up in America and starred on an American sitcom but it just goes to show that you can never judge someone by their appearance or where they come from – everyone has hidden talents!
Is Mila Really Ukrainian?
Mila Kunis was born in Chernivtsi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. Her mother, Elvira, is a physics teacher who runs a pharmacy, and her father, Mark Kunis, is a mechanical engineer who works as a cab driver. Kunis has an older brother named Michael.
She stated in 2011 that her parents had “amazing jobs”, and that she “was very lucky” to have been able to grow up in the Jewish religion with such “a strong education”. When asked about her heritage, Kunis said: “I’m Jewish… I know it all stems from Russia and Ukraine… As far as the culture goes—I grew up Jewish Orthodox—that’s not something that you change no matter where you go.” However, because of the 1991 collapse of communism in the Soviet Union which resulted in religious freedom for Jews living there (prior to this they were not allowed to practice their religion openly), Kunis’ family moved to Los Angeles when she was seven years old.
In Los Angeles she attended Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle School and then attended Fairfax High School.
So while Mila Kunis may technically be Ukrainian by birth, she was raised in the United States from a young age and identifies more with American culture than Ukrainian culture.
Does Mila Speak Russian to Her Kids?
Yes, Mila Kunis does speak Russian to her children, Wyatt Isabelle and Dimitri Portwood, whom she shares with her husband Ashton Kutcher.
Kunis has spoken about the importance of her heritage to her and wanting to pass it on to her children. She even admitted that her kids understood Russian before they did English!
“My parents and I speak Russian to each other, so (my kids have) grown up with that,” Kunis said in an interview with CNN. “They’ve naturally found pride in being half Ukrainian.”
Kunis’ efforts to raise her children bilingually seem to be paying off. In a 2020 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, she revealed that her daughter, Wyatt, was already fluent in Russian.
“My daughter speaks better Russian than I do English sometimes,” Kunis said. “It’s, like, embarrassing.”
It’s clear that Kunis is proud of her heritage and wants to make sure her children are too. By speaking Russian to them, she is helping them to connect with their roots and learn about their family’s history and culture.
Why Doesn’t Mila Kunis Speak Ukrainian?
While Mila Kunis was born in Ukraine and her family spoke Russian at home, there are several reasons why she doesn’t speak Ukrainian fluently:
Primary Language in Soviet Ukraine: During Kunis’ early life in Ukraine (until she was 7), Russian was the dominant language used in public spaces, media, and education within the Soviet Union. Ukrainian, while recognized as an official language, held less prominence in daily life.
Family Language: Kunis’ family primarily spoke Russian at home, contributing to her learning and using it more than Ukrainian.
Age of Immigration: She immigrated to the United States at a young age (7 years old), before fully acquiring Ukrainian language skills. After moving, English became her primary language of communication and education.
Limited Exposure: Growing up in the US, she had less exposure to the Ukrainian language compared to Russian, hindering her fluency development.
Focus on English Career: Pursuing an acting career in Hollywood primarily required English proficiency, further solidifying its dominance in her life.
Conclusion
Mila Kunis speaks Russian for a number of reasons. She was born in Ukraine, her parents are both Russian speakers, and she has worked on several films and TV shows that were filmed in Russia or Ukraine. She also enjoys speaking Russian because she believes it is a beautiful and expressive language.
Kunis’s fluency in Russian has allowed her to connect with her Russian heritage, to work on films and TV shows in Russia and Ukraine, and to communicate with Russian speakers around the world. She is an inspiration to many people, and her story is a reminder of the power of language and culture.
You May Also Like:
