Hollywood star: Ben Stiller in Ukraine: “Zelenskyj does an incredible job”

US film star Ben Stiller said he was impressed by the Ukrainian president after his visit to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“He’s doing an incredible job in a very difficult situation,” said the 56-year-old in an interview with the German Press Agency. As a special ambassador for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, Stiller greeted the president at the reception on Monday with the words “You are my hero”.

When Selenskyj became president in 2019, Stiller already knew him from the Ukrainian television series “Servants of the People”, in which Selenskyj takes on the role of a teacher who suddenly becomes President of Ukraine. “It’s quite interesting that he created a series where he plays someone who becomes president – and then actually became president in real life,” Stiller said.

The actor (“Night at the Museum”) visited many victims of the war in Poland and Ukraine this week, most recently in the Kiev suburb of Irpin, which was badly destroyed by Russian troops. “The situation is difficult to understand before you see it with your own eyes,” said Stiller. He also visited a couple whose house was destroyed by a rocket. “They still live there, it’s their only home, they built the house themselves. Of course, when I hear their stories, I also think of my own family – it’s impossible not to put yourself in their shoes.”

Despite his humanitarian commitment, Stiller cannot imagine taking a position similar to that of Zelensky. «No, not with this huge responsibility. I enjoy what I do – directing and acting, telling stories. I am very impressed how he shoulders this responsibility. These are really tough jobs. No, I don’t long for such a task.”