Hugh Bonneville of Paddington thanks President Zelensky of Ukraine for the International Version

"Until today, I had no idea who provided @paddingtonbear's voice in Ukraine," the Downton Abbey alum wrote via Tweet on Sunday February 27. "Speaking for myself," President Zelenskiy said. Studio Canal, the film's production house, confirmed that Zelensky (44), voiced the beloved bear in both 2014's Paddington as well as its 2017 sequel.

Although it might seem odd that a world leader would voice a marmalade-loving bear for a children's movie about him, Zelensky was a successful actor and comedian before he won the 2019 presidential election. The statesman, who earned a law degree in 2003, went on to pursue a career as a showbiz producer, founding Kvartal 95 in 2003. Zelensky's eventual career as a politician was foreshadowed in 2015. He starred and produced the satirical TV series Servant of the People in which he played a high school history teacher who becomes the unorthodox president of Ukraine.

He cofounded the Servant of the People party in March 2018. In December 2018, Zelensky led an unsuccessful campaign to unseat Petro Poroshenko, the former president. In May 2019, he was inaugurated.

Bonneville is not the only one to support Zelensky after Russia invaded Ukraine. "The president of Ukraine is a comic. "He was a comic performer and we should be respectful of that about him," Brian Cox said while the Succession cast received the best ensemble award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Sunday, February 27.

Michael Keaton won for his performance as Zelensky in Dopesick. He also took the time to support Zelensky at SAG Awards by saying, "We have a fellow actor, Zelensky who deserves some credit for fighting for the fight."

On Thursday, February 24, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Dancing With the Stars alumni Maksim Chrmerkovskiy gave his fans a glimpse at the situation in his country. In an Instagram video that was filmed in Kyiv, the 42-year-old dancer said, "Everyone was hoping the finality would be avoided." "Honestly, it's getting very emotional. It has been difficult. You know me well, I am strong. Although I don't want to show it, I do want to return home.

Chmerkovskiy later confirmed that was in "a very secure place," before speaking out about the emotional toll of being witness to the attacks. This is a war. This is an insane situation. "It's crazy and I'm losing all my last little things," World of Dance host, said the host via his Instagram Story. This is not a cry to help. I'm a big boy. I can manage myself... but I'm finding it difficult to keep my head above water.