Hollywood Stars Who Speak Polish

Did you know that among the glitz and glamour the American film industry, there are a surprising number of stars with deep roots in Poland – some of whom even speak the language? Poland has a rich history of emigration, and its diaspora has contributed immensely to arts, science, and culture worldwide. Hollywood is no exception! While many actors have Polish heritage, a select few have actively maintained a connection to their roots through language. This is a short list of notable Hollywood actors and actresses with Polish descent.

John Krasinski

John Burke Krasinski (born October 20, 1979) is an American actor and filmmaker. He born in the Boston suburb of Newton, Massachusetts, his mother is of Irish ancestry, and his father is of Polish descent. He is best known for his role as Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office (2005–2013), where he was also a producer and occasional director. He directed, co-wrote and co-starred in the 2018 horror film A Quiet Place, for which Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Danny Pudi

American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director. Best known for the role of Abed in the television series Community. He was born in Chicago in 1979, his mother Theresa is Polish, father Abraham was from India. Danny is fluent in Polish, he grew up speaking Polish with his mother and grandma.

Paul Wesley

His real name is Paweł Wasilewski – is an American actor and director born in New Jersey to Polish parents Tomasz and Agnieszka Wasilewski. Best known for the role of Stefan Salvatore in the drama series The Vampire Diaries. Paul speaks fluent Polish, and learned it not only from his parents but also by visiting Poland often until the age of 16. 

Yvonne Strahanovski

Real name Yvonne Jaqueline Strzechowski is an Australian actress of Polish origin. Her parents, Bożena and Tomasz, emigrated to Australia from Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Yvonne was born in Sydney and speaks excellent Polish. She played in many movies and series including the American series Chuck and Dexter.

Jesse Eisenberg

Curly haired and with a fast-talking voice, Jesse Eisenberg is a movie actor, known for his Academy Award nominated role as Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film The Social Network. He directed the movie “A Real Pain” mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. He also granted Polish citizenship due to his family root.

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These are just the ones we’ve listed here with videos, there also many other American celebrities with Polish roots -even though some of them debatable- such as Angelina Jolie, Nick Adams, Jon Bon Jovi, Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Charles Bronson, Natalie Portman, Steve Carell, Jennifer Connelly, Jesse Eisenberg, Scarlett Johansson, Sasha Grey and many more… Do have anyone in your mind to add to the list?

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You can have a look at the lists of Hollywood stars of Polish descent on the IMDb website and Wikipedia page