At doITinPoland, we typically focus on news from the Polish IT sector, but today, we’re stepping outside our usual domain to highlight a story that bridges history, culture, and personal identity.

American actor, director, and screenwriter Jesse Eisenberg has been granted Polish citizenship by President Andrzej Duda. The official ceremony took place at Poland’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations in New York.

This event marks not only a formal recognition of Eisenberg’s Polish roots but also a deeply personal journey of reconnection with his heritage.

A Real Pain – A Cinematic Tribute to Family History

Eisenberg, best known for his role as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network (2010), recently wrote, directed, and starred in A Real Pain, a film about two cousins traveling to Poland to honor their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. The film was inspired by Eisenberg’s great aunt, who fled Poland for the U.S. in 1938, while other family members perished in the Holocaust. The screenplay earned Eisenberg an Oscar nomination, while his co-star Kieran Culkin won the award for Best Supporting Actor.

A Personal and Historical Reconnection

During the ceremony, Jesse Eisenberg spoke about his deepening connection to Poland and the history of his family. He shared how, while filming A Real Pain in Poland, he gradually became more comfortable in the country and realized that his ancestors had lived there for far longer than his family had been in New York. This awareness brought a sense of both belonging and sorrow, as he reflected on the tragic fate of those who remained in Poland during World War II.

He expressed that the loss of his family’s connection to Poland had always saddened him, reinforcing his desire to rebuild that bond. Receiving Polish citizenship, he said, was not only a personal milestone but also a symbolic step toward reestablishing ties with his heritage on behalf of his entire family.

“I am delighted that people from across the ocean acknowledge their heritage, recognize that their ancestors hail from the Republic [of Poland], and seek to forge a connection with our country,” said President Duda, as quoted by his office.

Poland as a Bridge Between Tradition and Innovation

The actor first revealed his intention to apply for Polish citizenship in May last year at the Impact’24 conference in Poznań. He shared that his family originates from Lublin and Krasnystaw, while his wife Anna Strout’s ancestors were from Łódź. In an interview with Dzień Dobry TVN, Eisenberg emphasized how important it was for him that his wife and son could spend more time with him in Poland. He also confirmed that he had already obtained a Polish PESEL number.

“Poland is a fascinating country, combining history with modernity. You can see it in Warsaw, one of the world’s most important cities, which is vibrant, thriving, and modern. At the same time, I am in awe of the many towns and villages, like my family’s Krasnystaw, which are centuries old. This contrast between long-standing traditions and contemporary life is particularly surprising to me as an American,” Eisenberg told Tomasz-Marcin Wrona in an interview for tvn24.pl.

Main Photo Source: Prezydent.pl | Amerykański aktor z polskim obywatelstwem | Marek Borawski/KPKR