5 Surprising Facts About Mila Kunis's Nationality, Heritage, And $37 Million Ukrainian Activism

Mila Kunis is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces, but the answer to the question of her nationality is far more complex and layered than a simple single country name. As of late 2025, she is a proud American citizen, yet her life story is inextricably linked to the geopolitical history of Eastern Europe, providing a fascinating narrative of immigration, cultural identity, and modern-day activism.

The actress, known for her roles in *That '70s Show* and *Black Swan*, was not born in the United States. Her journey from a small city in the Soviet Union to becoming a major American star is a compelling tale of a family seeking religious freedom and a better life, a story that has gained renewed relevance due to her recent, high-profile efforts to support her homeland.

Mila Kunis: A Complete Biography and Profile

Milena Markovna Kunis, universally known as Mila Kunis, has established a powerful career spanning television and film, but her roots are foundational to her public identity.

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• Full Name: Milena Markovna Kunis
• Date of Birth: August 14, 1983
• Place of Birth: Chernivtsi, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR (now Ukraine)
• Current Nationality: American (Naturalized Citizen)
• Ethnicity/Heritage: Ashkenazi Jewish (Ukrainian-Jewish descent)
• Parents: Mark Kunis (Father, Mechanical Engineer) and Elvira Kunis (Mother, Physics Teacher/Pharmacist)
• Sibling: Michael Kunis (Older Brother)
• Spouse: Ashton Kutcher (Married 2015)
• Children: Two (Daughter Wyatt Isabelle and Son Dimitri Portwood)
• Immigration to US: 1991, settled in Los Angeles, California, on a religious refugee visa.
• Breakthrough Role: Jackie Burkhart on *That '70s Show* (1998)
• Major Film Roles: *Forgetting Sarah Marshall* (2008), *Black Swan* (2010), *Ted* (2012), *Bad Moms* (2016)
• Voice Role: Meg Griffin on the animated series *Family Guy* (since 1999)

The Definitive Answer: Is Mila Kunis Ukrainian or American?

The most accurate way to describe Mila Kunis's nationality is that she is an American actress of Ukrainian-Jewish descent. This dual identity is central to who she is, encompassing both her birthplace and her adopted home.

Born in Ukraine, Raised in America

Mila Kunis was born Milena Markovna Kunis in 1983 in Chernivtsi, a city in the western part of Ukraine. At the time of her birth, Ukraine was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. This means her birth certificate would have listed her nationality as Soviet, or more specifically, Ukrainian SSR.

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Her family, including her parents, Mark and Elvira Kunis, and her older brother, Michael, made the difficult decision to immigrate to the United States in 1991 when Mila was just seven years old. They settled in Los Angeles, California, where she learned English and began her career, eventually becoming a naturalized American citizen.

The Jewish Heritage Factor

Crucially, the Kunis family's move was not simply for economic reasons; it was a flight from religious persecution. The family is of Jewish ancestry, and they left the Soviet Union due to pervasive anti-Semitism. Kunis has spoken publicly about how she was "always knew I was Jewish, but I was told never to talk about it" while growing up in Ukraine. Her family entered the U.S. on a religious refugee visa, highlighting the serious nature of the persecution they faced.

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In fact, a genealogical DNA test she once discussed in an interview revealed her ethnicity to be 96% Ashkenazi Jewish, underscoring the depth of her cultural heritage.

Her Powerful Connection to Ukraine: Recent Activism

While she has lived most of her life in the U.S. and is an American citizen, the ongoing conflict in her native country has reignited her connection to her roots and placed her heritage squarely in the global spotlight. This recent activism provides the most current and unique angle on her nationality.

The "Stand With Ukraine" Campaign

In the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Mila Kunis and her husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, launched a massive fundraising effort titled "Stand With Ukraine." Kunis, in a public statement, expressed a profound sense of pride in her Ukrainian identity, stating, "I have always considered myself an American, a proud American... but today, I have never been more proud to be a Ukrainian."

The couple's campaign quickly became one of the most successful celebrity-led initiatives, raising an astounding figure that surpassed $37 million for humanitarian relief. The funds were channeled directly to organizations like Flexport.org and Airbnb.org to provide immediate supplies, housing, and critical aid to refugees and those affected by the war.

A Voice for Her Homeland

Kunis's efforts went beyond just fundraising. She used her platform to raise global awareness, partnering with organizations like BlueCheck to ensure that aid reached those in war-torn regions. This recent, high-profile advocacy firmly cements her status as a global citizen who honors her birthplace while embracing her American identity.

Key Cultural Entities That Define Mila Kunis's Background

Understanding Mila Kunis's full identity requires acknowledging the numerous cultural and historical entities that shaped her formative years and her family's journey.

1. Chernivtsi, Ukraine: Her birthplace, a city with a rich multi-ethnic history, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time of her birth.

2. Soviet Union (USSR): The political entity she was born under, where her Jewish family faced the anti-Semitism that prompted their emigration.

3. Ashkenazi Jewish: Her specific ethnic group, which links her family history to the broader narrative of persecution and survival in Eastern Europe, with grandparents who were Holocaust survivors.

4. Russian Language: Although she was born in Ukraine, Kunis has stated that her family primarily spoke Russian at home, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the former Soviet republics.

5. Los Angeles, California: The city where she spent her childhood, learned English, and began her acting career at a young age, leading her to roles like Jackie Burkhart and Meg Griffin.

Mila Kunis's story is a quintessential American immigrant narrative, yet it is powerfully rooted in the history and culture of Ukraine. She is a testament to the fact that nationality is often a matter of legal status, while heritage is a matter of the heart and history.