Ben Stiller meets with Zelensky in Ukraine: 'You're my hero'


Actor Ben Stiller headed to Ukraine for World Refugee Day on Monday, where he met with his hero — and fellow actor — Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Meet the Parents star is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency, and he visited Ukraine amid Russia's invasion to meet people affected by the war. While in the country, Stiller also met with Zelensky, the country's president who was previously an actor and comedian.
"You're my hero," Stiller told Zelensky. "You're amazing. You quit a great acting career for this." Zelensky jokingly responded, "Not so great as you."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Stiller praised the "inspiring" way Zelensky has rallied his country in the wake of Russia's invasion, and video from their meeting showed the actor reflecting on the impact visiting Ukraine has had on him.
"The level of destruction ... you see it on TV, you see it on social media, and it's something else to actually see it and feel it," Stiller said.
Stiller also met with Bridget A. Brink, U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, who praised him for bringing "much-needed attention to humanitarian needs during the largest and fastest humanitarian crisis in recent memory." He was the latest Hollywood star and activist to visit the country after Sean Penn, who was in Ukraine this year filming a documentary. Angelina Jolie also visited and met with refugees.
In a video shared by the United Nations, Stiller said, "Seeking safety is a right, and it needs to be upheld for every person."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Real estate: Rocket's plan to remake homebuying
Feature The mortgage company wants to dominate the homebuying process
By The Week US
-
6 must-see homes in Boston
Feature Featuring a factory-turned-loft in South Boston and a wraparound roof deck in South End
By The Week US
-
The anger fueling the Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez barnstorming tour
Talking Points The duo is drawing big anti-Trump crowds in red states
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?
Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Ukraine: where do Trump's loyalties really lie?
Today's Big Question 'Extraordinary pivot' by US president – driven by personal, ideological and strategic factors – has 'upended decades of hawkish foreign policy toward Russia'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK
-
What will Trump-Putin Ukraine peace deal look like?
Today's Big Question US president 'blindsides' European and UK leaders, indicating Ukraine must concede seized territory and forget about Nato membership
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Ukraine's disappearing army
Under the Radar Every day unwilling conscripts and disillusioned veterans are fleeing the front
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Cuba's mercenaries fighting against Ukraine
The Explainer Young men lured by high salaries and Russian citizenship to enlist for a year are now trapped on front lines of war indefinitely
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Ukraine-Russia: are both sides readying for nuclear war?
Today's Big Question Putin changes doctrine to lower threshold for atomic weapons after Ukraine strikes with Western missiles
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
What would happen if Russia declared war on Nato?
In depth Response to an attack on UK or other Western allies would be 'overwhelming'
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK
-
Are Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets too little too late?
Today's Big Question US-made aircraft are 'significant improvement' on Soviet-era weaponry but long delay and lack of trained pilots could undo advantage against Russia
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK