President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Really Did Voice Paddington In Movie's Ukrainian Version

It's true! Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did the voice of Paddington in the Ukraine versions of both the 2014 film Paddington as well as the critically acclaimed sequel Paddington 2. Paddington producer StudioCanal has now confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.  English Paddington actor Hugh Bonneville also shared a behind-the-scenes clip on Twitter on Sunday with footage of Zelenskyy recording his part as the marmalade-loving Peruvian bear. "Until today I had no idea who provided the voice of @paddingtonbear in Ukraine," Bonneville tweeted. "Speaking for myself, thank you, President Zelenskiy [sic]. #PaddingtonBear"

According to the official website, "Paddington now lives in London, England, but he originally came from Peru where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy after he was orphaned following an earthquake when he was just a few weeks old." He's "famous for his love of marmalade and he is particularly fond of it in marmalade sandwiches. He always carries a jar of it in his suitcase and he usually has a marmalade sandwich tucked under his hat 'in case of emergencies'."

As for President Zelensky, he was an actor and comedian before he became president of Ukraine. He starred in several films and TV series from 1997 up until his election in 2019. What's interesting to note is that Zelensky played a schoolteacher who inadvertently becomes Ukraine’s president after a video of him ranting against political corruption went viral in the political satire series Servant of the People. Later, his own grassroots political party, also called Servant of the People, was launched on the back of the show’s huge success. The series finale aired in 2019 and in the same month, Zelensky was elected president of Ukraine. Zelensky also won Ukraine’s version of Dancing With the Stars in 2006. The 44-year-old has also starred in feature films such as No Love In The Big City, Office Romance. Our Time, as well as Me. You. He. She.

With the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia there has been an international spotlight on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a promotional video for the Paddington sequel, Zelenskyy himself says (translated as per AV Club), "Hello to my darling friends. I, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will lend my voice to the wonderful, charismatic, friendly bear Paddington. Paddington [is a film] you can go to see with your whole family, and everyone will enjoy it regardless of your age. You know you will definitely walk out of the film in a fantastic mood."