Ukrainian actors crack Hollywood - Stories of hits and heartbreaks

Ivanna Sakhno

Ivanna Sakhno began her acting career at the age of nine. At that time, she debuted as Lesya’s niece in the popular TV series Lesya+Roma, which aired on ICTV from 2005 to 2008.

Before moving to the United States, she had already appeared in several TV films in Ukraine. Once in the US, she ventured into horror, appearing in low-budget films like "The Body Tree" and "Can't Take It Back." While these roles didn’t make her a household name, they were important steps in establishing herself in Hollywood.

Ivanna Sakhno (photo: instagram.com/ivannasakhno)

Her breakthrough came in 2018, when Ivanna appeared in two major international projects. In the sci-fi action film "Pacific Rim Uprising," she played cadet Viktoriya, and in the action-comedy "The Spy Who Dumped Me," she shared the screen with stars like Mila Kunis and Gillian Anderson.

Still from "The Spy Who Dumped Me"

Oleksandr Rudynskyi

Oleksandr Rudynskyi became widely known after his role in the Ukrainian teen drama series "The First Swallows."

After filming, he briefly returned to the theater, but soon appeared on the big screen again—in Oleg Sentsov’s powerful film "Rhino," which went on tour at film festivals all over the world and won Best Feature Film at the Stockholm Film Festival.

Oleksandr Rudynskyi (photo: instagram.com/sasha_rudinskiy)

This performance drew the attention of other Ukrainian directors. He appeared in the comedy "The Best Weekend" and the drama "Stay Online," but his true breakthrough was still ahead—this time beyond Ukraine’s borders.

First, Oleksandr landed a role in the Netflix series "The Decameron." There, he portrayed a colorful one-eyed bandit. Filming took place in Italy, and Rudynskyi appeared in three episodes.

Oleksandr Rudynskyi (photo: instagram.com/sasha_rudinskiy)

Then came an even more ambitious project: a role in the American series "The Agency," produced by George Clooney himself. In the show, he played a Ukrainian soldier, alongside stars such as Michael Fassbender, Richard Gere, and Jeffrey Wright.

Rudynskyi solidified his international recognition with a role in the British short film about the war in Ukraine, "Rock Paper Scissors," directed by Franz Böhm. The short won the prestigious BAFTA award.

Oleksandr Rudynskyi with BAFTA (photo: instagram.com/sasha_rudinskiy)

Despite this success, the actor remains modest: he doesn’t call his roles successful and sees the future as a space for growth.

Zachar Shadrin

In February 2022, just two weeks before the full-scale invasion, Zachar Shadrin found himself in the United States. The move marked a new chapter in the young actor’s life, but even overseas, he stayed true to his Ukrainian roots.

"Today, when millions of Ukrainians are scattered around the world, all of us are obliged to carry our cultural heritage with proud. It’s important to defend our unique Ukrainian identity, distancing ourselves from being seen merely as an extension of Russia or part of the post-Soviet space," the actor emphasizes.

Zachar Shadrin (photo: instagram.com/zacharyshadrin)

And Zachar doesn’t just talk—he acts. Just a year after relocating, he was among the potential nominees for the United States’ top television award—the Emmys. This was made possible by his role in the Apple TV+ anthology series "Little America," where he appeared in an episode dedicated to the experience of a Ukrainian immigrant.

Zachar Shadrin (photo: instagram.com/zacharyshadrin)

For an actor who had only recently set foot on American soil, such a breakthrough wasn’t just luck—it was the result of hard work and a conscious stance.

Shadrin is not only discovering Hollywood for himself, but also helping the world see Ukraine as real, alive, and independent country.

Zachar Shadrin (photo: instagram.com/zacharyshadrin)

Earlier, we wrote about famous young actresses who had achieved fame on their own.