US actor Jesse Eisenberg, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film, A Real Pain, has been granted Polish citizenship by President Andrzej Duda. This honor was bestowed upon Eisenberg after his portrayal of the Jewish population during World War Two in the film brought attention to their story.

Eisenberg not only wrote and directed the film, but also starred as one of the two American cousins who travel to Poland to honor their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. The character was inspired by Eisenberg’s own great aunt, who had survived the Holocaust and fled to the US in 1938, while other family members who remained in Poland were killed.

Eisenberg shared his personal connection to Poland during the citizenship ceremony, expressing his desire to reconnect with the country where his family had lived for a longer period than in the US. He hoped that this ceremony and honor would be the first step towards reestablishing a connection between his family and Poland.

President Duda expressed his happiness that individuals from across the globe recognize their heritage and seek to form a bond with Poland. Eisenberg received an Oscar nomination for writing the film, and his co-star Kieran Culkin won the award for best supporting actor.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kg17p2102o