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Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been receiving praise for his handling of the Russian invasion, many didn't know he previously received accolades as a dancer and comedian.
Indy 100 shared resurfaced clips from different aspects of Zelenskyy's performing career–revealing a different side of the Ukrainian president prior to his landslide victory after running against the incumbent Petro Poroshenko in 2019.
A younger Zelenskyy can be seen as a contestant on Ukraine's version of Strictly Come Dancing: Dancing with the Stars and cutting a rug to songs like Elvis Presley’s "Blue Suede Shoes" and the "Pink Panther theme song."
Based on the following clip of him effortlessly dancing the quickstep, pasodoble and waltzing across the ballroom floor, it's not surprising that he apparently won the show's first series.
so apparently Zelenskyy won the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006 and the tape is even better than whatever you're imaginingpic.twitter.com/L1gnKD2ISr— Kat Abu (@Kat Abu) 1645930887
In 2014, Zelenskyy also lent his voice to Paddington Bear in the Ukraine-dubbed version of the family film, Paddington and Paddington 2 in 2017.
Until today I had no idea who provided the voice of @paddingtonbear in Ukraine. Speaking for myself, thank you, President Zelenskiy. #PaddingtonBearhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vlb4z9ge5E\u00a0\u2026— Hugh Bonneville \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Hugh Bonneville \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1645996602
From 2015 to 2019, Zelenskyy played a role foreshadowing his future as president in the TV show, Servant of the People.
The popular sitcom was a satire of Ukrainian politics, which was produced by his production company, Kvartal 95.
Servant of the People\u00a0is a\u00a0Ukrainian\u00a0political satire\u00a0comedy television series created and produced by\u00a0Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stars as Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, a high-school history teacher in his thirties who is unexpectedly elected\u00a0President of Ukraine. #Zelenskyypic.twitter.com/haWQyplUJX— Flaco (@Flaco) 1645818706
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1497771809751588864\u00a0\u2026— Kat Abu (@Kat Abu) 1645937163
At 17, Zelenskyy joined the local comedy team, KVN, and was later invited to join the united Ukrainian team "Zaporizhia-Kryvyi Rih-Transit," which performed in the KVN's Major League and eventually won in 1997.
His comedic skills remained sharp later in his career, having engaged in many hysterical antics–including one in which he played the piano with...not his hands.
You think that's impressive? Wait till you see Zelenskyy play the piano.https://twitter.com/nicolelampert/status/1497870901907447809?s=20&t=L9Bl67yl5YKc1krKgtmYSA\u00a0\u2026— Pyplate \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Pyplate \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1645975776
That's not all.
Here's a leather-clad Zelenskyy performing this wild romp inspired by Beyoncé's iconic "Single Ladies" music video.
Putin is getting humiliated by a man who did a Beyonc\u00e9-style dance in leather pants and heels.\nLegend.pic.twitter.com/AgXfjUDQHo— Troy Dougall (@Troy Dougall) 1645937174
People were impressed by the Ukrainian president's previous career.
I'd like to see Putin come close to the smooth moves of Zelensky. FREE UKRAINE!!— Toni Cervantes (@Toni Cervantes) 1646070111
zelenskyy could ride on a horse shirtless but putin could never pull off a white striped suit with a matching fedora— Kat Abu (@Kat Abu) 1645930993
It\u2019s difficult to reconcile that this is the same man.\nOver the last 48 hours, I believe most of us have found a new favorite foreign leader. \nPraying he and his country will survive. https://twitter.com/abughazalehkat/status/1497768813860896770\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/6n481VkCPw— \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6Aiming Higher\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b\ud83d\udc9b\ud83d\udc99 (@\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6Aiming Higher\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b\ud83d\udc9b\ud83d\udc99) 1645950341
Also, a family man to swoon overhttps://twitter.com/BenjaminRamm/status/1497718974942957575?s=20&t=XFgB1nkKI3gNv-O3ikYP6A\u00a0\u2026— Signe Marie (@Signe Marie) 1645932781
dRump could do neither.pic.twitter.com/CDTzR0EepZ— EducatedWildChildGrownUp (@EducatedWildChildGrownUp) 1646062861
I don't even know what to say after watching that. He takes everything he does to the max. I don't think I've ever admired anyone as much as I admire him. And Trump tried to play him— CaliGirl \ud83d\ude37\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\udfe1\ud83d\udc08\ud83c\udf0a (@CaliGirl \ud83d\ude37\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\udfe1\ud83d\udc08\ud83c\udf0a) 1645934097
I am hoping that it will come down to a \nPutin-Zelensky dance off— oTTo & Nairb (@oTTo & Nairb) 1645933828
Thank you for sharing the much-needed light. This is just wonderful.— Miss Abyss (@Miss Abyss) 1645947979
The Ukrainian president has shown his defiance against Russian forces by staying in his country and taking up arms with his soldiers.
He has been regularly updating his people on the crisis on the street and praising his people for their bravery.
Zelenskyy—who has politically positioned himself as an anti-establishment, anti-corruption figure—gained admirers for his strong leadership, courage and impassioned speeches since Russian military forces invaded Ukraine from three sides and launched a broad attack on civilians.
He can dance, he can act, he can lead a country, he can stand in defiance against Russian forces. Not only is he incredibly talented, but he's also one of the most courageous leaders on the planet.— \ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf9 Yochanan Dov \ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf9 (@\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf9 Yochanan Dov \ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddf9) 1645931707
On Tuesday morning, a missile struck the heart of Kharkiv—Ukraine’s second-largest city—leaving at least 20 injured including a child.
“Nobody is going to break us,” said Zelenskyy in an address to the European Parliament during which he said civilians are fighting for their survival.
“We are strong, we are Ukrainians. We have a desire to see our children alive. I think it’s a fair one. Yesterday, 16 children were killed.”
Diplomats of the English Parliament rose to their feet after his speech and also left an emotional interpreter in tears.
The address came a day after he asked for “immediate accession of Ukraine via a new special procedure" adding that his country's goal was to be together with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing."
"I’m sure it’s fair. I’m sure it’s possible," he said.