Milena Markovna Kunis was born into aJewish family on August 14, 1983,[3] in theUkrainian city ofChernivtsi.[4]Ukraine was aconstituent republic of theSoviet Union at the time of her birth. Her mother, Elvira, was a physics teacher who ran a pharmacy, and her father, Mark Kunis, was amechanical engineer who worked as a cab driver after the family emigrated.[5] Kunis has an older brother, Michael.[6][7] Her grandparents wereHolocaust survivors.[8] Her mother tongue and the common language within her family is Russian.[9] While participating inConan O'Brien Needs a Friend Kunis confirmed she does not speak Ukrainian, stating Russian was the main language at the time she was there.[10] Children were not taught Ukrainian in school until they were in second grade which was the time she left to come to the United States.[10] She stated in 2011 that her parents had "amazing jobs", and that she "was very lucky" and the family was "not poor"; they had decided to leave the Soviet Union because they saw "no future" there for Mila and her brother.[11] In 1991, when she was 7 years old, her family moved toLos Angeles under a religious-refugee visa,[12] with$250. "That was all we were allowed to take with us. My parents had given up good jobs and degrees, which were not transferable. We arrived in New York on a Wednesday and by Friday morning my brother and I were at school in L.A."[11]
Kunis has citedantisemitism in the Soviet Union as one of several reasons for her family's move to the United States.[13][14][15][16][17] She has stated that her parents "raised [her] Jewish as much as they could", althoughreligion was suppressed in the Soviet Union.[18][13] On her second day in Los Angeles, Kunis was enrolled at Rosewood Elementary School, not knowing a word of English. She later recalled: "I blocked out second grade completely. I have no recollection of it. I always talk to my mom and my grandma about it. It was because I cried every day. I didn't understand the culture. I didn't understand the people. I didn't understand the language. My first sentence of my essay to get into college was like, 'Imagine being blind and deaf at age seven.' And that's kind of what it felt like moving to the States."[19]
At the age of 10, Kunis unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of a Russian Jewish girl who moves to North America in the filmMake a Wish, Molly.[8] Instead, she was cast in the secondary role of a Mexican girl.[21] In 1998, Kunis was cast asJackie Burkhart in theFox sitcomThat '70s Show. All who auditioned were required to be at least 18 years old; Kunis, who was 14 at the time, told the casting directors she would be 18 but did not say when. Though they eventually figured it out, the producers still thought Kunis was the best fit for the role.[30]That '70s Show ran for eight seasons.[36] She won two consecutiveYoung Star Awards as Best Young Actress in a Comedy TV Series in 1999 and 2000 for her performances.[37]
In 1999, Kunis replacedLacey Chabert in the role ofMeg Griffin on the animated sitcomFamily Guy,[38] created bySeth MacFarlane for Fox. Kunis won the role after auditions and a slight rewrite of the character, in part due to her performance onThat '70s Show. When Kunis auditioned for the role, she was called back by MacFarlane, who instructed her to speak slower. He then told her to come back another time and enunciate more. Once she claimed that she had it under control, MacFarlane hired her. MacFarlane added: "What Mila Kunis brought to it was in a lot of ways, I thought, almost more right for the character. I say that Lacey did a phenomenal job, but there was something about Mila—something very natural about Mila. She was 15 when she started, so you were listening to a 15-year-old. Oftentimes with animation they'll have adult actors doing the voices of teenagers and they always sound like Saturday morning voices. They sound oftentimes very forced. She had a very natural quality to Meg that really made what we did with that character kind of really work."[39] Kunis was nominated for anAnnie Award in the category of Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production in 2007. She also voiced Meg inFamily Guy Video Game!, released in 2006. Kunis described her character as "the scapegoat".[40]
2001–2008: Transition to film
In 2001, she appeared inGet Over It oppositeKirsten Dunst. She followed that up in 2002, by starring in the straight-to-DVD horror filmAmerican Psycho 2 alongsideWilliam Shatner, a sequel to the 2000 filmAmerican Psycho.American Psycho 2 was poorly reviewed by critics,[41] and later, Kunis herself expressed embarrassment over the film.[42] In 2004, Kunis starred in the film adaptationTony n' Tina's Wedding. Although the film was shot in 2004, it did not have a theatrical release until 2007.[43] Most critics did not like the film, which mustered a 25% approval from Rotten Tomatoes.[44]DVD talk concluded that "fans would be much better off pretending the movie never happened in the first place".[45]
In 2005, Kunis co-starred withJon Heder inMoving McAllister, which was not released theatrically until 2007.[46] The film received generally poor reviews and had a limited two-week run in theaters.[47][48] She followed up withAfter Sex starring alongsideZoe Saldana, who had also appeared inGet Over It.[49] In October 2006, she began filmingBoot Camp (originally titledStraight Edge).[50] The film was not released in theaters in the United States, but was released on DVD on August 25, 2009.[51]
Kunis starred as Rachel Jansen in the 2008 comedy film,Forgetting Sarah Marshall, co-produced byJudd Apatow. The role, which she won after unsuccessfully auditioning forKnocked Up,[2] entailed improvisation on her part.[52] The film garnered positive reviews,[53] and was a commercial success, grossing$105 million worldwide.[54] Kunis's performance was well-received;Joe Morgenstern ofThe Wall Street Journal praised her "fresh beauty and focused energy",[55] whileJames Berardinelli wrote that she is "adept with her performance and understands the concept of comic timing".[56] She was nominated for aTeen Choice Award.[57] In an interview, Kunis credited Apatow with helping her to expand her career fromThat '70s Show.[2]
Also in 2008, Kunis portrayed Mona Sax, an assassin, alongsideMark Wahlberg in the action filmMax Payne, based on thevideo game of the same name. Kunis underwent training in guns, boxing, and martial arts for her role.[58]Max Payne was relatively successful at the box office, grossing$85 million worldwide[59] but was poorly reviewed by critics,[60] with several reviewers calling Kunis miscast.[61][62] Travis Estvold ofBoise Weekly wrote that she was "horribly miscast as some sort of undersized, warble-voiced crime boss".[63] DirectorJohn Moore defended his choice of Kunis saying, "Mila just bowled us over..... She wasn't an obvious choice, but she just wears Mona so well. We needed someone who would not be just a fop or foil to Max; we needed somebody who had to be that character and convey her own agenda. I think Mila just knocked it out of the park."[58] She was nominated for another Teen Choice Award for her role in the film.[64]
In 2009, she appeared in the comedy filmExtract withBen Affleck andJason Bateman. The film received mostly positive reviews,[65] and grossed$10.8 million at the box office.[66]Roger Ebert, while critical of the film itself, wrote that Kunis "brings her role to within shouting distance of credibility."[67] DirectorMike Judge commented that part of what was surprising to learn about Kunis was her ability to make references to the cult animation filmRejected. Judge said: "As beautiful as Mila is, you could believe that maybe she would cross paths with you in the real world."[68] After seeing Kunis perform inForgetting Sarah Marshall, Judge wanted to cast her in the role of Cindy inExtract: "I just thought, 'Wow, this girl's perfect.' And she really wanted to do it, which was fantastic." Kunis herself stated that "I'm a huge fan of Mike Judge's fromOffice Space, so I was, like, 'Okay, this is a very easy decision.' I told them I would do anything needed to be in this production—like craft service, or, say, acting."[69]
In 2010, she starred alongsideDenzel Washington in the action filmThe Book of Eli. Although the film received mixed reviews,[70] it performed well at the box office, grossing over$157 million worldwide.[71] Film criticRichard Roeper praised Kunis's performance, calling it a "particularly strong piece of work".[72] Several other reviews were equally positive, including that of Pete Hammond ofBoxoffice magazine, who wrote that she's "ideally cast in the key female role".[73] Even reviewers who did not necessarily like the film complimented her performance, such asJames Berardinelli, who wrote that "the demands of the role prove to be within her range, which is perhaps surprising considering she has been thus far pigeonholed into more lightweight parts",[74] and Colin Covert of theStar Tribune, who wrote that she "generated a spark and brought a degree of determination to her character, developing an independent female character who's not always in need of rescuing."[75] Other critics, such as Claudia Puig ofUSA Today felt she was miscast, noting that "she looked as if she dropped in from aRay-Ban commercial".[76] Kunis received another Teen Choice Award nomination for her performance.[77][78] Kunis was also cast in a minor role in the 2010 comedy filmDate Night, starringTina Fey andSteve Carell.[79] She garnered several positive reviews for her performance.[80][81][82]Michael Phillips of theChicago Tribune concluded her performance withJames Franco helped save the film and gave it "a shot in the arm."[83]
Kunis was nominated for multiple awards, including her first Golden Globe, for the 2010 filmBlack Swan. She played a rival ballet dancer to the main character, played byNatalie Portman. DirectorDarren Aronofsky cast Kunis in the film based on her performance inForgetting Sarah Marshall, and on the recommendation of co-star and close friend Natalie Portman.[8][84] She underwent a training regimen that included cardiovascular exercise, a 1,200-calorie a day diet (she lost 20 pounds that she regained after filming ended), and ballet classes for four hours a day, seven days a week.[1][85][86] During the demanding production, she suffered injuries including a torn ligament and a dislocated shoulder.[87]
Black Swan received widespread acclaim from critics[88] and was nominated for fiveAcademy Awards, including Best Picture.[89] The film grossed over$106.9 million in the United States and Canada[90] while grossing over$329 million worldwide.[91] Reviews of Kunis's performance were positive,[92][93][94] with Kirk Honeycutt ofThe Hollywood Reporter stating, "Kunis makes a perfect alternate to Portman, equally as lithe and dark but a smirk of self-assurance in place of Portman's wide-eyed fearfulness."[95] Guy Lodge of In Contention also praised Kunis, saying, "it's the cool, throaty-voiced Kunis who is the surprise package here, intelligently watching and reflecting her co-star in such a manner that we're as uncertain as Nina of her ingenuousness."[96] Kunis's performance won her the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress at the67th Venice International Film Festival,[97] and earned herGolden Globe Award[98] andScreen Actors Guild Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress.[99] At the 37th annualSaturn Awards, she was also honored with the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance.[100]
Kunis was cast alongsideJustin Timberlake in the 2011 romantic comedyFriends with Benefits.[101] DirectorWill Gluck stated that he wrote the story with Kunis and Timberlake in mind.[102]Friends with Benefits achieved success at the box office, grossing over$149 million worldwide,[103] and received mostly positive reviews with critics praising the chemistry between Kunis and Timberlake.[104]Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times wrote that "Ms. Kunis is fast proving that she's a gift that keeps giving to mainstream romantic comedy" and "her energy is so invigorating and expansive and her presence so vibrant that she fills the screen".[105]
In 2012, Kunis co-starred with Mark Wahlberg inTed, her most commercially successful film to date. The film was directed and co-written byFamily Guy creatorSeth MacFarlane. Kunis played the girlfriend of Wahlberg's character. When MacFarlane first conceived the project, he considered Kunis too young for the role. However, the film remained in development for several years and when it was finally ready to begin production, he ended up casting her.[106]Ted has received generally positive reviews from critics[107] and was a commercial success, grossing$549 million worldwide.[108] Drew McWeeny ofHitFix wrote that Kunis "brings some lovely subtle grace notes to a role that easily could have just been 'the pushy girlfriend'".[109]
2013–present: Comedic roles
In 2013, Kunis playedTheodora, the youngest of three witches, oppositeJames Franco, in theWalt Disney Pictures' prequel,Oz the Great and Powerful.[110][111] She dedicated her performance in the film toMargaret Hamilton, the original Wicked Witch of the West in the1939 film.[112] The film, and Kunis's performance, received mixed reviews from critics.[113]Kim Newman ofEmpire Magazine wrote that Kunis "walks away with the honours as the wavering witch Theodora, whose heartbreak brings another, less-expected depth to this 3D spectacle".[114] In contrast,Todd McCarthy ofThe Hollywood Reporter found Kunis's performance to be uncertain as her character seemed to be in a state of limbo.[115]Oz the Great and Powerful was a commercial success, grossing over$493 million worldwide.[116]
Also in 2013, Kunis co-starred in the crime thrillerBlood Ties withClive Owen,Billy Crudup, andMarion Cotillard.[117] The film premiered at the2013 Cannes Film Festival and had a limited release in the United States in 2014.[118]Blood Ties received mixed reviews.[119] Kunis was also cast in the comedyThe Angriest Man in Brooklyn, alongsideRobin Williams andPeter Dinklage.[120] The film had a limited theatrical and VOD release[121] and received poor reviews.[122] ThePaul Haggis-directed filmThird Person co-starring withLiam Neeson,Olivia Wilde andJames Franco[123] premiered at the2013 Toronto Film Festival[124] and had a limited release in 2014, but also received mostly negative reviews.[125] Kunis's performance was praised by some critics; Deborah Young ofThe Hollywood Reporter wrote that her role gives her "enormous room to express her talent" and she "gives her story a shot of raw intensity".[126] In October 2014, it was announced Kunis, along with her partners, had launched a new production company called Orchard Farm Productions. The company has a first-look deal withABC Studios, where the company is based. Under the agreement, the team will develop and produce TV projects for broadcast and cable.[127] In 2015, Kunis co-starred withChanning Tatum in the science fiction filmJupiter Ascending, directed bythe Wachowskis.[128][129] While the film grossed over$183.9 million on a$176 million budget,[130] it received mostly negative reviews, with a consensus that the production was "narratively befuddled" and a "visually thrilling misfire".[131]
Kunis co-starred withKristen Bell andChristina Applegate in the comedyBad Moms, which was released July 29, 2016.[132] It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the cast and humor, though did not feel it could "take full advantage of its assets".[133] Chris Nashawaty fromEntertainment Weekly wrote that "Kunis manages to be both sympathetic and funny, and she has crack comedic timing".[134] The film went on to earn more than$183.9 million with a budget of$20 million.[135] Following the financial success ofBad Moms,STX Entertainment reunited Kunis with her co-stars Kristen Bell andKathryn Hahn for a sequel,A Bad Moms Christmas, which was released on November 1, 2017.[136][137] It went on to receive mixed reviews[138] and gross over$130 million worldwide with a budget of$28 million.[139]
In 2018, Kunis co-starred withKate McKinnon in the comedyThe Spy Who Dumped Me. The film received mixed reviews[140] and went on to gross over$75 million worldwide with a budget of$40 million.[141] Kunis co-starred withGlenn Close in the filmFour Good Days. Principal photography began in September 2019 in Los Angeles,[142] and premiered at theSundance Film Festival on January 25, 2020.[143] The film received mixed reviews[144] but Kunis was praised for her performance, with Pete Hammond fromDeadline Hollywood stating Kunis was "a revelation" in the role,[145] while Richard Roeper of theChicago Sun-Times concluded her performance "represents the finest work she has done".[146] In 2021, she co-starred withAllison Janney andRegina Hall inBreaking News in Yuba County, which was filmed inMississippi.[147] The film was released February 12, 2021,[148] and received negative reviews from critics.[149] On April 30, 2022, it was announced that Kunis would have a guest appearance in the follow-up sitcom,That '90s Show.[150]
In 2022, Kunis produced and starred in aNetflix film adaptation ofLuckiest Girl Alive based on the Jessica Knollnovel of the same name.[151]Luckiest Girl Alive was released in select cinemas on September 30, 2022, before its streaming release on October 7, 2022, byNetflix.[152] The film received mixed reviews from critics.[153] However, Kunis received acclaim for her performance with Erick Massoto fromCollider stating she delivered a "career best performance" that is "hypnotic and keeps you on the edge of your seat at every turn."[154] Additionally Kunis received a nomination for The Drama Movie Star of 2022 at the48th People's Choice Awards.[155]
In 2023, it was announced that Kunis was slated to co-star withMichael Keaton in the comedy filmGoodrich.Goodrich was released on October 18, 2024.[156] The film received positive reviews from critics.[157] Written and Directed byHallie Meyers-Shyer, Kunis also served as executive producer.[158] In 2024, Kunis closed a deal withSkydance to produce and star inThe 47 Night Stand, a new film scripted byGreg Malins.[159] Additionally, Kunis has been added to the cast of the latest installment of theKnives Out franchise, joiningDaniel Craig in Netflix's filmWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.[160]
In 2007, Kunis participated in a video for the websiteFunny or Die appearing alongsideJames Franco. The video was a parody of the MTV showThe Hills and was a huge success for the website, with 2.4 million views over the next ten years.[161]Shawn Levy, director ofDate Night, stated that part of what made him decide to cast Kunis with James Franco in the film was the chemistry he felt they had in theFunny or Die video.[162] In December 2008, Kunis was featured inGap's "Shine Your Own Star" Christmas campaign.[163] In 2010, she was featured in the "Women We Love" segment inEsquire with an accompanied video.[164] Kunis was among several female stars photographed by Canadian singer-songwriterBryan Adams in conjunction with theCalvin Klein Collections for a feature titledAmerican Women 2010, with the proceeds from the photographs donated to the NYC AIDS foundation.[165] During the summer of 2010 Kunis served withRandy Jackson as the Master of Ceremonies for the 9th AnnualChrysalis Foundation Benefit. The Chrysalis Foundation is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization formed to help economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals to become self-sufficient through employment opportunities.[166]
GQ magazine named Kunis the Knockout of the Year for 2011,[167] withMen's Health naming her one of the "100 Hottest Women of All-Time".[168]FHM magazine ranked her number 9 on its 2012 Hot 100 list,[169] but she reached number 1 on their 2013 "100 Sexiest Women in the World" list,[170][171] which brought to an end a four-year run byBritish women.[172] Prior to this in 2008 Kunis stated, "You've got to base your career on something other than being FHM's top 100 number one girl. Your looks are going to die out, and then what's going to be left?"[19]Maxim has consistently ranked Kunis on its Hot 100 list, reaching a ranking of number 5 in both 2009 and 2011[173] and number 3 in 2012.[174][175]Esquire magazine named her 2012'sSexiest Woman Alive.[176] She ranked No. 2 onAskMen's list ofTop 99 Women for 2013, behind onlyJennifer Lawrence.[177] In 2013, she responded to those lists: "All I can say is, I feel honored to be considered sexy."[178]
Christian Dior signed Kunis in 2012 to be the face of its Spring fashion campaign.[179][180] In February 2013, she was namedGemfields global brand ambassador and the face of their advertising campaign.[181] Gemfields is a luxury company that producesemeralds,rubies, andamethysts. She visited Gemfields' mine inZambia.[182] Kunis appeared wearing Gemfields's Rubies for the world premiere ofJupiter Ascending.[183] In 2013, she appeared inForbes list of 100 powerful celebrities, ranking #89 on the basis of five criteria (Money, TV/Radio, Press, Social, and Marketability), with her highest ranking as #14 in marketability. She earned$11 million for the year ending in June 2013.[184] In 2014, Kunis appeared in a range of global advertising forBeam, Inc. (makers ofJim Beam bourbon).[185] Her announcement onConan that she would donate to Planned Parenthood in Vice PresidentMike Pence's name received praise from supporters ofabortion rights; conversely, severalanti-abortion advocates criticized her and Beam, Inc. onTwitter, creating thehashtag #BoycottJimBeam.[186][187]
Kunis began dating actorMacaulay Culkin in 2002.[190][191] During their relationship, there were rumors of the couple getting married, but Kunis denied them.[192] On January 3, 2011, Kunis's publicist confirmed reports that Kunis and Culkin had ended their relationship, saying, "The split was amicable, and they remain close friends."[190]
In January 2011, she revealed her struggle with chroniciritis that had caused temporary blindness in one eye. Some months earlier she went through with the surgery that corrected the problem.[193] Kunis also hasheterochromia iridum, a condition in which the irises are different colors. Her left eye is brown, while her right eye is green.[170]
In November 2011, Kunis was escorted by Sgt. Scott Moore to aU.S. Marine Corps Ball inGreenville, North Carolina. She had accepted Moore's invitation in July after he posted it as aYouTube video while serving with the 3rd Battalion,2nd Marine Regiment, in Afghanistan'sHelmand province. The event celebrated the Marine Corps' 236th anniversary.[198]
In 2016, Kunis, while pregnant with her second child, undertook the surprise renovation of her parents' condominium, over a six-week period, which was documented for My HouzzTV.[208] She had grown up in the condominium from the age of nine, along with her older brother and her parents. In April 2020, Kunis and Kutcher developed their ownwine, named Quarantine Wine, with 100% of the proceeds going to give aid during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[209] The following year, they launched Outside Wine, a blend of red wine, whose profits would benefit The Skate Park Project and Thorn.org.[210]
In 2022, Kunis and Kutcher started aGoFundMe page to help two online companies (Airbnb andFlexport) to aid refugees fleeing theviolence in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They exceeded their$30 million goal as of March 18, 2022. The couple promised to donate$3 million of their own money to the cause.[211][212][213]
In 2023, after the conviction ofThat 70's Show castmateDanny Masterson for rape, Kunis, along with Ashton Kutcher, wrote letters to the judge in support of Masterson.[214] The letters stated that Masterson was a good person and that he treated people with "decency, equality, and generosity".[215] After the letters were made public, Kunis and Kutcher received immediate backlash and criticism for their support of Masterson, especially due to Kunis and Kutcher's involvement inThorn, a charity to expose the sexual exploitation of children. After the backlash, Kunis and Kutcher apologized in a video. In the video, the two claimed that the letters were only intended for the judge and not for the public. The apology was similarly criticized as "performative and insincere".[216]
Political views
Kunis is a supporter of theDemocratic Party.[23] In a 2012 interview, she criticized theRepublican Party, saying: "The way that Republicans attack women is so offensive to me. And the way they talk about religion is offensive. I may not be a practicing Jew, but why do we gotta talk aboutJesus all the time?"[176] In 2017, Kunis disclosed that she had been making monthly donations toPlanned Parenthood inMike Pence's name.[217]
^"Q & A with Ben Gourley"(PDF).movingmcallisterthemovie.com. September 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on January 20, 2022. RetrievedJune 29, 2010.
^Dollar, Steve (November 26, 2010)."'Swan' Song Schizophrenia".The Wall Street Journal.Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. RetrievedNovember 26, 2010.
^Hirschberg, Lynn (February 11, 2011)."Venus de Mila".W. Archived fromthe original on February 16, 2011. RetrievedFebruary 11, 2011.
^Young, Deborah (September 10, 2013)."Third Person: Toronto Review".The Hollywood Reporter.Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. RetrievedJune 26, 2014.
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