Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become an international icon amid the Russian invasion of his country. The former comedy star is now a heroic leader in his country’s fight for survival.
Western media hailed him as a wartime hero; fans flooded social media with fancams; and his courage won him praise throughout the world.
But behind the scenes, Zelensky’s close friend and longtime film editor told Insider that the real “Volodya” is modest, peace-loving and lacks any “celebrity detachment.”
David Dodson (left) and Vladimir Zelensky (right) in Lvov, Ukraine. Maya_Maximova
David Dodson, an American film editor, first met Volodymyr Zelensky in New York in 2008. They both worked on the Russian romantic comedy Love in the City.
For Zelensky, known for his work with the Kvartal 95 comedy troupe, this was his first major role in a feature film.
And for Dodson, this was the beginning of a ten-year working relationship with the future Ukrainian president.
David Dodson and Vladimir Zelensky during a rehearsal in Kyiv, Ukraine. Maya Maksimova
Speaking to Insider over the phone from his Los Angeles home, Dodson recalled how the 30-year-old Zelensky instantly impressed him. “He was just a wonderful presence,” he said.
At first, Dodson added, the men didn’t have much time to hang out. But after Dodson was asked to edit the sequel to Love and the City 2, the two bonded even more.
According to Dodson, their friendship blossomed after he came up with a cute nickname for the young comedian.
“I ended up calling him just Chaplin because he has Charlie Chaplin features,” he said. “His physicality in comedy and what he can do with his face and the almost sympathetic, sad deadpan expression inside his eyes.”
He makes me feel like Steven Spielberg
The couple continued to work together until 2019, appearing in 10 films. Dodson has also directed three of his films.
Dodson said Zelensky was a consummate professional on the sets of the films they worked on together. According to him, he was “easily funny”, full of energy and respectful.
“He made me feel like Steven Spielberg,” Dodson continued. “It’s just the empowerment and benevolence that he brought with him every time he was around.”
Dodson and Zelensky block the scene on the set of I. You. He. She”. Maya Maksimova
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Dodson replaces Anastasia Korotkaya during the blocking of the scene in the film “Ya. You. He. She”. Maya Maksimova
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He added that Zelenskiy was easy to get along with and tried to maintain a “positive atmosphere” in the work environment. But sometimes he would lose patience with people who were “belligerent” or “unnecessarily rude.”
At times, according to the film’s editor, Zelenskiy would lose his temper.
“Of course I saw him raise his voice and get upset, but it was never in a violent way,” he said. “It was more like a teacher who wanted his student to do better.”
He was the Tom Hanks of Ukraine
Over the years, Zelensky has become a household name, but Dodson says that hasn’t changed him. He remained humble, the film’s editor said.
“He never tried to crush you with his ego,” he added. “It was all about the band and how we were going to work the best we could. When you’re around him, you never feel like it’s all about him.”
Dodson said that whenever Zelensky filmed in Kyiv or Lvov, he was surrounded by adoring fans. “He was the Tom Hanks of Ukraine,” Dodson said.
According to Dodson, he will never turn his back or fire anyone who asks for a photo or autograph. Sometimes, he added, he signed “hundreds” of autographs and “did it all with a smile on his face.”
David Dodson and Vladimir Zelensky at a rehearsal in Lviv, Ukraine, 2018. Maya Maksimova
Zelensky was known not only in Ukraine. Most of his films were in Russian and intended for a Russian audience.
“He was a beloved comedian, actor and performer in Russia, but after the Maidan everything changed,” Dodson said.
The Maidan uprising is a months-long wave of demonstrations in Ukraine that began in Kyiv in 2013 in response to the refusal of Russia-backed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to sign a nationwide trade deal with the European Union.
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated in 2014 after Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine.
Russia stopped broadcasting some of Zelensky’s films after reports surfaced that Zelensky-founded media company Kvartal 95 transferred money to the Ukrainian army during the conflict.
In turn, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine banned the entry of Russian artists and works of culture into the country. “Love in the City 2”, in which Zelensky starred, was banned because it was filmed in Russia.
Zelensky publicly criticized the ministry for banning Russian actors from performing in Ukraine, calling on the head of the department to resign.
The comments, while controversial, marked Zelenskiy as a voice in Ukraine’s political arena. But according to Dodson, it wasn’t obvious that Zelenskiy had political ambitions until they started working on the 2018 film I Am. You. He. She”.
Dodson (left) and Zelensky on the first day of filing “Ya. You. He. She”. Maya Maksimova
During pre-production of the film, which was Zelenskiy’s first film in Ukrainian, Dodson said in what became an “open secret” that his friend was planning to run for president. However, he said that Zelenskiy was very secretive about it.
“The only way to know, for example, that he is working on his campaign, is if you go up to his office for a meeting and see a stack of 30 mobile phones on his assistant’s desk,” Dodson said.
Zelensky announced his candidacy for the presidential elections in Ukraine on New Year’s Eve 2018. He was elected President of Ukraine on April 21, 2019, beating incumbent President Petro Poroshenko.
Dodson continued to speak with Zelensky throughout the campaign and for a short period after he was elected. But the couple lost contact due to Zelensky’s busy schedule.
He is absolutely impeccable in his devotion to Ukraine.
The film’s editor said that as he skims the news and sees how Zelensky stood up for Ukraine during the Russian invasion, he is “greatly proud” of calling him a friend.
“It’s not that I agree with all of his political policies during his presidency up to this point, but he’s completely flawless when it comes to his dedication to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and what he’s willing to sacrifice to keep his freedom.” , – he said.
Dodson is well aware that Zelensky and his family are now a target for Russia. According to The Times of London, over the past week, the President of Ukraine has survived at least three assassination attempts by pro-Russian agents.
This hurts Dodson. He said: “All I can do is pray for the safety of the Ukrainian people and, of course, for the safety of my friend.”