Mila Kunis is an actress in Hollywood who has demonstrated remarkable versatility and success, her career having lasted for more than two decades. In the same way, she has starred in successful TV shows as well as blockbuster movies and dramas that were praised by critics apart from winning various awards. She also produces, acts with her voice, is a practicing philanthropist and has two children. However, one of the most mysterious and romantic aspects of her life is a relationship with Ashton Kutcher – an ex-co star turned current husband. How did they go from being the couple on That ‘70s Show to become real marriage partners and creative force in Hollywood’? Below, we will take an overview of the life and career of Mila Kunis — from her origins in Ukraine to some projects that she has lined up for 2023.
From Ukraine to Hollywood
Mila Kunis was born on August 14, 1983 in Chernivtsi Ukraine under Soviet Union. Mark and Elvira were her parents, professional individuals who worked as mechanical engineer and physics teacher. Her elder brother, Michael is a biochemist. Being a Jew, Mila was also subjected to anti-Semitism and discrimination in her country. She also had to conceal her belief since religion was forbidden under the communist regime.
When Mila was seven years old in 1991, her parents decided that they would change their life for the better and move to America. They left their jobs, possessions and all the rest of extended family poorer by $250 only. Mila could not speak any English and struggled in her new surroundings. Later she remembered, “Every day I cried. I didn’t understand the culture I didn’t understand the people.”
In order to help her manage this frustration, they sent my daughter into an acting school that provided an education after classes had been completed; it was here she found the talent and passion for performing. She also had the opportunity of meeting her manager, Susan Curtis who went ahead and got for Jennifer’s first audition in a Barbie commercial. She won the role on a commercial that quickly led to other advertising campaigns, television programs and films. She also used ‘The Price Is Right’ and the dictionary as tools to learn English.
The Breakthrough Role
The big break for Mila came in 1998 when she tried out to play the character of Jackie Burkhart, an arrogant and domineering teenager on a new sitcom titled That ’70s Show. She was only fourteen at the moment, and she made fool of herself by stating that on her birthday to come he would be eighteen. She charmed the producers by displaying magnetic attraction with other cast members, especially Ashton Kutcher who portrayed her on-off boyfriend Michael Kelso. She landed the role and became a regular cast member of that show, which lasted eight seasons to become a cult film.
In addition to launching Mila’s career, That ‘70s Show helped her meet the right man – Ashton Kutcher. Nevertheless, at that moment they were just friends and work mates because both of them had relations to other partners. Mila lived with actor Macaulay Culkin for eight years, while Ashton married actress Demi Moore in 2005. Mila and Ashton also had their first kiss on the show which was very special for Mila as it happened to be her maiden one. She confessed later that she had a crush on Ashton, who did not know anything about it until several years passed.
The Rise to Stardom
After That ’70s Show ended in 2006, Mila continued to pursue her acting career, taking on diverse and challenging roles. She also became a popular voice actor, lending her voice to Meg Griffin, the unpopular and abused daughter, on the animated series Family Guy. She also voiced characters in video games, such as Saints Row and Call of Duty.
Some of her notable movie roles include:
- Rachel Jansen, the free-spirited hotel receptionist who helps a heartbroken composer (Jason Segel) get over his ex-girlfriend (Kristen Bell) in the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008).
- Solara, the young woman who accompanies a blind warrior (Denzel Washington) on a dangerous journey across a post-apocalyptic wasteland in the action thriller The Book of Eli (2010).
- Lily, the ambitious and seductive ballerina who becomes the rival and obsession of a perfectionist dancer (Natalie Portman) in the psychological drama Black Swan (2010). This role earned Mila her first Golden Globe nomination and widespread acclaim for her performance.
- Jamie, the headhunter who becomes friends with benefits with a magazine editor (Justin Timberlake) in the romantic comedy Friends with Benefits (2011).
- Lori, the long-suffering girlfriend of a man (Mark Wahlberg) who lives with his foul-mouthed teddy bear (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) in the comedy Ted (2012) and its sequel Ted 2 (2015).
- Theodora, the naive and beautiful witch who turns into the wicked witch of the west after being betrayed by a con artist (James Franco) in the fantasy adventure Oz the Great and Powerful (2013).
- Amy, the overworked and stressed-out mother who decides to rebel against the expectations of society and join forces with two other moms (Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn) in the comedy Bad Moms (2016) and its sequel A Bad Moms Christmas (2017).
The Reunion with Ashton
That while Mila worked on her career, dramatic change occurred in her private life. In 2010, she and Macaulay Culkin ended their eight years relationship. After six years, Ashton and Demi Moore announced their separation in 2011 when there were rumors of infidelities, irreconcilable differences etc. In 2013, the divorce was finalized.
Also in 2012, Mila and Ashton rekindled at the Golden Globe Awards room where they exchanged phone numbers and started texting. They quickly found a number of common features and agreed to test their relationship. Still, they first agreed to keep it casual and enjoyable because both were hesitant towards commitment drama. And they even joked about how much of the story was their lives, saying that they were living out Friends with Benefits and No Strings Attached because both films had central plots involving friends who turned romantic partners.
But their affection toward each other intensified and deepened, causing them to ultimately be in love. In 2013, they moved in together and got engaged one year later. The couple gave birth to their first daughter, Wyatt Isabelle in October In a secret wedding in July 2015, they got married. They gave birth to their second child, a son named Dimitri Portwood in November 2016.
Mila and Ashton have been a married couple for six years now, and they are one of the most lovable pairs that live in Hollywood. They frequently talk about each other in interviews, thanking and professing their love for the partner. They also discuss their parenting triumphs and defeats, along with entertaining and relatable stories. They also actively support one another’s careers and projects, sometimes working together on the screen or off it.
The Latest and Upcoming Projects
Mila Kunis has no intention of slowing down, and she continues to work on interesting and various projects. In 2020, she starred in the comedy-horror film The Spy Who Dumped Me alongside Kate McKinnon as best friends who become entangled with an international conspiracy after one of them finds that her ex is a spy. She also portrayed the voice of Greta from Wonder Park, an animated movie about a young girl who finds Imaginarium in the woods.
In 2021, she produced and starred in the film Luckiest Girl Alive for Netflix which was an adaptation of Jessica Knoll’s best-selling novel. She portrays Ani FaNelli, a well-established magazine editor who is concealing her dark and tragic past that can undo all the perfect life she has created. The movie will have its debut on October 7, 2019.
In 2021, she will be featured in the comedy movie Breaking News in Yuba County directed by Taylor Tate and starring an all-star cast including Allison Janney Regina Hall Awkwafina Wanda Sykes Juliette Lewis. She is set to play Nancy, a housewife who ventures into crime when her husband disappears.
In 2023, she will be in the sci-fi flick Four Good Days with director Rodrigo García and coact Glenn Close. She is set to play Molly, a heroin addict that struggles with cleaning up under the supervision of his estranged mother. She will also act in the action-comedy film The Sleepover directed by Trish Sie and featuring Ken Marino, Joe Manganiello, and Malin Akerman as co-stars. She is going to play Margot a ex-con who is under pressure from her husband and children for one last heist.
The Trivia Section
Here are some fun and interesting facts about Mila Kunis:
Name | Mila Kunis |
Age | 40 (as of 2023) |
Height | 5’4″ |
Partner | Ashton Kutcher (married since 2015) |
Children | Wyatt Isabelle (born in 2014) and Dimitri Portwood (born in 2016) |
Education Level | High school diploma (graduated from Fairfax High School in 2001) |
Favorite Food | Pizza |
Net Worth | $75 million (as of 2021) |
Sex | Female |
Religion | Jewish |
Sibling | Michael Kunis (older brother) |
Favorite TV Show | Friends |