US actor Jesse Eisenberg granted Polish citizenship after directing A Real Pain

Eisenberg continued to express the emotional impact of his family’s separation from their homeland.

"In addition to that tragedy of history is also the tragedy that my family didn't feel any connection any more to Poland, and that saddened me and confirmed for me that I really wanted to try to reconnect as much as possible," he said.

"And I really hope that tonight in this ceremony and this amazing honour is the first step of me, and on behalf of my family, reconnecting to this beautiful country."

Jesse Eisenberg attends the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones (Picture: Getty)Getty Images

The film was born out of Eisenberg’s personal loss. His great aunt Doris, who had lived in Poland and fled to the United States in 1938, passed away at the age of 106 in 2019.

Eisenberg was nominated for an Oscar for writing the film, while his co-star Kieran Culkin won the award for best supporting actor.

Other family members who remained in Poland were tragically killed during the Holocaust. 

President Duda, acknowledging the importance of this moment, remarked: "I am delighted that people from across the ocean acknowledge their heritage, recognise that their ancestors hail from the Republic [of Poland] and seek to forge a connection with our country."

Eisenberg’s connection to Poland runs deep, with his family originally hailing from Krasnystaw before World War II, and his wife having roots in Łódź.

In May 2024, Eisenberg publicly announced that he had applied for Polish citizenship, hoping to help "create better relationships between Jews and Polish people."