Jesse Eisenberg spent America’s 250 Fourth of July weekend in the Czech Republic, which tracks as completely on brand for Jesse. He was in town for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival where he accepted the President’s Award and then introduced a screening of his 2013 film The Double. But his thoughts didn’t stray far from home, as he emphatically told press that no, he has no plans to flee relocate from the US to Europe, even with his newly-acquired Polish citizenship. This also completely tracks for Jesse, because as he’s told us before in his interpretation of talk show banter: he’s not comfortable when things are comfortable. Well, he had a rosier, more altruistic way of saying it:
The “Social Network” star, while accepting an award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, said that despite obtaining his Polish citizenship (and a wave of other stars packing their bags), he and his family feel a need to stay in the United States.
“I am a very lucky American. I have a nice life,” he said, according to Variety. “My wife is a teacher, and she teaches a lot of students who are not as lucky and help those who are struggling through a tougher period in American history.”
He said disliking the political climate doesn’t warrant leaving the country, given what he has.
“No, I’m not going to leave because I don’t like the politics of America,” he said. “That seems a little silly, because my life is very good.”
Eisenberg, 42, has been married to Anna Strout, a producer and teacher, since 2017. Their son, Banner, was born that April.
In 2024, the “A Real Pain” actor and director revealed he applied for Polish citizenship to help “create better relationships between Jews and Polish people.” Eisenberg and his wife both have Polish ancestry. His citizenship was granted in 2025.
Eisenberg, while discussing his upcoming musical comedy film, “The Debut,” said his family is also working on a charity program in Ukraine.
“My wife teaches in New York City Public Schools. She teaches art, and she’s really wonderful with kids,” he said, per Variety. “We found a program called the Campfire Project through Jessica Hecht, a wonderful American actress, and she offered us the opportunity to go work with kids in a camp. My wife is going to teach, my kid is going to play with the kids, and I’m going to be the videographer on my phone.”
He added, “Our lives are so lucky. If we ever find an opportunity to help, of course we take it. We’re not saving any lives, but it’s nice to be able to go and help.”
Jesse is an odd duck, for sure, but definitely a good duck. And he seems to have relaxed into himself in the last few years, even if that self is in a constant state of anxiety. Spoken by anyone else, the comment “Why would I leave when politics are bad — my life is still great?” might come off as aloof. But Jesse really is earnest in his desire to help. I mean, he donated a kidney to a stranger and is spreading the word so others will too! That’s the act of a person who genuinely cares about making life better for people. Plus it’s just refreshing to hear about a celeb deciding to stay during the tough times, as opposed to the many we saw take flight (snorted derisively by someone who didn’t have the luxury of that option). Also, I love how you can tell that he is super proud of his wife. He slips it into a lot of his interviews that his wife is a teacher, totally reverently. It’s sweet.
On a completely different note, I thought I was misreading the article when it said Jesse’s next movie was a musical comedy, but it is! And he’s not only in it, it’s another triple whammy like A Real Pain, where he’s also the writer-director! The Debut stars Julianne Moore as Mona, a mom-housewife who auditions out of the blue for a theater production being directed by Jerry (Paul Giamatti), who’s introduced to us in the trailer as “Basically the biggest name in New Jersey community theater.” I am SO IN.
Photos credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon, Backgrid
He really seems like a good person. We need as many of those as we can get! Especially these days.
He contextualized his answer, but even if he didn’t, I think his initial thoughts about it make sense. If you are fortunate enough to have a good life, I would think you’d want to stay and probably help out if you can. I would hope the lucky people want to help out haha.
It strikes me as a very tone deaf thing to say, honestly. People I know are terrified of ICE and being stuck in concentration camps, and there are people languishing and dying there now. I’m glad he’s not suffering, but this is a bananas thing to say right now, especially as a Jewish person.
It sounds like he was directly asked whether he would stay or go and I think he answered….realistically.
Maybe the “lucky American” part sounds a bit tone deaf, but I think his answer does speak to a certain reality — most people aren’t going to actually leave a country based on disliking the current administration. Part of that is because a lot of people simply can’t. It costs a lot of money to leave and you need a visa of some kind to live in another country. In fact the only people who can leave are the lucky Americans like George Clooney or someone like Eisenberg who has gotten citizenship in another country. But he wouldn’t have proximity to directors in Poland, so it does make sense that he wouldn’t leave because of politics. Most of us stay in a country because of….our job. And I thought he was sort of implying that by mentioning he is a lucky American (i.e he’s a movie star with a job). I think the overriding reason people stay in a country is because of their employment.
Is it common for actors to be married to people with regular jobs? It seems like it’s very rare.
He was never on my radar before the kidney thing (which made me fall for him). A genuinely nice guy! I might be biased though, because my husband needs a kidney…
Very sweet the way he talks about his wife. Seems like they are helping some lucky kids. Didn’t know he had donated a kidney, that is very kind. Good luck to tour husband, @Alexa.
Isn’t he famously kind of an arrogant jerk?
His most famous role was playing arrogant jerk Mark Zuckerberg in the Social Network.