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Netflix Is Streaming Zelenskyy's 2015 TV Show, 'Servant of the People'

The one where he played a schoolteacher who was elected president of Ukraine.

Published March 18, 2022

 (President Of Ukraine from Україна/Wikimedia Commons)
Image Via President Of Ukraine from Україна/Wikimedia Commons
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had a colorful life and career, and, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has been leading his country through war.

Before becoming president, Zelenskyy was a successful comedian and actor, getting widespread recognition through the show “Servant of the People.” In mid-March 2022, Netflix announced that the show, which had previously been available on the platform from 2017 to 2021, was once again streamable by Netflix subscribers.

The 2015 satire ended up being mimicked by real life. In it, Zelenskyy played a schoolteacher who ended up inadvertently getting elected as president of Ukraine after a video of him ranting against corruption went viral. Then, in 2019, Zelenskyy was elected as the real-life president of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy has been speaking to leaders around the world, calling for more support for Ukraine. On March 16, in an impassioned speech to the U.S. Congress, he called for more economic sanctions on Russia and military aid.


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Sources

“Are These Claims About Zelenskyy’s Family and Career True?” Snopes.Com, 1 Mar. 2022. https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/03/01/zelenskys-family-and-career/. Accessed 18 Mar. 2022.

Respers France, Lisa. “Netflix Is Streaming the Volodymyr Zelensky Series That Foreshadowed His Presidency.” CNN, 17 Mar. 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/17/entertainment/volodymyr-zelensky-show-netflix/index.html. Accessed 18 Mar. 2022.

“Zelenskyy Pleads for Help in Impassioned Speech to Congress.” WTOP News, 17 Mar. 2022, https://wtop.com/white-house/2022/03/zelenskyy-center-stage-facing-congress-pleading-for-help-2/. Accessed 18 Mar. 2022.

Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing.