Just a few short weeks ago many people would have struggled to name the president of Ukraine.
But thanks to his stoic wartime leadership, Volodymyr Zelensky is now one of the world's most high-profile leaders.
The politician came to power in 2019, taking charge of the war-torn, corruption-plagued country of about 45 million without any prior political experience.
Father-of-two, Mr Zelensky was a novice in the political world but now, as Russian troops advance across his nation, he faces difficult decisions that impact the lives of those within Ukraine.
READ MORE: Everything we know from day five of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Before Zelensky became the president of Ukraine in May 2019, he was a comedian and actor, something of an all-purpose celebrity in Ukraine.
Now, he’s become a wartime hero, a leader who refuses to flee his country despite the Russian onslaught of the capital city of Kyiv, in the biggest European conflict since World War II.
The unlikely president had no real political background before he was elected - the closest he had been to being president of a country was when he played the part of a president on television.
He started his career as a comedian and went on to become a popular face on Ukrainian television.
The now-president ironically played a high school teacher who unexpectedly becomes the president of the country and Zelensky’s fictional character in the political satire, ‘Servant of the People’, resonated with the masses.
After his most famous role ended, he continued to appear on TV trying to make a difference and his speeches over YouTube and Instagram pandered to the growing demand for change in the country.
Video clips from his past life have been circulating on social media, including his winning Ukraine’s first season of “Dancing With the Stars” and voicing Paddington Bear for the local cuts of the movies.
The Ukrainian star isn't the first person with an entertainment background to go on to succeed in politics.
He is joining a lengthy list of those who have followed similar routes, including former presidents Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan, and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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