Russian Roots In Hollywood

How many Hollywood actors and actresses you know of that have Russian roots? In fact, they are more than you think.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio’s grandmother moved from the USSR to Germany together with her parents after the revolution. There, she got married and her daughter moved to the USA to give birth to the world famous actor. 09 more after the break...

Steven Spielberg

Both grandfathers of Steven Spielberg are from Russia. And his sister’s husband is a distant relative of Boris Pasternak, a Russian poet, novelist, and literary translator.

Sylvester Stallone

It is unlikely that a shy Jewish girl Rosa Robinovich from Odessa ever thought that her great grandson would become a world famous movie actor Sylvester Stallone.

David Duchovny

David Duchovny’s father is a Russian Jew. His name was Amram Duckovny because he’d changed his last name to adjust it to American pronunciation. David, however, changed it back.

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger’s mother is half-Russian and half-Hawaiian.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman’s parents moved to Jerusalem from Kishinev, Moldova.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Ancestors of Gwyneth Paltrow used to live in Minsk, Belarus.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich was born in Kiev, Ukraine. So first five years of her life she spent in the Soviet Union.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford’s grandmother left Minsk in 1907. Now the actor is searching for his relatives who might live in Russia and post-Soviet republics.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg’s grandmother was born in Odessa, Ukraine

The old Russian Aircraft Carrier converted into a Hotel

The year 2011 had belonged to the Chinese in multiple ways. Apart from making progress in their economy, they made their mark in the luxury lifestyle in many ways, and they seem to have started of 2012 on a similar note. Their latest revelation is the Russian Kiev class aircraft carrier hotel, which will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world. A gigantic ship, which was originally created for carrying fighter jets, has now been converted into a full-scale luxury hotel, with modern amenities, oriental themed décor, and plenty of luxury accommodation for its upcoming lot of guests. 14 more images after the break...

Till a few years ago, the Russian aircraft carriers were known to be the pride of army’s fleet, when owned by the Russian Army. But Chinese creativity changed all of that, and transformed this war craft wonder into a luxury hotel that is now grabbing eye balls after revealed in the Tianjin municipality of North China. Historic research tells us, that the ship has been a part of the Binhai Aircraft Park project since 2004, after a Chinese company laid hands on it in 1996. It was initially used to display the variety of modern military equipment, until recently when it was transformed into a luxury accommodation establishment. The final opening will happen later in the month of January 2012, when it will open for bookings.

In terms of amenities, we have come to know that there are 148 rooms in all- 2 Presidential suites, 3 VIP guest rooms, and 137 standard rooms, apart from the dining and common areas, all done up with oriental artistry including the furniture which bear the traditional colors and patterns of art work in the region. Needless to say, the ornamentation is nothing short of exquisite, and whatever may be the pricing policy, would certainly manage to impress even the most discerning customers of the hotel. However, the only near comparison to the concept is the Cunard Liner QE2, but the Tianjin Aircraft Carrier Hotel just might be a step ahead.