Legendary actress Rūta Lee – about parents who instilled love for Lithuania, black bread and citizenship accepted as a blessing

Unbelievable popularity, hundreds of roles in theater and cinema, friendship with the most famous people, trips all over the world…

This is only a small part of what the legendary actress Rūta Lee can boast of, the only Lithuanian to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her lifetime achievements.

Despite all this, R. Lee, who lives across the Atlantic, has a great love for Lithuania and a desire to return to our country as soon as possible, which she remembers as particularly bright and full of happy, smiling people.

Sharing her thoughts about the place Lithuania holds in her heart, R. Lee reveals that the most important thing is that her parents were Lithuanians with all their hearts.

“Although I was not born and raised in Lithuania, Lithuanian was my first language until I learned to speak English while playing on the street with other children. Also, no matter where we lived, we always belonged to the Lithuanian Catholic Church, in the parish house I stepped on stage for the first time, this is where my talent spread. My mom and dad didn’t stop being Lithuanian even when they lived in Canada, but I didn’t grow up like Rūta, because people around me thought that I just pronounced my name wrong. Everyone called me Ruth. Only in California, when I got to Hollywood, I decided to explain to everyone that I am not Ruth, but Ruth. I spent many years telling who Rūta is, who Lithuania is,” says the actress.

The interviewer says that now that she is already known, mothers in the United States give their daughters the name Ruth: “It’s a huge compliment. I am very happy that many more people know about Lithuania, and this country is always in my heart.”

Lithuanian citizenship is a blessing from God

The world-famous actress has US and Canadian citizenships, and in 2019, her Lithuanian citizenship was also restored. R. Lee reveals that she is very happy and especially proud to have Lithuanian citizenship.

“I feel very close to this country, although I was not born here, I grew up abroad, but I have such a strong connection with Lithuania. I will never forget what this country had to experience due to Soviet oppression – my parents, who always believed in the liberation of Lithuania, told me about it. Even today, I pray for all the brave people who did not fear the tanks, risked their lives and won independence for Lithuania. Having citizenship, the opportunity to vote, travel with the passport of this country, I feel that I have received a wonderful blessing from God”, says the interviewer.

The actress advises Lithuanians living abroad who want to stay away from their homeland to remember and appreciate their roots, no matter where they live in the world. “It goes without saying that people who leave adapt and adopt the habits of the country they live in, but all of us, whether we are Lithuanians, Poles or Germans, bring with us our colors, feelings, tastes… I think this is very important. I also believe that our roots are in our blood, they are always with us. We are Lithuanians, a wonderful and unique nation, so every country we visit is blessed if we share a piece of our culture with them,” says the prominent Lithuanian.

Lithuanians abroad are excellent ambassadors of Lithuania

According to R. Lee, it is very important that Lithuanians do not remain indifferent and express their opinion in the referendum on the preservation of Lithuanian citizenship.

“Lithuania is such a small part of this world. I think it’s up to all of us how much the rest of the world knows about her. People living abroad can become great ambassadors of Lithuania and bring the news about our wonderful country. They also do not forget their families who remain here, they contribute to the financial well-being of Lithuania”, says the actress.

The interviewer claims that Lithuania has changed a lot since the dark times of the Soviet era.

“When I came to Lithuania many years later, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It seemed that the sun had shone in Lithuania, I saw so many young, happy people, great-looking, smiling old people. I recommend everyone to visit our country and I am very happy that more and more people are discovering it. I can’t wait to come back here myself,” sums up the world-famous actress.

The referendum on the preservation of Lithuanian citizenship while acquiring the citizenship of another country friendly to Lithuania will be held in 2024. May 12 together with the elections of the President of the Republic.

More details about the referendum on the preservation of citizenship – www.referendumas2024.lt.

Uzsak.