AT&T Ad Star Milana Vayntrub, Once a Soviet Refugee, Becomes a Voice for Syrian Victims
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/att-ad-star-milana-vayntrub-once-soviet-refugee-becomes-voice-syrian-victims-169216
Actress behind Lily character filmed a documentary in Greece
Milana Vayntrub, the subtly charismatic star of BBDO's recent AT&T ad campaign, has just released a 14-minute video called "Can't Do Nothing," documenting her unexpected experience assisting those fleeing Syria's civil war and coming ashore in Greece.
"I went to Greece just to go on vacation," she tells Adweek. "I didn't have the intention of staying and volunteering. I love volunteering, but I was kind of ignorant about the refugee situation. It's not really talked about a lot in the news here [in America]. It's not something that comes up very often in my news feed."
Most of her fans will be surprised to learn that Vayntrub was herself a refugee, her family having fled the Soviet Union in 1989 in hopes of reaching America when Milana was a toddler. The experience had a lasting impact on her family and helped motivate her to turn her vacation into a journey with a purpose.