Personal life

Jovovich was born in Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet Union to a Montenegrin
father � a doctor,[98] and a Russian mother � an actress,[13][99] but grew up
mostly in Moscow, Russia, her mother's native city.[17] While she has no memories
of her early years in Ukraine,[100] Jovovich says she "remembers a lot" about her
life in Russia.[17] In addition to English, she is fluent in French and partly in
Russian.[13][75][101][102] She was raised in a Russian household[103] and referred
to the role the Russian culture played in her life when she stated in 2005: "I have
a Russian mother, she was a famous actress in the USSR (Galina Loginova). And the
first books, which I read, were in Russian. I was raised in the atmosphere of the
Russian classical theatre school. The art, built on the system of Stanislavsky �
that's the most realistic art. And the modern cinema stands on the same principle.
A Russian person wants to find the truth. This is the base of the Russian culture.
I never forget it, especially since I have Russian roots".[99] When asked if she
still feels Russian after having left Russia at a young age, Jovovich replied,
"Definitely. I still speak Russian. I speak it with my daughter. I read her Russian
stories and poems. My roots are very important � they make me who I am".[17] She
voiced a similar opinion in an interview for the Russian TimeOut magazine, "I'm
Russian. I was raised by Russian parents, I have many Russian friends, my best
friend is Russian. I understand I was grown up in America, but I feel myself as a
Russian... I'm Russian, I'm European and, of course, Russia is very familiar and
dear to me."[104] Speaking about her early years, Milla noted the importance of
education in her life, "I'll confess to you, my mom raised me in the traditions of
her country. For example, I never spent hours sitting before a TV and always read a
lot. And I believe that education, intellect and intelligence are a huge part of
the beauty of Russian women."[105] In 2005, Jovovich established a charitable
foundation to help Ukrainian children.[106] At the time she referred to herself: "I
am a strong Ukrainian girl, that is why I work a lot".[106] However, later, in an
interview for the Ukrainian version of the Vogue magazine, Jovovich stated she
doesn't actually consider herself Ukrainian.[100] Expressing her disagreement with
several newspapers that presented Jovovich as a "Ukrainian actress", her mother
Galina said, "They may say whatever they want. My parents are Russian, from Tula.
Milla is half Russian, half Montenegrin. But, I think, she considers herself of
Russian descent".[15] In her Twitter account Milla defined herself as "Russian and
Montenegrin".[107] In her own words, she was born in Ukraine "pretty much by
accident".[18]

In addition to being a former[108] smoker,[109] Jovovich has advocated the

legalization of cannabis, and appeared in a spread and on the cover for High Times.
[34] In an article published in 1994, she admitted that her only vices were
cigarettes and cannabis.[75] She practices yoga and meditates often in attempts to
live a healthy lifestyle; although not affiliating with any specific religion, she
prays and considers herself a "spiritual person".[54] She avoids junk foods and
prefers to cook for herself. "Being Russian", Jovovich likes buckwheat and named
Japanese soba noodles as her "personal favorite".[110] She practices Brazilian Jiu-
Jitsu in addition to other varieties of martial arts. Jovovich also enjoys playing
the guitar, and writing poems and lyrics for songs.[111]

Relationships and marriage

Jovovich currently resides in homes in Los Angeles and New York[112] with her
husband, film writer and director Paul W. S. Anderson, whom she married on 22
August 2009.[113] The two met while working on the 2002 film Resident Evil, which
Anderson wrote and directed, and in which Jovovich starred. Anderson proposed to
Jovovich in 2003, but the two separated for a period of time before becoming a
couple again.[114] On November 3, 2007, Jovovich gave birth to their first child,
daughter Ever Gabo,[115] at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
[116] Their second child, daughter Dashiel Edan, was born on April 1, 2015.[117]

Prior to her relationship with Anderson, Jovovich married on-screen boyfriend Shawn
Andrews in 1992 while filming Dazed and Confused together. Andrews was 21, while
Jovovich was 16; the marriage was annulled by her mother two months later.[118]
Shortly after the annulment, Jovovich moved to Europe with her friend and musician
Chris Brenner where she met and then lived with her new boyfriend, ex-Jamiroquai
bassist Stuart Zender, in London from May 1994 to October 1995.[24][75][119] From
1995 to 1997, she dated photographer Mario Sorrenti. In Las Vegas, she married The
Fifth Element director Luc Besson in 1997 where they went skydiving directly after
the ceremony; they divorced in 1999.[11] Between 1998 and 2001, she befriended the
young poet and musician, Anno Birkin, and each was the other's inspiration behind
many of their compositions. Jovovich became involved with Birkin romantically just
before his death in a car accident on November 8, 2001.[40]