At the beginning of August, Eliza Dushku, an American actress of Albanian and Danish descent, has visited her father’s country of origin, to film a documentary that will promote the tourism and culture of Albania. She applied for Albanian citizenship, and was given the “Honorary ambassador of Tirana to the World” title from the mayor of Tirana. Very soon, her citizenship request was honored, and the American star received her Albanian passport, from the hands of the Albanian prime minister Sali Berisha, in a special ceremony organized in her honor.
Eliza Dushku receives her Albanian passport.
Eliza Dushku’s love for Albania is no secret for her Albanian fans, although not many of her international fans know that the double-headed eagle tattooed on her back is the Coat of Arms of the country. Receiving the citizenship in a country she loves so much is probably a dream come true, and a moment that made her feel proud.
She tweeted for days from her trip to Albania, sharing her experiences with her fans, and making it clear from the start that:
#Albania we are in the country as ARTISTS & Do not represent politics. I LOVE & RESPECT #Albania’s diversity, culture & people.
When she received her citizenship, Eliza proudly displayed her picture with the official title online, and while not many mainstream publications deemed the news important enough to make waves, a few thousands know now more about Albania thanks to a few tweets by Eliza Dushku.
If the actress is serious about promoting Albania and its culture, things should not stop here. A documentary is simply not enough, no matter how good. What Albania needs is an ongoing, dedicated effort – so Eliza should continue sharing her experiences and return to the country as often as she has the chance.
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You might be surprised how many of Eliza's fans do indeed know what the double eagle tattoo stands for. She's not been shy at all about her Albanian heritage, and has shown off the tattoo and talked it about it on quite a few occasions. This was actually her third trip to Albania.