Recently, the legendary actress Ruta Lee (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Funny Face, Witness for the Prosecution) received Lithuania's highest honor from President Valdas Adamkus at a magnificent ceremony in the Vilnius Presidential Palace and this past week, Ruta Lee was presented a new honored by Lithuanian Pres. Gitanas Nauseda and First Lady Diana
Ruta Lee’s famous Hollywood Estate served as the perfect backdrop to receive a visit from Lithuanian Pres. Gitanas Nauseda and First Lady Diana, with Lithuanian Ambassador To US Audra Plepyte in attendance.

The President and First Lady remarked on how the visit to the estate gave them the rare experience of Hollywood’s golden era, as the former home of entertainment icons, Rita Hayworth and Orson Wells. In addition to the Hollywood luminaries that were imagined to have gathered at galas in the estates palacios living room, or having dinners of 20 or more in the dinning hall, as well as the thought of Ms Hayworth and Mr Wells themselves making an entrance on the grand staircase, is like stepping back in time, as mental images of “Citizen Kane” come to mind.

The home still entertains Hollywood elite as guests of Ms Lee, past and present including George Chakiris, Rich Little, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope, Alex Trebeck, Michael Feinstein, Carol Channing, Hugh O’Brien, Sally Struthers, Debbie Reynolds and the Rat Pack and many more.

During the recent state gathering, with lunch prepared by “Star Chef” Joey Santos, Ms Lee was presented with a gorgeous Lithuanian glass art sculpture, in gratitude for her lifelong connection to and pride in her Lithuanian Heritage.

Ms Lee’s connection to her old work roots in Lithuania, stem from her grandmother, whose release from Siberia made international headlines, and the subject in her recently released, best-selling memoirs title “Consider Your Ass Kiss.” A title referencing the actions required and gratitude for the monumental effort to bring her family to America from Russia during The Cold War. At the time her grandmother made all the news and even went on Johnny Carson with her.
In 2019 she returned to Lithuania as principal speaker for The Women’s Day Convention. During her visit, she spent precious time with the now former President and Alma and had the pleasure of meeting the soon to be elected new President Gitanas Nauseda. Today, Ruta is still an important celebrity ambassador to Lithuania, with acknowledgements by the country of her families roots, as proven by this weeks state dinner in her grand old Hollywood home.

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