Finding Rhythm in Every Role: Bogdan Ruban on Acting and Performance

Bogdan Ruban's path to vertical dramas didn't begin on a film set. From competitive ballroom dancing to theater and television, his career has been shaped by a lifelong passion for performance.

Vertical drama viewers may recognize Bogdan Ruban from stories ranging from mafia romances and werewolf dramas to contemporary love stories. But long before he became a familiar face in verticals, Ruban had already spent years performing — as a dancer, theater actor, singer, presenter, and voice actor.

That diverse background continues to shape the way he approaches every role. In fact, Ruban once compared learning a script to learning choreography, an approach that reflects a career built on movement, discipline, and performance.

Bogdan Ruban on stage in Kyiv, from a social media post in November 2025 | Source: instagram/rubanbogdan

Growing Up with Big-Screen Inspirations

Ruban's path toward acting began with a love of cinema. Growing up, he admired performers such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, and Leonardo DiCaprio, actors whose work inspired him to pursue the craft himself.

What started as admiration eventually became a career goal. He went on to study acting professionally, earning a bachelor's degree before completing a master's degree at Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, one of Ukraine's leading performing arts institutions.

Looking back, Ruban has described choosing acting as one of the best decisions he ever made.

A Foundation Built on Dance and Theater

Before focusing primarily on screen acting, Ruban spent 13 years as a competitive ballroom dancer. He later worked as a choreographer and performed with Freedom Ballet, experiences that took him to different countries and introduced him to life as a professional performer.

Dance remains an important part of how he thinks about acting today.

"I treat the script like a dance," he explained in an interview in October 2025, noting that he often memorizes lines the same way he once learned choreography—by finding rhythm and structure within the material.

His résumé also extends beyond acting. Over the years, Ruban has worked as a television presenter, singer, voice actor, and theater performer, building a skill set that allows him to move comfortably between different types of productions.

Among those projects is voice work for the video game "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl," one of Ukraine's most internationally recognized gaming releases.

Becoming a Familiar Face in Vertical Dramas

Ruban's introduction to vertical dramas came through his existing work with AMO Pictures, the Ukrainian production company that would go on to become one of the major players in the global vertical drama industry.

Looking back, he described the opportunity as a combination of timing and professional relationships.

"I just got lucky," he said. Having already worked with the company, he was in position to join some of its early vertical productions as the format began gaining momentum. His first projects included a werewolf-themed story, followed by a growing list of romance, mafia, and contemporary dramas.

His credits include "A Love Too Risky to Resist," "Love Captive to the Mafia Boss," "The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf," "Young Elite," "Engaged to the Enemy," "Brace Face Betty," "Queen of Hearts," "Her Wild Love: Reality," "Scarlet Seduction," and "Pregnancy Contract: A Love Triangle." More recent projects include "A Queen for the Mafia Kings," "My Perfect Stranger," and

The variety of those roles reflects something Ruban enjoys about the format. Across his vertical drama work, he has portrayed everyone from mafia figures and romantic leads to supernatural characters and high-profile professionals, allowing him to explore very different worlds and personalities.

The Role That Brought New Attention

Among his many vertical projects, "Age Gap" stands out as one of the roles most closely associated with him.

In the series, Ruban played Brennan, a successful rock musician whose romance becomes the center of the story. The role allowed him to draw on years of stage experience and performance training.

Speaking about the character, Ruban noted that his background in dance and performing helped him create Brennan's confidence and stage presence. He also enjoyed experimenting with the character's appearance, from hairstyles to wardrobe choices, in order to bring the musician to life.

The series connected strongly with viewers and introduced Ruban to a wider audience within the vertical drama community.

Creating Stories During Difficult Times

Like many Ukrainian actors, Ruban has continued working while navigating the realities of war.

Despite those challenges, Ruban continues to value the opportunity to create stories and connect with audiences around the world. He has also used interviews and social media to help raise awareness about the situation in Ukraine.

"Do Not Pretend, Be"

One piece of advice has stayed with Ruban throughout his career: "Do not pretend, be."

The phrase reflects the approach he brings to his work. Whether he is playing a rock star, a mafia boss, a werewolf, or a romantic lead, his goal is not simply to imitate a character but to find something truthful within the performance.

Looking ahead, Ruban hopes to continue taking on challenging roles and eventually expand into more international projects and feature films. He has also joked that one dream role would be playing Neo in a remake of "The Matrix."

For an actor whose career has spanned dance floors, theater stages, television studios, and vertical drama sets, the next challenge is likely just another opportunity to find a new rhythm. And if his career so far is any indication, he'll be ready when it arrives.