The third season of Oscar-nominated writer Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount+ series, Lioness, is more than halfway through, with each episode leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. Starring acclaimed actors Zoë Saldaña, Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman, the show is considered one of Sheridan’s best works to date.This season explores the Russia-Ukraine war, with Saldaña’s character, Joe McNamara, directly involved on the front lines. Interestingly, a new addition to the Lioness cast shares a personal connection to this season’s storyline: Russian-Ukrainian actress Elizaveta Neretin portrays Ukrainian double agent Oleksandra Balakin, who reluctantly works alongside Joe.So, who is the 33-year-old actor joining the star-studded line-up? Here is everything you need to know about Elizaveta Neretin.What is Elizaveta Neretin’s background?Elizaveta Neretin was born to a Russian father and a Ukrainian mother. Photo: @elizavetaneretin/InstagramElizaveta Neretin was born in Cherkasy, Ukraine, to a Russian father and Ukrainian mother. Raised across Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, she moved to Montreal, Canada with her father at 14, and speaks English, Russian, Ukrainian and French.Per Decider, Neretin studied biology at university for seven years after her father pushed her towards science: “My father was a mechanical engineer, and he was really like, ‘You’re going to be a doctor, because that’s the best job.’”But after a heartbreak, she reconsidered what she wanted from life and admitted her true dream was to become an actress. She enrolled in the Vancouver Acting School, completing its intensive and conservatory programmes over 15 months.How did Elizaveta Neretin break into acting?