Who is Jack Polanski and what are his qualifications or background?
Executive summary
Zack (not “Jack”) Polanski is a British Green Party politician, former actor and hypnotherapist who was elected leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in September 2025 after serving as deputy leader and as a London Assembly Member [1] [2]. Reporting consistently records his background as theatre actor, hypnotherapist, youth and mental‑health worker, and gig‑economy experience, plus education at Stockport Grammar, Aberystwyth University and drama school in the US [3] [4] [5].
1. Who is Zack Polanski? The short portrait
Zack Polanski is a rising Green Party figure who served as deputy leader from 2022, was elected leader in September 2025 and sits on the London Assembly; media describe him as an “eco‑populist” who wants to broaden the Greens’ appeal beyond climate to material left‑wing issues [6] [2] [1]. Coverage notes he markets a populist communications style and wants the party to “connect with people’s anger” and compete with parties such as Reform UK [7] [8].
2. Name, origins and personal background
Polanski was born David Paulden in Salford in 1982 and at 18 adopted his family’s original surname Polanski — a change explained in profiles as reclaiming a surname altered by his family earlier in the 20th century [9] [10] [4]. Jewish publications and mainstream outlets note he identifies as Jewish while distancing himself from Zionism in some public comments [10].
3. Education and early career: theatre, drama school and more
Multiple profiles record a non‑traditional route into politics: he attended Stockport Grammar School on scholarship, later a local sixth‑form, studied at Aberystwyth University and did further drama training in Georgia, USA, before moving into London‑based work [4] [5] [11]. He worked as an immersive theatre actor with DifferenceENGINE and in productions such as The Hollow Hotel and The People’s Revolt [12].
4. Professional résumé beyond politics
Polanski’s résumé before elected office includes acting, hypnotherapy, youth work, mental‑health counselling and hospitality/gig‑economy roles — London’s official assembly profile lists actor, youth worker and mental‑health counsellor among his past jobs [3]. Journalists have highlighted his hypnotherapy work, including a 2013 Sun feature in which a reporter received a hypnotherapy session from him [4] [12].
5. Electoral and political experience
Polanski was elected to the London Assembly in May 2021 and chaired environment‑focused committees; he used that platform to push issues like oversight of Thames Water and campaigns for workers [3]. He was deputy leader and then won the party leadership in 2025 on a platform promising sharper messaging and “eco‑populism,” winning a sizable margin in the internal contest, according to multiple outlets [2] [7] [1].
6. Public image, strategy and controversies
Reporting shows two competing takes. Supporters portray him as an energetic communicator who has grown grassroots support and increased party membership, while critics within and outside the party accuse him of polarising language and a style that risks alienating establishment figures — press coverage cites both acclaim and internal pushback [13] [8] [2]. He has publicly said the Greens must adopt storytelling techniques that have worked for political opponents, a point covered at length by the BBC and Guardian [2] [14].
7. What about “Jack Polanski”?
Search results do include entries for a “Jack Polanski” as an actor listed on IMDb and TV Guide, but those are separate records and do not map to the Green Party politician Zack Polanski; mainstream reporting about the politician consistently uses “Zack” not “Jack” [15] [16] [17]. Available sources do not mention a Jack Polanski connected to the Green Party leader’s biography.
8. Limitations, conflicting sourcing and agendas
Profiles draw on self‑description, local school records and press interviews; tabloids and right‑leaning outlets have produced more sceptical takes on his background and finances, while left‑leaning or party‑sympathetic outlets emphasise grassroots appeal — readers should note each outlet’s likely editorial slant when weighing claims [18] [12] [8]. Some biographical details (exact course of study in the US, specific hypnotherapy credentials) are described in human‑interest reporting but not fully documented across sources; available reporting does not include independent verification of every past role [4] [3].
If you want, I can compile a concise, sourced timeline of his education, jobs and political offices with direct quotes and vote totals cited from these articles.