Actors From the Holy Land
List activity
278 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
18 people
- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Topol was born on 9 September 1935 in Tel Aviv, Palestine [now Israel]. He was an actor and producer, known for Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Flash Gordon (1980) and For Your Eyes Only (1981). He was married to Galia Topol. He died on 8 March 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress and model. She was born in Petah Tikva, Israel, to an Ashkenazi Jewish family (from Poland, Austria, Germany, and Czechoslovakia who Hebraized their name from 'Greenstein' to sound less European). She served in the IDF for two years, and won the Miss Israel title in 2004.
Gal began modeling in the late 2000s, and made her film debut in the fourth film of the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast & Furious (2009), where she appeared as Gisele Yashar; she repriced the role of Yashar in several subsequent installments of The Fast Saga. Gadot went on to achieve global stardom for her portrayal of Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe, including in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Wonder Woman (2017) and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021). She has since starred in the Netflix action-comedy film Red Notice (2021) and the mystery film Death on the Nile (2022).
Gal is a motorcycle enthusiast, and owns a black 2006 Ducati Monster-S2R. She has been married to Yaron Versano since September 28, 2008. They have three daughters.- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Natalie Portman is the first person born in the 1980s to have won the Academy Award for Best Actress (for Black Swan (2010)).
Natalie was born Natalie Hershlag on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, Israel. She is the only child of Avner Hershlag, an Israeli-born doctor, and Shelley Stevens, an American-born artist (from Cincinnati, Ohio), who also acts as Natalie's agent. Her parents are both of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Natalie's family left Israel for Washington, D.C., when she was still very young. After a few more moves, her family finally settled in New York, where she still lives to this day. She graduated with honors, and her academic achievements allowed her to attend Harvard University. She was discovered by an agent in a pizza parlor at the age of 11. She was pushed towards a career in modeling but she decided that she would rather pursue a career in acting. She was featured in many live performances, but she made her powerful film debut in the movie Léon: The Professional (1994) (aka "Léon"). Following this role Natalie won roles in such films as Heat (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996), and Mars Attacks! (1996).
It was not until 1999 that Natalie received worldwide fame as Queen Amidala in the highly anticipated US$431 million-grossing prequel Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). She then she starred in two critically acclaimed comedy dramas, Anywhere But Here (1999) and Where the Heart Is (2000), followed by Closer (2004), for which she received an Oscar nomination. She reprised her role as Padme Amidala in the last two episodes of the Star Wars prequel trilogy: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). She received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in Black Swan (2010).
She received a second nomination for Best Actress, for playing Jacqueline Kennedy in Jackie (2016).- Actress
- Producer
Ayelet Zurer is one of Israel's most acclaimed actresses. She was born in Tel Aviv, and first garnered the attention of Hollywood when she was cast by Steven Spielberg in her first English-speaking role, as Eric Bana's character's wife in the Oscar® nominated film Munich (2005). Since arriving in the United States, Zurer has starred in Studio films including Sony Pictures' Vantage Point with Dennis Quaid and William Hurt, Samuel Goldwyn's Fugitive Pieces opposite Stephen Dillane, Paul Schrader's Adam Resurrected opposite Jeff Goldblum and Willem Dafoe. Ron Howard's Angeles and Demons, opposite Tom Hanks, Darling Companion, a Lawrence Kasdan ensemble cast featuring Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline and Warner Bros. Man Of Steel opposite Russell Crow. She filmed Rodrigo Garcia, Last days in the desert opposite Ewan McGregor, as well as awaiting the release of the movie The Last Knights by the Japanese director Kazuaki Kiriya opposite Clive Owen.
She recently won the Gold Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series at the 54th Festival of Television of Monte-Carlo for her role in the series "Hostages". Ayelet won the Israeli Film And Television Academy Award for her lead performance in Nina's Tragedies. She also received nominations for her work in the features Only Dogs Run Free, The Dybbuk from the Holy Apple Field, Desperado, and Rutenberg. She won the Haifa International Film Festival critic award and was awarded a star on Haifa's "film boulevard," for her international and local achievements. Zurer also won the Israeli Television Academy Award for her lead performance in "In Treatment," a highly acclaimed television series that has been adapted by HBO for American television. In 2014 She was nominated apposite herself in the year's best drama "Shtisel", but won best actress in a drama for her portrayal of a brilliant surgeon faced with the life and death dilemma in Hostages, sold to BBC4 and Canal Plus, and as a format to the American ABC. The "face " of one of Israel's leading women's fashion companies- Golbary. She is a producer, a writer, an illustrator of two adult books, "Shorts" and the best seller "Badolina" by Gabi Nitazn. Ayelet has been developing a few of her own projects in Israel and the US, expressing interest in working internationally with directors from all over the world, believing in joining unknown writers/directors as well as known ones.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Odeya Rush was born and raised in Haifa, Israel with her six brothers. Her first role was Larry David's childhood friend in an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Shortly after that, she starred in "The Odd Life of Timothy Green," then went on to do "The Giver" alongside Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep, and "Goosebumps" opposite Jack Black. At age 18, she wrote, directed, and starred in her own short film, "Thanks." Odeya recently starred in the Oscar-nominated "Lady Bird" directed by Greta Gerwig, and played a leading role in "Dumplin" alongside Jennifer Aniston. Odeya became a US citizen in 2018. This past year, she's written and directed two short-film-style music videos, and she hopes to continue to work behind the camera.- Actor
- Soundtrack
The youngest of four siblings, Brian George was born in Jerusalem to Jewish parents in July 1952. Both of his parents had immigrated to Israel from India. His father was born in Iraq but raised in Bombay and his mother was born and raised in India. When Brian was a year old, the family immigrated to London. Brian attended an all-boys school in London. In 1966, the family moved to Toronto and he attended public high school, followed by the University of Toronto, where he became involved in theater. George left before graduation and formed an unsuccessful theater group. He joined The Second City, where he trained with comedy greats including John Candy, among others. His career in acting and voice-over work has flourished ever since.- Oded Fehr was born on 23 November 1970 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He is an actor, known for The Mummy Returns (2001), The Mummy (1999) and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999). He has been married to Rhonda Tollefson since 22 December 2000. They have three children.
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Alona Tal, an Israeli-American singer and actress, was born in Herzliya, Israel. She began her career after serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. Her big break came in 2003 starring in an Israeli film. At the time she also starred in two television series in the country, and also dabbled in music, recording several songs with the Israeli rapper Subliminal. Tal moved in with her sister in New York to take a break from her career. There, she collaborated with Haitian artist Wyclef Jean in the song "Party to Damascus". She also managed to establish herself on American television, beginning with a recurring role in the series Veronica Mars: She originally auditioned for the lead role, but creator Rob Thomas wrote a new character just for her. Tal later snagged a regular role in the short-lived CBS series.- Yael Grobglas is a French-Israeli actress based in Los Angeles.
She is known for her roles of Petra Solano and her twin sister Anezka in the critically acclaimed CW series "Jane the Virgin", the feature "Interview with God" and a number of recurring roles on television series including "Reign" and "Supergirl". Over the five seasons of Jane the Virgin, Yael's performance as Petra and Anezka have been praised in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan, Washington Post, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. Time Magazine described her performance: "Grobglas...has turned Petra into one of television's most amusingly complex comic villains. Fans love to hate her, yet as Jane delves deeper into Petra's backstory - and shows off her lighter side - they're starting to love to love her as well."
Her talent and passion for performing arts became visible even as a young girl. As a teenager, Grobglas studied and performed in professional dance and ballet groups. She later lead a brief modeling career and participated in a number of runway shows and advertising campaigns. Eventually having realized a greater interest in acting, Grobglas graduated from the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio in Tel Aviv.
Before transitioning to Hollywood, Yael had a successful TV, Film and Theater career in Israel. In 2007, Grobglas was cast to her first major role for the Israeli sci-fi series Ha'Yi ("The Island"), which made her popular among Israel's young adult audiences. Following two consecutive seasons of the show Grobglas enrolled in a full-time three-year acting program at the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio. She completed the third season of Ha'Yi in 2010, and was cast for a number of major commercials during the course of her studies. In 2010, Grobglas gained international recognition when she starred in the first Israeli horror film Rabies ("Kalevet"). She was part of the main cast of the Israeli sitcom Ha-Shualim ("The Foxes"). Grobglas also played the role of Linda Christie in a Beersheba Theater adaptation of Play It Again, Sam. In 2012, Grobglas was cast to the Israeli comedy-drama series Tanuchi ("Chill").
In 2013, Grobglas made the move to Los Angeles and was promptly cast as the lead in the CW's The Selection pilot, described as a cross between The Bachelor and The Hunger Games, but it was ultimately not picked up to series. In the same year, her roles included the lead in an Israeli film "Jeruzalem", and the recurring role of Olivia D'Amencourt in the CW's series "Reign".
In 2014, Grobglas was cast as Petra, one of the main characters on the CW's "Jane the Virgin". When describing her experience as Petra to the New York Times, Grobglas said, "I'm usually cast for the more goofy and tomboyish characters. I'm having a wonderful time playing someone so complex and layered and funny." "She's calculating, resourceful and manipulative," she said. "But even though I don't agree with the decisions she makes, you have to admire her. It's been a blast playing such a mischievous character because she's so unlike me." In March 2016, TVLine gave Grobglas an honorable mention for her performance in Jane the Virgin Chapter 36: "Leave it to Jane the Virgin's unsung MVP Yael Grobglas to turn the painful process of giving birth - to twins, no less! - into a comedic tour de force ... After witnessing Grobglas' impeccable ability to mix humor and emotion, we can't wait to see what challenges (and laughs) motherhood will bring for her character."
Between 2016-2019, while filming Jane the Virgin, Yael had guest and recurring roles in the CWs "Crazy Ex Girlfriend" and "Supergirl" and starred in the 2018 Feature "Interview with God". - Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Raised in Montreal, Canada, Roiz trained theatrically at the Guildford School of Acting (UK). Upon returning to Montreal, he began to work consistently in theatre, earning a nomination for his performance at the "Masques Awards" (Quebec's Theatre Awards).
Roiz's introduction to feature films was in a supporting role in the blockbuster "The Day After Tomorrow," followed by "16 Blocks", "Man of the Year" and "Unthinkable". Roiz shot his first starring film role in the independent science fiction thriller "Extracted" which premiered at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival.
Sasha Roiz stars in NBC's new hit series "Grimm" as Captain Renard, Nick's politically adept superior officer and a descendant of a powerful line of royalty. Roiz's "Grimm" character follows his last regular role as Sam Adama, a brutal mob enforcer, on the critically acclaimed Syfy series "Caprica," prequel to "Battlestar Galactica." In recent years, Roiz has become a familiar face on TV screens. He has made numerous guest appearances on some of television's most notable programs, including "House," "The Mentalist," "Lie To Me," "CSI" and "NCIS" and "Castle" as well as a series arc on "Warehouse 13".
He resides in Los Angeles.- Actress
- Director
- Additional Crew
Hiam Abbass also Hiyam Abbas, is a Palestinian actress and film director. Abbass was born in Nazareth, Israel, to a Muslim Arab family. She was raised in the village of Deir Hanna. Since the late 1980s, she has lived in Paris and holds French citizenship. During the filming of the Steven Spielberg film Munich (2005), Abbass lived in a hotel with the Palestinian Arab and Israeli actors for three months. During that time, they had many discussions that "helped both sides grow closer." In an interview in 2006, Abbass said, "I still remember how difficult it was for the Arab actors to manhandle the Israeli actors in the first scene where the Israeli national team is taken hostage."- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Iddo Goldberg was born on 5 August 1975 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He is an actor and producer, known for Snowpiercer (2020), Peaky Blinders (2013) and The Zookeeper's Wife (2017). He has been married to Ashley Madekwe since 17 June 2012. They have one child.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Inbar Lavi is an Israeli actress. She is known for portraying Raviva on the 2012 MTV series Underemployed, Vee on the 2014 Fox television series Gang Related, and Sheba on the Fox series Prison Break. Lavi starred in the 2017-2018 Bravo television series Imposters, and played Eve in the final three seasons of the Netflix series Lucifer.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Alon Aboutboul was born on 28 May 1965 in Israel. He is an actor and director, known for The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Body of Lies (2008) and London Has Fallen (2016).- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Mili Avital is the first Israeli actor to establish a career in Hollywood. She started on stage at the age of 17 in Tel Aviv's Cameri National Theater. In film, she won the Israeli Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for Best Actress, both before she was 20. Moving to the US in 1994, Avital starred in numerous films including Jim Jarmousch's Deadman and Roland Emmerich's Stargate. Her extensive television work includes Law & Order, Damages and a starring stint in Prisoners of War (aka Hatufim)-- which the New York Times listed number one in its "Thirty Best International TV Shows of the Decade" (2019).
For 2024, Avital has just completed Mary opposite Anthony Hopkins and she is currently filming Kugel, a spin off of the hit series Shtisel. An Italian film based on Meir Shalev's award-winning novel, Four Meals, is scheduled for release next year.
As a director, Avital co-wrote and directed Next Stop at the Broadway Comedy Club (2017-2018) and her short documentary film, I Think Myself I Am All the Time Younger, was part of the Tribeca Film Festival in 2004.
Avital lives in London and New York, and has been married for many years to Oscar-winning screenwriter, Charles Randolph. They have two children.- Daniella Kertesz was born in Jerusalem, Israel. She is an actress, known for World War Z (2013), Shtisel (2013) and Incitement (2019).
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Yvan Attal was born on 4 January 1965 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He is an actor and writer, known for The Accusation (2021), Rush Hour 3 (2007) and Munich (2005).- Raviv Ullman was born in Israel to American parents, Laura Ehrenkranz, a teacher, and Brian Ullman, a psychiatric nurse practitioner. His family is Jewish, and his maternal grandfather, Joseph Ehrenkranz, was an Orthodox rabbi. His first professional stage role as Louis in the national touring company of The King and I (1956). Raviv has worked with New York's most premiere theater companies including Roundabout, Atlantic, Second Stage, and The New Group, and played both musical and dramatic roles in various regional theater productions including "Dead End" at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles, California. He received a 1998-1999 Best Actor award nomination from the Connecticut Critics Circle Awards for his portrayal of Stanley in "A Rosen by Any Other Name." He starred in the Disney Channel's television series Phil of the Future (2004), as well as The Walt Disney Company's made-for-TV movie Pixel Perfect (2004/I) (TV), ABC Family's Searching for David's Heart (2004), and NBC's Growing Up Brady (2000). He has guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and That's So Raven (2003). His feature films include The Big Bad Swim (2006); The Boys of Sunset Ridge (2001), starring John Heard, the late Pat Morita, and Burt Young; and the independent film Crossfire (1998).
Raviv's directorial documentary debut Standing Ground, covering the Standing Rock protests, is in post production now. He has a younger sister, Ortal, and a younger brother, Nadav.