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Ayelet Zurer

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Ayelet Zurer
Zurer on the set of Nina's Tragedies in 2002
Born
Ayelet Zurer

(1969-06-28) 28 June 1969 (age 55)
OccupationActress
Years active1992–present
Spouse
Gilad Londovski
(m. 2003)
Children1

Ayelet Zurer (Hebrew: איילת זורר; born (1969-06-28)28 June 1969) is an Israeli actress known for her work in independent films, major blockbusters, and television.[1] She has received several awards throughout her career including Best Actress at the Israeli Academy Awards for her role in Nina's Tragedies (2003) and Best Actress by the Israeli Academy of Television for her roles in BeTipul and Hostages in 2006 and 2013.

Zurer landed an early role as a series regular on the Israeli teen drama, Inyan Shel Zman (1992–1993). She was later cast in the Israeli drama series, Florentine (1997–2000) and shared Israel's first televised lesbian kiss with Ronit Elkabetz in a 2000 episode. She also starred as Elisheva, in family drama series Shtisel (2013). She starred in the Israeli psychological thriller, Losing Alice (2020).

Zurer has appeared in Hollywood films, such as Munich (2005), Vantage Point (2008), Angels & Demons (2009), Man of Steel (2013), and Ben-Hur (2016). She portrayed Vanessa Marianna-Fisk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Daredevil (2015–2018).

Early and personal life

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Ayelet Zurer was born on the 28th of June 1969 and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, by a Jewish family. Her mother was born in Czechoslovakia and survived the Holocaust by hiding in a convent, later immigrating to Israel in the 1950s.[2][3] Her Palestine-born father is of Russian-Jewish descent.[4]

In her youth, she studied theater at the 14th Municipal High School and participated in the Tel Aviv Scouts band.[5] During her service in the Israel Defense Forces, Zurer was a soldier in the military band of the Northern Command.[citation needed]

After finishing her military service, Zurer studied acting for three years at the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio.[citation needed] She then moved to the United States and studied with George Morison at the Actor's Workshop in New York City.[citation needed] In 1991, she returned to Israel.[citation needed]

In 2003, she married her surfing instructor, Gilad Londovski. The couple had a son and currently reside in Los Angeles.[6]

Acting career

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Zurer and Tom Hanks outside the Pantheon in Rome in the 2008 film Angels & Demons

In 1992, she starred in the television series, Inyan Shel Zman.[7] In 1993, she played Debbie in the Israeli comedy film, Nikmato shel Itzik Finkelstein (Revenge of Itzik Finkelstein).[8] During this time she also participated in the cable television show, Yetziat Hirum.[7]

From 1997 to 2000, she had a regular role as Shira Steinberg in the Israeli television show, Florentine.[6] Her character, Shira, shared the first-ever lesbian kiss on Israeli television with Ronit Elkabetz's character, Nicole.[9]

She then appeared in several Israeli television series, including Zinzana in 2000, and then both Shalva and Ha'Block in 2002.[7]

In 1998, she played the lead in the film Ahava Asura (a.k.a. The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field).[10]

In 2001, she starred in the movies Laila Lelo Lola and Kikar Ha'Halomot (Desperado Square).[11]

In 2003, she starred in Nina's Tragedies, portraying the title character, Nina.[12] She won an Israeli Academy Award for Best Actress for the role.[citation needed]

In 2004, she was cast in Steven Spielberg's Munich.[13]

In 2005, she starred in the Israeli television series, Betipul. She played Na'ama Lerner.[7] The series won her a Best Actress award from the Israeli Television Academy[14] and was remade as the HBO series In Treatment.[15] The following year, Zurer participated in an Israeli sketch comedy television show called Gomrot Holchot.[7] In 2005, Zurer appeared in the film Munich, where she played Avner Kaufman's wife.

In 2007, she starred in Fugitive Pieces.[16]

In 2008, she appeared in the American thriller, Vantage Point.[17] That same year, Zurer was cast as the female lead, Vittoria Vetra, in The Da Vinci Code sequel, Angels & Demons.[18] Additionally, she played a nurse who falls in love with the title character in Adam Resurrected (2008).

Zurer with Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline in 2012

In 2011, she played the lead role in the film Hide Away[19] and the role of Superman's mother, Lara Lor-Van, in the reboot of the Superman franchise, Man of Steel (2013).[20]

In 2013, Zurer starred in the Israeli series Shtisel, as Elisheva Rotstein.[21] In 2015, she starred in the Marvel series, Daredevil as Vanessa Marianna-Fisk..[22][23] In 2018, Zurer reprised her role in the third season of Daredevil, and is set to return in the MCU's Daredevil: Born Again in 2025.[24]

In November 2020, Zurer was cast in a recurring role on the third season of the Netflix psychological thriller series, You.[25]

In 2021, she starred in the dramatic-thriller, Losing Alice, on Apple TV+.[26]

In 2024, she starred as Dr. Amalia Levy alongside Amos Tamam in the Israeli drama series, The Best Worst Thing on Keshet 12.[27]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Pour Sacha (a.k.a. For Sasha) Shoshana French drama
1993 Revenge of Itzik Finkelstein (a.k.a. Nikmato Shel Itzik Finkelstein) Debbie
1997 Ahava Asura (Forbidden Love, a.k.a. The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field) Lea
2001 Kikar Ha'Halomot (a.k.a. Desperado Square) Gila (the waitress)
2003 Ish Ha'Hashmal (a.k.a. Rutenberg) Becki
Ha'Asonot Shel Nina (Nina's Tragedies) Nina
2004 Mashehu Matok (Something Sweet) Tamar
2005 Munich Daphna Kaufman
2007 Fugitive Pieces Michaela
Rak Klavim Ratzim Hofshi (a.k.a. Wild Dogs) Telma
2008 Vantage Point Veronica
Adam Resurrected Gina Grey
2009 Ingenious Gina
Angels & Demons Vittoria Vetra
2011 Hide Away The Waitress
2012 Darling Companion Carmen
2013 Man of Steel Lara Lor-Van
2015 Last Days in the Desert Mother
Last Knights Naomi
2016 Ben-Hur Naomi Ben-Hur
2017 Milada Milada Horáková

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Inyan Shel Zman (a.k.a. A Matter of Time) Noga Caspi
1997 Florentine Shira
1999 Zinzana Hanita Rozen 'Georgi'
2001 Laila Lelo Lola (a.k.a. A Night Without Lola) Oshrit TV movie
2004 Maktub Michal TV movie
2005 BeTipul (a.k.a. In Therapy) Na'ama Lerner
2012 Awake Alina Ananyev Episode: "Nightswimming"
2012 Touch Rosemary Mathis Episode: "Closer"
2012 Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Colonel Mehaffey Web series
2013 Shtisel Elisheva Season 1
Hostages Dr. Yael Danon
2014 Rake Fiona Rinaldi Episode: "Bigamist"
2015, 2018 Daredevil Vanessa Marianna-Fisk Main role (season 1);
Guest role (season 3);
11 episodes
2017 Taken Leah Episode: "Leah"
2017 Transparent Ronit Episode: "I Never Promised You a Promised Land"
2019, 2022 Legacies Seylah 2 episodes
2019 Money Heist Raquel Murillo 2nd English dub
2020 Losing Alice Alice[28] 8 episodes
2021 You Dr. Chandra Recurring role
2022 Moonhaven Maite Voss Main cast
2022 Law & Order: Organized Crime Tia Leonetti 2 episodes
2024 The Best Worst Thing Dr. Amalia Levy Main cast
2025 Daredevil: Born Again Vanessa Fisk Post-production

Awards

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Year Group Award Result Film/Show
1997 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Actress Nominated Ahava Asura
2000 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated Kikar Ha'Halomot
2001 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Actress Nominated Ish Ha'Hashmal
2003 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Actress Won Ha'Asonot Shel Nina
Jerusalem Film Festival Best Actress Won Ha'Asonot Shel Nina
2006 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated Rak Klavim Ratzim Hofshi
Israeli Television Academy Awards Best Actress Won Betipul
2013 Israeli Television Academy Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Nominated Shtisel
Won Hostages

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ayelet Zurer". IMDb. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  2. ^ Abramowitz, Rachel (3 April 2009). "Ayelet Zurer is an antihero for 'Angels & Demons'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  3. ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (29 April 2009). "Illuminating Ayelet Zurer". The Jewish Journal. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  4. ^ L'Chayim: Ayelet Zurer.
  5. ^ ""הקריירה שלי התחילה בצופים"". mako. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Ayelet Zurer". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Ayelet Zurer". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  8. ^ "The Revenge of Itzik Finkelstein". Israel Film Archive - Jerusalem Cinematheque. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  9. ^ Pioneers: 8 great shows from the nineties that changed the face of Israeli television Mako. 20 October 2017
  10. ^ "The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field". jfi.org. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Desperate Square". Israel Film Archive - Jerusalem Cinematheque. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Nina's Tragedies". Israel Film Archive - Jerusalem Cinematheque. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  13. ^ Anderman, Nirit (27 September 2011). "Ayelet Zurer to play Superman's mom in new film". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  14. ^ רימון, רן (13 September 2006). "טקס פרסי האקדמיה לקולנוע ולטלוויזיה - "בטיפול" היא הזוכה הגדולה". Globes. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  15. ^ Clarke, Stewart (1 November 2019). "'In Treatment' the Top TV Drama Remake of the Past Decade, 'Skam' and 'Doctor Foster' Hot Prospects". Variety. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Living with oblivion movie review (2008) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  17. ^ Burstein, Nathan (19 February 2009). "Hollywood Story: Israeli Lands (Another) Big Role". The Forward. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  18. ^ Sperling, Nicole (23 April 2008). "'Angels & Demons': Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer cast opposite Tom Hanks". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008.
  19. ^ Israel21c Staff writers (24 December 2009). "New Hollywood film for Israeli actress". Israel21c. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Ayelet Zurer Cast as Superman's Mom in Man of Steel". Collider. 25 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  21. ^ Margalit, Ruth (14 April 2019). "Seeing Inside the Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Community on the Netflix Series "Shtisel"". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Ayelet Zurer, Bob Gunton, Toby Leonard Moore & Vondie Curtis Hall Joins Marvel's Daredevil For Netflix". Marvel.com. 11 October 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  23. ^ Siegel, Lucas (11 October 2014). "NYCC 2014: Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix Panel Live! Rosario Dawson is Claire Temple, More". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  24. ^ "Daredevil: Born Again". On Disney+. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  25. ^ Petski, Denise (18 November 2020). "'You': Saffron Burrows Upped To Series Regular, Dylan Arnold, Tati Gabrielle Among 12 Cast In Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  26. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (22 January 2021). "'Losing Alice' Star Ayelet Zurer on Playing a Director in a 'Passion Triangle'". Variety. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  27. ^ ‘Shtisel’ Star Ayelet Zurer to Lead New Israeli Drama ‘The Best Worst Thing’ (EXCLUSIVE) Variety. 14 February 2024
  28. ^ "Losing Alice". Jerusalem Film Festival. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
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