Shira Haas Biography, Wiki, Height, Married, Movies

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Shira Haas is an acclaimed Israeli <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shira_Haas">actress</a> who first rose to prominence in her home country through standout performances in film and television. Since 2014, she has received five nominations for the Israeli Ophir Awards, winning twice. Haas achieved international recognition for her lead role in the Netflix series Unorthodox (2020), becoming the first Israeli actor to be nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award. That same year, she won Best International Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her role in the Israeli drama film Asia.

<h2>Background and Early Life</h2>

Shira Haas was born on May 11, 1995, in Tel Aviv, Israel, into a secular Jewish family. Her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Jews">parents</a>, both Israeli-born <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Jews">Ashkenazi Jews</a> of Polish, Hungarian, and Czech descent, moved to Hod HaSharon when Haas was one year old, where she spent most of her childhood. Her maternal grandfather was a Holocaust survivor who was imprisoned at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.

At the age of two, Haas was diagnosed with kidney cancer. After enduring intensive treatments, she made a full recovery by the time she was four. Her early battle with illness has often been cited as fostering a sense of resilience that later resonated in her acting performances.

Haas began performing at the renowned Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv at the age of 14, appearing in productions such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto">Ghetto</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_III_of_England">Richard III</a>. She pursued theater studies at the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts in Givatayim and briefly served in the Israel Defense Forces' military theater program.

<h2>Breakthrough with Princess</h2>

While still a student, Haas was discovered in 2014 by casting director Esther Kling through a message on Facebook, encouraging her to audition for the lead role in the film Princess. She landed the role at the age of 16. Her performance received critical acclaim: The New York Times described it as a “really stunning lead performance,” while The Hollywood Reporter praised her authenticity in portraying a 12-year-old character.

Her role in Princess earned her the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Actress">Best Actress</a> award at the Jerusalem Film Festival and the Peace & Love Film Festival, as well as a nomination for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Actress">Best Leading Actress</a> at the Israeli Ophir Awards.

<h2>International Film and Television Career</h2>

Haas made her international film debut in <a href="/biography/natalie-portman">Natalie Portman</a>’s directorial work A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015), portraying a young version of the central character Fania. She gained further exposure with her appearance on The Today Show in 2016 and starred alongside <a href="/biography/jessica-chastain">Jessica Chastain</a> in The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017), directed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niki_Caro">Niki Caro</a>.

Her performance in Foxtrot (2017), which was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, earned her a second Ophir Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. By 2018, Haas had become a staple in Israeli television drama, appearing in acclaimed series including Shtisel (2013–2020), The Jeweler (2015), The Switch Principle (2016), Harem (2017), and The Conductor (2018).

She received Ophir Award recognition again in 2018, with a nomination for Best Leading Actress in Broken Mirrors and a win for Best Supporting Actress in Noble Savage. That same year, Haas played Leah in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Davis">Garth Davis</a>’s biblical drama <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene_(2018_film)">Mary Magdalene</a>. In 2019, she was named to Israeli Forbes' 30 Under 30 list and starred alongside <a href="/biography/harvey-keitel">Harvey Keitel</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esau">Esau</a>.

<h2>Unorthodox and Global Acclaim</h2>

Haas's breakthrough into international stardom came with her lead role in the limited Netflix series Unorthodox (2020), based on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Feldman">Deborah Feldman</a>’s memoir of the same name. Portraying Esther "Esty" Shapiro, a young woman fleeing an ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn, Haas immersed herself in the role by moving to Berlin two months prior to filming. She studied Yiddish extensively and underwent piano and vocal training. Additionally, she shaved her head for authenticity in the opening scenes.

Critics widely praised her performance. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Poniewozik">James Poniewozik</a> of The New York Times called her “a phenomenon, expressive and compelling.” The Guardian’s Brigid Delaney described her as “mesmerizing” and “excellent,” noting that Haas’s diminutive stature draws immediate empathy from viewers. Forbes critic Sheena Scott lauded her nuanced performance, while <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Stuever">Hank Stuever</a> of The Washington Post emphasized her “somber and yet vulnerable luminosity.”

Her work in the series led to a nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, marking a historic first for an Israeli actor.

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<h2>Success with Asia and Recent Recognition</h2>

In 2020, Haas starred alongside <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alena_Yiv">Alena Yiv</a> in the Israeli drama film Asia, playing the daughter of a single mother who uses a wheelchair. The film premiered online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was showcased at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Haas's performance won her the award for Best International Actress. The jury noted, "Her face is a never-ending landscape in which even the simplest expression is painful."

She went on to win Best Supporting Actress at the 30th Israeli Ophir Awards for her role in Asia. In April 2020, Haas participated in a virtual celebration marking Israel’s 72nd Independence Day, joining several other prominent Israeli figures.

Later in June 2020, she signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), further solidifying her presence in international cinema. As she continues to take on complex and emotionally resonant roles, Shira Haas remains one of the most compelling Israeli actresses working today.

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