Actors and Media Stars

Hanna Azoulay-Haspari (b.1960-), an award-winning actress, playwright & director, was born and spent her childhood in Be’er-Sheva. For her starring roles in the films “Nadia”  (1987) and “Lovesick in Tenement Gimel” (1995), she received Israel Film Academy “Ophir” Awards for Best Actress. She has already acted in numerous films, plays and TV shows and often chooses roles and/or writes scripts & plays that promote her ‘eastern’ feminist agenda. Her screenplay for the film “Shehur” (lit., black magic) won the Israel Film Academy 1994 “Ophir” Award and the 1995 Best Filmscript Award at the “Troy Festival” in Portugal. 

Amir Dadon (b.1975-) is an actor, singer-songwriter born in Be’er-Sheva, who will be starring in Ha-Bimah‘s production of “Les Miserables.” His first solo album, entitled “Amir Dadon” came out in 2010.

Ronit Elkabetz (1964-2016), Be’er-Sheva-born, award-winning actress and Hebrew/French filmmaker, died prematurely of cancer, but not before winning 3 Israel Film Academy “Ophir” Awards for Best Actress in 1994, 2001 & 2007, as well as the “2010 French Culture Award” at the Cannes Film Festival for the quality of her work, dealing with serious social issues. She first appeared in the Israeli film “The intended” (1990) and first starred in the French film “Origine controlee” in 2001. She wrote a number of film-scripts, directed several movies & acted in many memorable film roles. The last Israeli film she directed, and in which she starred, was “Gett” (2014). 

film actor, television host, & TV producer, as well as being the father of 5 + 2 step-children. He’s well-known for starring in various Israeli TV comedy series, e.g.: “Comedy store” (1994-1996) and “Shemesh” (1997-2004); acting in movies such as: “Pick a card” (1998), “Afula express” (1999), and “Hunting elephants” (2013); acting in the Hebrew TV drama: “Blue Natalie” (2010+2013); emceeing game shows like: Israel’s “Let’s make a deal” (1996) and “Hollywood squares” (1999+2001); judging Israel’s “A star is born” (2003-2012) and “The next Eurovision star” (2013); and hosting a comic/talk show: “Mahar Shabbat” (lit., tomorrow’s the Sabbath, 2016-2017). In 2010, he even wrote and aired an original song entitled: “Who could have known.” In Dec. 2017, he’ll star in the Hebrew version of the musical: “Around the world in 80 days;“ and in 2018, he’s scheduled to encee a new gameshow called: “The Wall.”

David Kigler (b.1965-) is comedian who often jokes about Be’er-Sheva in his stand-up routines.

Ilana Man (b.1964-) is a singer/actress who appeared in Israeli movies such as: “Love victim” (1992) and “Afula express” (1999), and had a hit song “My worlds” (2009).

Ya’ir Nagid (b.1972-) has appeared in TV commercials on Israel’s Channel 2. He is well-known for founding and directing the “Be’er-Sheva Youth Performing Troupe” (1999-2004), directing the Youth Center and becoming General Manager of  the Center for Performing Arts (2010-). He also produced and hosted many of the Regional Beauty Pageants.

Moran Tawil (b.1983-) is a fashion designer who participated as a contestant in the TV reality show “Runway project” (2009).

Valeria Yapanova (b.1990-) is a stunning, green-eyed Israeli fashion model who appeared in Israeli ads for “Fox” (2007) and has since modelled for companies in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Spain.