Mili Avital | |
---|---|
![]() Avital in Beyond the Sea, 1991 | |
Born | [1] Jerusalem, Israel | 30 March 1972
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1991–present |
Spouse | Charles Randolph (m. 2004)[2] |
Mili Avital (Hebrew: מילי אביטל; born March 30, 1972) is an Israeli-American actress. She built an international career, starting in her native Israel, starring on stage, film and television. She won the Israeli Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1991, moved to New York in 1993 to study theatre in English, was discovered by an agent while working in a restaurant, and started acting in Hollywood almost immediately. She has maintained her career in both countries since.
Early life
Avital was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of graphic designers Noni and Iko Avital. Avital's father was born in Morocco, whereas her mother is Israeli-born and of Turkish-Jewish descent.[3][4] She was raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, and in Ra'anana, Israel.[5] She attended the Thelma Yellin High School of Arts in Givatayim, Israel.[citation needed]
International Career
In 1993, Avital arrived in New York City to study acting at the Circle in the Square Theatre School. The following year, discovered by an agent while working as a waitress, she was cast as the female lead in the 1994 science fiction film Stargate,[6] for which she received a Sci-fi Universe award. She has appeared in films such as Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man opposite Johnny Depp, Doug Ellin's Kissing a Fool opposite David Schwimmer, Polish Wedding opposite Claire Danes, and Robert Benton's The Human Stain opposite Anthony Hopkins. In 1999, she portrayed a Bosnian rape victim in the pilot episode of the long-running NBC legal drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Avital appeared in three other episodes of the series: "Parasites", "Manhattan Vigil", and "Depravity Standard". She also appeared in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Palimpsest". Her television work includes Scheherazade in the Emmy-nominated ABC miniseries Arabian Nights to rave reviews, Jon Avnet's Uprising, and After the Storm . In 2009–2010, Avital appeared in the FX TV show Damages, in a recurring role as the mistress to the husband of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close). She appeared in the 2012 ABC television series 666 Park Avenue.[7]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Me'ever Layam | Miri Goldfarb | |
1993 | Groupie | ||
1994 | Stargate | Sha'uri | |
1995 | Dead Man | Thel Russell | |
1996 | Invasion of Privacy | Theresa Barnes | |
1997 | The End of Violence | Featured Performer | |
1998 | Polish Wedding | Sofie | |
1998 | Animals | Fatima | |
1998 | Kissing a Fool | Samantha Andrews | |
1999 | The Young Girl and the Monsoon | Erin | |
1999 | Minotaur | Thea | |
2000 | Preston Tylk | Emily Tylk | |
2003 | The Human Stain | Young Iris | |
2004 | Ahava Colombianit | Tali Shalev | |
2005 | When Do We Eat? | Vanessa | |
2007 | Noodle | Miri Calderone |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Marta Stevens | Episode: "Payback" |
2000 | Arabian Nights | Scheherezade | TV miniseries |
2001 | After the Storm | Coquina | TV film |
2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Ava Parulis / Irina Parulis | Episode: "Parasites" |
2001 | Uprising | Deworah Baron | TV film |
2002 | Shabatot VeHagim | Noa | Episodes: "El Ha-Ma'ayan", "Air Guitar" |
2009-2010 | Damages | Anna Mercado | Episodes: "I Agree, It Wasn't Funny", "London. Of Course" & "The Dog Is Happier Without Her" |
2009–2012 | Prisoners of War | Nurit Halevi-Zach | Recurring role (11 episodes) |
2010 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Lenore Abrigaille | Episode: "Palimpsest" |
2012 | 666 Park Avenue | Danielle Tyler | Episode: "Murmurations" |
2012, 2015 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Laurie Colfax | Episode: "Manhattan Vigil" & "Depravity Standard" |
2017 | Landing on Their Feet | Dana Berger Fine | Leading role |
References
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mili-Avital/news Retrieved 29 November 2023
- ^ https://m.jpost.com/not-just-news/grapevine-i-love-you-in-hebrew-446794
- ^ "Israeli actress Mili Avital is back on Hollywood's radar". Haaretz.
- ^ "Noodle: Mili Avital interview: A strong connection". SBS Movies. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ Kaplan, Don (25 April 2000). "SCHWIMMER'S ALI BABE; HER STARRING ROLE IN 'ARABIAN NIGHTS' WILL TEST THE FRIENDSHIP". New York Post. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Hollywood Now: Oscar Winners & New Show Bride and Prejudice". 18Doors. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ Keck, William (8 August 2012). "Keck's Exclusives: New Bodies Check in to ABC's 666 Park Avenue". TV Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
External links
- Mili Avital at IMDb