Shira Haas, a remarkable talent in the acting world, has captivated audiences with her compelling performances. She gained international acclaim through the Netflix series "Unorthodox," which tells the story of Esther "Esty" Shapiro's journey from an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community to a life of freedom in Germany. This powerful narrative not only showcases her acting prowess but also highlights her ability to convey complex emotions and experiences that resonate deeply with viewers.
Born in Israel, Haas began her career at a young age and quickly rose to prominence, earning recognition for her unique talents and dedication to her craft. Her journey has not been without challenges, as she has overcome personal hardships and health issues that have shaped her into the artist she is today. As we dive deeper into her story, it becomes clear that Haas is not just an actress but a survivor and a multifaceted artist.
The following sections will provide insights into her life, her artistic endeavors, and the profound impact she has made in the entertainment industry. Join us as we explore the untold truth of Shira Haas and discover the many layers that make her an extraordinary figure in film and television.
Table of Contents
- Biography
- Shira Haas is a Survivor
- She's a True Artist
- The Actor Has Learned Languages for Her Work
- Shira Haas and Her Co-Stars Go Way Back
- How Shira Haas Relates to Her Characters
- She's an Award-Winning Actor
- She's Willing to Do What She Needs to for Her Roles
- Shira Haas Has Always Been Interested in Film
- The Women Who Inspire Shira Haas in Her Work
- Unorthodox's Reception Surprised Shira Haas
- She Has Gotten Roles in Unique Ways
- Shira Haas Already Has a Large Net Worth
Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Shira Haas |
| Date of Birth | May 11, 1995 |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Notable Works | Unorthodox, Princess, Shtisel |
| Awards | Best Actress at the Jerusalem Film Festival, Emmy Nominee |
| Estimated Net Worth | $550,000 |
Shira Haas is a Survivor
Shira Haas may be small, but she is most definitely mighty. Haas was diagnosed with kidney cancer when she was a toddler, and she made a full recovery after three years. The chemotherapy treatments reportedly stunted her growth. "I don't remember anything of my life before [cancer]," Haas told The Guardian. "From the age of three to six I was very sick," she revealed.
Despite the challenges she faced, she seemed to have found the silver lining in her health scare, telling the outlet, "Being ill forced me to mature early." She continued, "Of course, I wish it hadn't happened, but a part of me is thankful for what I went through. I understand pain and suffering. It shaped who I am." Haas indicated that her interests in the arts started to percolate during this time, as well.
"When I was 7 or 8, I was in a lot of ways like a 40-year-old," Haas told the Los Angeles Times, noting that her experiences with childhood cancer might be what made her "go to some deep places" as an actor.
She's a True Artist
Shira Haas is a multi-faceted artist. In addition to acting, she has written her own poetry and took a liking to graphic design. "I love using Photoshop to make collages, and I've been getting back to it," she told Forward in June 2021. "I have a huge wall in my work room that I made. I'm very proud of it."
And after watching the finale of "Unorthodox," where Haas belted a beautiful ballad, it's clear that she can sing, too. "It was a big day," she told Variety about performing the scene. "I remember the first take, my voice was even shaking a little bit — in a good way. I mean, I was stressed. It was probably the scene I was most excited and nervous about."
With a voice like hers, some speculated about whether the melody was coming from Haas herself or not, but the talented star confirmed via Instagram that those were, indeed, her own pipes. "Probably one of the most emotional shooting days. And yes, it was live," she wrote in April 2020, along with a clip of the powerful scene.
The Actor Has Learned Languages for Her Work
Shira Haas is so dedicated to her craft, she's even learned new languages for her roles. To play Brooklyn-born and Orthodox Esty, Haas took on Yiddish. Although she says her fluency could improve, she was committed to understanding the vernacular for the part. "If you will tell me to have a conversation in Yiddish, I won't, unfortunately, know how to do it. But I will understand a lot of it," Haas revealed to Deadline. "It was really important for me, first of all, to know all my lines. But not just to know all my lines, but to know really what each word means."
To practice her speech, Haas told Deadline, she studied Yiddish poetry and worked with a "religious consultant" on set. "He really helped me so much, with my lines, and also with understanding this language," she added. "I recorded him and I recorded myself, and I wrote my lines, and I listened to it, because I wanted to be really like Esty. I wanted to be free to be the character."
But "Unorthodox" isn't the only project that required Haas to brush up on a new dialect. For her movie "Asia," where she plays a Russian immigrant in Israel, she said she had to "learn some sentences" in Russian, admitting to Forward, "It's a very difficult language. Even if I compare it to Yiddish, which I did for 'Unorthodox,' I think it's harder."
Shira Haas and Her Co-Stars Go Way Back
Although Shira Haas is still in the early stages of her career, she's worked alongside some incredible actors. But we'd guess her favorite co-star is "Unorthodox's" Amit Rahav, who acted opposite Haas as Esty's husband, Yanky. The two have been friends for years, and Haas actually helped Rahav prepare for his audition.
"He's a neighbor of mine and he's a really good friend of mine," Haas said of their friendship while speaking with Deadline. "We met at a party, and we immediately bonded. Amit is the funniest person alive. We always said, 'Someday, we will act together on a project,' and then it happened, 10 years later."
In a February 2021 Instagram post, Amit Rahav celebrated the double Golden Globe nominations for "Unorthodox" with photos of himself and Shira Haas auditioning for and then starring in the series. He congratulated Haas and all the cast and crew and wrote, in part, "I could have never imagined what this journey would lead to!"
Haas thinks their longtime friendship has made them even better co-stars. "I definitely feel like our relationship in real life helped us on the screen," she shared with Deadline. "We are actors — even if you give me someone that I don't know, we can make it work. But the fact that we do know each other and trust each other so much, and with a lot of things that are very sensitive when we didn't have much rehearsals, it just really helps to have such a good friend, and also an amazing actor."
How Shira Haas Relates to Her Characters
As a Jewish woman herself, you'd imagine that Shira Haas might relate to the practicing Jews she's portrayed on screen. However, their similarities weren't apparent to Haas at first, on account
