Shira Haas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shira Haas
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| שירה האס | |
Haas in 2022
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| Born | 11 May 1995 Tel Aviv, Israel
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
Shira Haas (born May 11, 1995) is a talented actress from Israel. She first became well-known in her home country for her role in the TV show Shtisel. Later, she gained international fame for playing Esther "Esty" Shapiro in the Netflix miniseries Unorthodox in 2020.
For her role in Unorthodox, Shira was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy. She was the first Israeli actress ever to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy.
Shira started acting in plays when she was a child. She then moved into films, with her first movie being Princess in 2014. She has also appeared in other films like A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015) and Asia (2020). More recently, she was in the science fiction TV series Bodies (2023) on Netflix. She also played Ruth Bat-Seraph in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: Brave New World in 2025.
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About Shira Haas
Shira Haas was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 11, 1995. Her family has Polish Jewish roots. Her grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust. Her first name, Shira, means "poetry" or "singing" in Hebrew. When she was one year old, her family moved to Hod HaSharon, Israel, where she grew up with her older sister and brother.
Shira attended the Thelma Yellin High School of Arts in Givatayim, Israel. She studied theatre there. After high school, she volunteered for a short time in the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) theatre unit.
Shira's Acting Journey
Starting Out (2010–2019)
Shira began acting in plays at the Tel Aviv's Cameri Theater when she was 14. Some of her early plays included Ghetto and Richard III. In 2013, she made her TV debut in the Israeli drama series Shtisel. She played Ruchami Weiss, a girl from a Haredi family.
In 2014, a casting director found Shira on Facebook. She was encouraged to try out for the main role in the Israeli film Princess. Shira was only 16 when she got this role. Critics praised her performance. The New York Times called her acting "truly remarkable." She won Best Actress awards at the Jerusalem Film Festival and the Peace & Love Film Festival for this role.
Shira appeared in her first international film in 2015. She played young Fania in A Tale of Love and Darkness, directed by Natalie Portman. She also acted alongside Jessica Chastain in The Zookeeper's Wife (2017). This led to her first appearance on an American talk show, The Today Show.
Shira continued to earn awards and nominations in Israel. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Foxtrot (2017). In 2018, she won Best Supporting Actress for Noble Savage. She also appeared in the film Mary Magdalene (2018). In 2019, she was named one of Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30" in Israel. She also acted with Harvey Keitel in the film Esau (2019).
Becoming Globally Known (2020–Present)
In March 2020, Shira starred in the German Netflix series Unorthodox. She played Esther "Esty" Shapiro, a young woman who leaves her Ultra-Orthodox community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City. To prepare for the role, Shira learned the Yiddish language. She also shaved her head and took piano and singing lessons. The series was very popular and Shira's acting received a lot of praise. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for this role.
In 2020, Shira also starred in the Israeli film Asia. She played Vika, a daughter who uses a wheelchair. The film premiered online at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Shira won the award for Best International Actress at the festival. The jury said her acting was "incredibly honest." She also won Best Supporting Actress at the Israeli Ophir Awards for this film.
In 2024, Shira appeared in the main role of the historical drama Ethel. She was also named to Forbes' 2021 list of "30 Under 30" innovators in North America. In 2024, Shira performed in the musical Opening Night at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End.
In February 2025, Shira played the Israeli superhero Sabra in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Captain America: Brave New World. Her character, Ruth Bat-Seraph, is shown as a former Black Widow assassin. The character's inclusion caused some discussion. Shira also shared that she received some negative messages during this time.
Personal Life
Shira Haas lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2025, news reports said that she ended her four-year relationship with Israeli film director Ido Weisman.
In October 2023, Shira joined many other actors and entertainment leaders in signing an open letter. The letter asked President Biden for help in getting hostages released after the October 7 attacks against Israel.
Awards and Recognitions
Shira Haas has won many awards for her acting. Here are some of them:
- Awards of the Israeli Television Academy: Won Best Supporting Actress – Drama Series for Night Therapy (2025).
- Independent Spirit Awards: Won Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series for Unorthodox (2021).
- Jerusalem Film Festival: Won Best Actress for Princess (2014).
- Ophir Awards: Won Best Supporting Actress for Noble Savage (2018) and Asia (2020).
- Peace & Love Film Festival: Won Best Actress for Princess (2015).
- Tribeca Film Festival: Won Best International Actress for Asia (2020).
She has also been nominated for other major awards, including:
- Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries for Unorthodox (2021).
- Golden Globe Awards: Nominated for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for Unorthodox (2021).
- Primetime Emmy Awards: Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Unorthodox (2021).
Images for kids
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Shira Haas in 2022
See also
In Spanish: Shira Haas para niños
