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Hadar Ratzon-Rotem

Hadar Ratzon-Rotem (Hebrew: הדר רצון-רותם; born 1978) is an actress of Yemenite Jewish descent, recognized for her versatile performances in theater, film, and television across and productions. She gained prominence with her role as in the thriller Rendition (2007), starring alongside and , and for portraying Leila Qasab in the acclaimed series Prisoners of War (2009–2012), which served as the basis for the American adaptation (2011–2020), where she also appeared as Tova Rivlin. Her other notable roles include in Netflix's The Spy (2019), opposite , and a music teacher in the The Echo of Your Voice (). Born in and raised in , Ratzon-Rotem comes from a family without a theatrical background; her father was a career army officer who later became a , while her mother works in . She served in the ' Intelligence Corps before pursuing acting, graduating from the Yoram Loewenstein Studio in . Her early career included stage work at the Habima National Theatre, where she starred as Aliza Azikri in the musical Sigal (2011), performing over 100 shows. Ratzon-Rotem's breakthrough in international cinema came with Rendition, after which she balanced opportunities with projects, including a period living in for work before returning to focus on acting. She has continued to take on diverse roles, such as in Double Panther at Beit Lessin and in the 2023 film Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in , , for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the 2024 Sidabrinė gervė Awards. Married with two daughters, she has expressed a commitment to roles suitable for family viewing and to promoting stories globally.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Hadar Ratzon-Rotem was born in February 1978 in , . She grew up in , a suburban city north of , in a non-theatrical family environment that emphasized stability and routine. Her father served as a career before transitioning to a role as a , while her mother worked in , providing a modest, working-class household focused on practical professions. As a child, Ratzon-Rotem was notably shy, often keeping to herself during her early school years, though she began to emerge from her shell later by taking initiative in organizing cultural events at school, which marked a gradual development in her social confidence.

Military service

Hadar Ratzon-Rotem fulfilled Israel's compulsory military service requirement for women by enlisting in the (), where she served in the Intelligence Corps. As part of the standard obligation under Israel's Security Service Law, her service lasted the typical duration of 24 months for female conscripts, a period that integrates young Israelis into national defense efforts across various units. Coming from a family with military ties, Ratzon-Rotem's time in the marked a formative phase in her early adulthood, though specific personal challenges or reflections from this period remain undocumented in public accounts.

Education and early career

Acting training

After completing her mandatory in the Defense Forces, Hadar Ratzon-Rotem pursued her interest in , which had intrigued her during her post-army years spent working in and other jobs in . Returning to , she enrolled in the three-year professional program at the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio in , a renowned institution founded by actor and director Yoram Loewenstein that trains students for careers in theater, film, and television. Ratzon-Rotem graduated from the program in 2006 as part of the studio's class of that year, marking a relatively late start to formal training at age 28 after her earlier professional experiences abroad. The intensive curriculum emphasized foundational and advanced techniques, including Stanislavski-based methods such as An Actor's Work on Himself and An Actor's Work on a , alongside , realistic acting, , text analysis, and acting through movement and song. Students also engaged in practical stage work, such as performing scenes and monologues, production of plays, , physical theater, and presentations in front of audiences, under the guidance of experienced instructors like Loewenstein himself. Additional components covered voice training, speech, singing, movement, dance, mask work, clowning, and , complemented by studies in theater history, film history, , , and to provide a holistic preparation for professional performance.

Debut and breakthrough roles

Ratzon-Rotem entered the acting industry shortly after completing her training at Yoram Loewenstein's Studio in . Her screen debut came in 2007 with a minor role as Safiya, a CIA operative, in the American thriller Rendition, directed by and starring and ; she was cast just a week after graduating, marking her first professional credit at age 29. Despite the high-profile project, she faced initial challenges in gaining recognition in , leading her to take odd jobs while pursuing further opportunities in theater. Transitioning to Israeli theater, Ratzon-Rotem debuted on in the musical Sigal at the Habima National Theatre, portraying Aliza Azikri, the partner of Greek singer ; the production required six months of intensive voice training and ran for over 100 performances. She followed this with a role in Habima's Lo Bayom Velo Balayla alongside Lia Koenig, receiving positive notices for her performances but still navigating the competitive local scene around age 30. These early theater works helped build her skills amid modest reception, as critics noted her potential but the industry offered limited breakthroughs for newcomers. Her breakthrough arrived with the role of Leila Qasab in season 2 of the Israeli drama series Prisoners of War (Hatufim, 2010–2012), created by and aired on Channel 2. Portrayed as the wife of captured soldier Yusuf Amiel and daughter of the militant Qasab, Leila is a complex character torn between family loyalty, personal trauma, and ideological conflict, delivering much of her dialogue in to heighten authenticity.) At age 34 during filming, Ratzon-Rotem described the opportunity as "the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me," crediting co-star for elevating the ensemble dynamic. The series, which explores the psychological aftermath of captivity for returned Israeli soldiers, garnered high ratings despite initial critical mixed reviews for season 1, and its international adaptation as amplified its global impact, solidifying Ratzon-Rotem's presence in Israeli media.

Professional career

Israeli television work

Following her breakthrough role in Hatufim (Prisoners of War), Hadar Ratzon-Rotem expanded her presence in television through diverse roles that demonstrated her range across genres. In the Nickelodeon children's series Spyders (2020–), an production about siblings discovering their parents' secret spy lives and forming their own , Ratzon-Rotem appeared in season 2, playing a supporting role that allowed her to engage with family-friendly content suitable for her own children. The show, directed by Ofir Lobel, highlighted her ability to contribute to youth-oriented narratives while maintaining her dramatic roots. Ratzon-Rotem took on a prominent role as Sigal Alfasi in the Channel 12 police drama Hashotrim (, 2021–2023), portraying the ex-partner of lead detective Alon Shenhav and principal of a local . Her character added layers to the series' examination of a detective's obsessive pursuit of justice amid personal turmoil, appearing in six episodes and earning domestic acclaim for the ensemble's realistic depiction of challenges. She also starred in the HOT3 action-drama Elinor (2022), featuring in all 20 episodes as part of a family vacation storyline involving mystery and adventure at a lakeside setting, further showcasing her versatility in ensemble-driven plots. Post-Hatufim, Ratzon-Rotem's television career evolved toward selective, character-driven projects that avoided , as she balanced intense dramas with lighter fare to explore multifaceted female experiences in contemporary society. This trajectory has solidified her recognition within Israel's media landscape, where her performances contribute to the depth of local series exploring themes like family, authority, and personal sacrifice.

International television and film roles

Ratzon-Rotem's international breakthrough came with her role in the American adaptation of , where she portrayed Tova Rivlin, a dedicated agent, across seasons 5 and 6 (2015–2016). Her character serves as a key liaison between Israeli intelligence and the CIA, collaborating closely with Saul Berenson () on operations amid escalating global threats, including efforts to thwart Iranian influence in the . This role marked her transition from Israeli television, building on her performance in the original series Prisoners of War, which inspired . In 2014, she made a guest appearance in the FX series Tyrant as Fatima Mahfouz in the pilot episode, depicting a resilient woman entangled in the political turmoil of a fictional Middle Eastern regime. Her brief but intense portrayal highlighted the personal stakes of authoritarian conflict, contributing to the show's exploration of family dynamics and power struggles. Ratzon-Rotem took on a leading supporting role in the 2019 Netflix miniseries The Spy, playing Nadia Cohen, the devoted wife of legendary Mossad operative Eli Cohen (Sacha Baron Cohen), in a dramatization of his undercover mission in Syria during the 1960s. Based on the real-life espionage saga, her character navigates the emotional toll of her husband's prolonged absences and the secrecy of his work, raising their children while grappling with uncertainty and eventual tragedy. The performance earned praise for its authenticity and emotional depth, though the series faced criticism from Cohen's family for historical inaccuracies in depicting family interactions. More recently, in the 2023 Showtime miniseries , Ratzon-Rotem portrayed , an Israeli intelligence operative involved in the decades-long pursuit of leader Imad Mughniyah. Appearing in two episodes, her character underscores the high-stakes collaboration between international agencies in efforts, reflecting the series' basis in real events from the 1980s to 2000s. She also appeared in the 2015 film A Tale of Love and Darkness, directed by , in a supporting capacity as a woman at a party, adding to the ensemble depicting early Israeli society through Amos Oz's memoir. Transitioning to English-language projects presented challenges for Ratzon-Rotem, including adapting to nuanced and accents while authentically representing perspectives on global stages. In The Spy, she noted the particular difficulty of embodying a real historical figure like Nadia Cohen, requiring deep research into personal letters and family dynamics to convey quiet strength amid espionage's isolation. These roles have positioned her as a bridge for narratives in media, often portraying resilient women in intelligence and conflict zones.

Filmography

Television appearances

Ratzon-Rotem began her television career with a reenactment role in the documentary special (2007), portraying . She gained prominence in Israeli television with a recurring role as Leila Qasab in the drama series Prisoners of War (2009–2012), appearing in multiple episodes across season 2. In 2015, she made her U.S. television debut as Tova Rivlin, a agent, in a on Homeland (season 5, episode 8). Ratzon-Rotem appeared as Fatima Mahfouz in the pilot episode of (2014), marking another guest role in an series. She portrayed Keren Falach, a agent, in two episodes of The Gordin Cell (2015). One of her most notable roles was as Nadia Cohen, the wife of the titular spy, in the miniseries The Spy (2019), appearing in all 6 episodes as a lead character. In the Israeli series The Echo of Your Voice (2021), she played a music in a recurring capacity across 4 episodes. Ratzon-Rotem took on the recurring role of Sigal Alfasi in (2021–2023), appearing in 6 episodes of the police drama. She guest-starred as Maia in 2 episodes of the miniseries (2023). More recently, she appeared as Elinor in the Israeli series Spyders (2020–2023), with a recurring role in 20 episodes.

Film roles

Ratzon-Rotem began her film career with a minor role in the American political thriller Rendition (2007), directed by and starring and . She portrayed Safiya, a in this international production addressing themes of and interrogation. In 2015, she appeared in Natalie Portman's directorial debut, the Israeli-American biographical drama A Tale of Love and Darkness, adapted from Amos Oz's memoir. Ratzon-Rotem played the Woman at Party in a brief but ensemble role, set against the backdrop of pre-state . Her role expanded in the 2023 French comedy-drama All-Time High, directed by Alexandre Valenti, where she portrayed , a key character in a story involving a scammer and a woman on the run. This international co-production highlighted her versatility in European cinema. That same year, Ratzon-Rotem took on a leading supporting role as Galia in the Lithuanian-Israeli co-production Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania, directed by Tomas Marcinkevičius. The film explores interconnected relationships in a single apartment, earning her recognition for her performance in multilingual settings.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Hadar Ratzon-Rotem is married to Yair Rotem, a instructor whom she met while studying acting at Yoram Levinstein's performance studio in the mid-2000s. Upon marriage, she adopted the hyphenated surname Ratzon-Rotem. The couple has two daughters. Ratzon-Rotem has described her husband as an "amazing father" who shares parenting responsibilities, and she has emphasized investing deeply in her children's lives. In public statements, Ratzon-Rotem has discussed the challenges of balancing her acting with , noting that " comes first, then " for her. She selects roles that allow involvement, such as appearing in the children's series Spyders, which her daughters could watch. During extended shoots abroad, like for The Spy in 2019, she managed separations by frequent phone contact, avoiding major disruptions.

Awards and recognition

Awards won

In 2024, Hadar Ratzon-Rotem won the Best Supporting Actress award at the Sidabrinė gervė (Silver Crane) Awards for her portrayal of Galia, an woman navigating challenges, in the Lithuanian-Israeli co-production Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in . The 15th edition of the awards ceremony occurred on June 9, , at the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall in , where 21 Silver Crane statuettes were presented across various categories. Unable to attend in person, Ratzon-Rotem accepted the honor remotely and delivered her speech via . Established in by the Audiovisual Copyright Association AVAKA and organized by the Lithuanian Filmmakers' Union, the Silver Crane Awards represent Lithuania's premier national film honors, recognizing excellence in local productions while underscoring the industry's expanding global influence through international collaborations.

Show nominations

For the 2019 Netflix miniseries The Spy, in which Hadar Ratzon-Rotem played , the wife of Israeli spy , the production received a nomination at the in 2020 for Best Performance by an Actor in a or Motion Picture Made for Television, given to lead actor . The series did not receive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for its limited run. Ratzon-Rotem appeared as Mossad agent Tova Rivlin in seasons 5 and 6 of the Showtime series . For season 5 (2015), the series earned four nominations at the in 2016, including Outstanding Drama Series. Season 6 (2016) garnered five nominations at the in 2017, again including Outstanding Drama Series. Overall, accumulated 40 Primetime Emmy nominations across its run, with particular acclaim for its espionage thriller elements during the seasons of her involvement. In the series Prisoners of War (known as Hatufim), Ratzon-Rotem portrayed Leila Qasab across 12 episodes of season 2 (2012). That season received nine nominations at the 2013 Awards of the Television Academy, including Best Drama Series, Best Directing for a Series, and Best Screenplay for a Series. The series as a whole earned nine wins from the Television Academy for its first season, with additional nominations and wins for the second season.

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