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Hani Furstenberg

Hani Furstenberg (born September 14, 1979) is an -American actress and singer renowned for her versatile performances in film, theater, and television across and productions. She first rose to prominence in with supporting roles in the films (2002) and (2004), the latter earning her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Furstenberg achieved recognition for her leading role opposite in the drama (2011), directed by Julia Loktev, and later starred in the critically acclaimed horror film The Golem (2018), for which she received a nomination for at the Film Academy Awards. In theater, she has earned accolades for roles in productions such as (2010), where she won an Israeli Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress, and on as Fräulein Kost in the 2014 revival of . Born in , Furstenberg relocated to with her family at six weeks old, where she spent her early childhood. She attended the prestigious of Music & Art and , developing an interest in performing arts. At age 16, she moved back to with her family, receiving a deferral from mandatory to study acting at Beit Zvi School before returning to at 23 to pursue formal acting training. Furstenberg then lived in for two years, honing her craft, and spent the next four and a half years in , establishing her professional foundation in theater and film. In 2011, she returned to the , basing herself in until 2025 to expand her career into English-language projects, before returning to . Furstenberg's career in Israel highlighted her range, with theater credits including Ophelia in Hamlet, Constanze in Amadeus, and Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof at the Cameri Theatre, where she also received awards for Outstanding Actress and Most Promising Young Actress. On television, she starred in the satirical series The Bourgeoisie, contributing hit songs that topped Israeli charts, and appeared in productions like Asylum City and False Flag. Since her U.S. return, she has taken on supporting and recurring roles in American series such as American Gods (2017), Escape at Dannemora (2018), Angelyne (2022), and Saint X (2023), alongside guest spots on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Bull. More recently, she starred in the 2024 series The Green Veil and, in 2025, returned to Israel for roles in Cameri Theatre's Cabaret and a new drama series on Kan 11. Her off-Broadway work includes Through the Yellow Hour (2012) and Stay (2013), showcasing her ongoing commitment to stage performance.

Biography

Early life

Hani Furstenberg was born on September 14, 1979, in , to a Jewish family headed by her mother, Brynie Furstenberg, a prominent whose career in theater and film significantly influenced her daughter's early interest in . Six weeks after her birth, Furstenberg relocated with her family to , where she spent her formative years immersed in a vibrant cultural environment that blended Jewish heritage with American urban life. Growing up in , she developed a passion for and performance early on, creating homemade films with a by age 10 and participating in activities like church choir singing, which her parents supported by attending performances. This period also exposed her to diverse artistic influences, fostering her bilingual and bicultural identity. At age 16, Furstenberg moved back to with her parents, motivated by their optimism about the and prospects for peace, arriving just before Rabin's assassination. She had briefly attended 's of Music & Art and Performing Arts, entering its vocal and drama program after a successful audition, but left to complete her high school education in . There, amid the transition to Israeli society, she continued exploring theater and acting, building on her mother's legacy and her own childhood experiences in singing and storytelling. After high school, she completed her mandatory military service before returning to at age 23.

Personal life

Furstenberg married Israeli mathematician and computer programmer Ido Hizkiya, son of veteran actor Yitzhak Hizkiya, in 2010. The couple relocated to shortly after their wedding, where they have primarily resided since. In 2014, Furstenberg and Hizkiya welcomed their first child, a daughter. She has maintained privacy regarding her daughter's name and specific details, focusing public discussions on the joys and challenges of early parenthood. Furstenberg has described motherhood as unexpectedly demanding, noting in a 2015 interview that "having a baby wasn’t what I expected it to be" and expressing relief at delaying a major career commitment until six months postpartum. The continues to live in the United States, with Furstenberg occasionally returning to for professional engagements, such as her 2025 roles in the Cameri Theater's production of and the Kan 11 drama series B'Hasturah. These trips reflect her dual Israeli-American identity, which she has called both a "," influencing decisions on balancing across borders and children exposed to both cultures. Furstenberg has shared that motherhood prompted reflections on long-term residence, aiming to settle before her daughter's entry into nursery school while prioritizing career opportunities in both countries.

Career

Film roles

Furstenberg began her film career with a supporting role in the 2002 Israeli drama , directed by Eytan , where she portrayed Goldie, a close friend of the protagonists in a story examining forbidden romance within the military. This performance helped establish her presence in queer , earning attention for its raw emotional depth amid themes of and . Her breakthrough role arrived in 2004 with , directed by Joseph Cedar, in which she played Tami Gerlik, the introspective middle daughter in a recently widowed ultra-Orthodox Jewish family grappling with grief, religious expectations, and personal desires. The film, set against the backdrop of a settlement community preparing for a , highlights Tami's internal conflicts and the family's struggle for acceptance. Furstenberg achieved international recognition in 2011 starring as Nica, the female lead, in The Loneliest Planet, directed by Julia Loktev and filmed in the of . In this minimalist relationship drama, she and her fiancé (played by ) face a profound rift during a guided backpacking trip, exploring themes of trust and vulnerability in love. In subsequent years, Furstenberg took on supporting parts in American independent films, including Mrs. Schuyler in (also released as Ruth & Alex, 2014), a comedy-drama about an elderly couple contemplating their apartment's sale amid life's changes. She also appeared as Fiona in Five Nights in Maine (2015), directed by Maris Curran, portraying the wife whose sudden death in a car accident propels her grieving husband into emotional confrontation with his estranged in-laws. Furstenberg's later film work includes the lead role of Hanna in the 2018 supernatural The Golem, co-directed by Doron and Yoav Paz. Set in 17th-century during a , she plays an infertile Jewish woman who uses Kabbalistic rituals to create a childlike from clay, unleashing unintended terror on her isolated community threatened by antisemitic outsiders. The film reimagines to blend historical with visceral elements.

Television and stage work

Hani Furstenberg's television career began in with her breakout role as Lilach in the comedy-drama series The Bourgeoisie (HaBurganim, 2000–2004), where she portrayed a central character in a story about affluent friends navigating personal and social challenges, which propelled her to domestic prominence early in her career. She continued building her television profile in Israel through ensemble roles in high-profile series, including False Flag (2015–2019), a spy thriller where she played Joan "Jo" Berger in the second season, contributing to the show's exploration of international intrigue and mistaken identities. In Asylum City (2018–2019), Furstenberg took a leading role as Anat Sitton, a determined detective advocating for refugees amid investigations into murder and corruption in Tel Aviv's asylum seeker community, a performance that earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Israeli Academy of Television Awards. Transitioning to American television, Furstenberg made her guest appearance as Leslie Adams, a vigilante group member, in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Street Revenge" (season 13, 2012), addressing themes of community justice and serial crime. She later portrayed the loa Maman Brigitte, the Haitian Vodou figure and wife of Baron Samedi, in season 2 of American Gods (2019), bringing a supernatural intensity to episodes involving resurrection and cultural mythology. Her U.S. television work also includes a recurring role in the miniseries Escape at Dannemora (2018), Bronis Goldberg in the limited series Angelyne (2022), Dana in the drama Saint X (2023), and a guest appearance on Bull. More recently, in the historical drama anthology The Green Veil (2024), she appeared as the supporting character Mabel Rogers, part of a narrative uncovering government oppression across American history. Furstenberg's stage work underscores her versatility, with early experiences in Israeli theater at the Cameri Theatre pre-2010, including roles in productions like Hamlet, Amadeus, and Fiddler on the Roof, which honed her skills before her screen transitions. A pivotal achievement came in Joshua Sobol's Ghetto (2009–2010), where she earned the Israeli Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress for her physically demanding portrayal of Hershele, a ventriloquist's dummy in a story of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. Her Broadway debut followed in the 2014 revival of Cabaret at Studio 54, replacing in the role of Fräulein Kost from December 2014, marking her entry into New York theater alongside stars like Alan Cumming.

Music and other contributions

Furstenberg has pursued a parallel career as a singer, leveraging her voice in both theatrical performances and recordings. Early in her career, she recorded the duet "Elohim Natan Lecha BeMatana" with , released in 2000, which topped the hit list for five consecutive weeks. In 2001, she collaborated with Sarit Vino-Elad on a re-recording of the theme song "Darkeinu" for the television series HaBurganim, contributing vocals that helped popularize the track within media. Additionally, in the 2011 film , she performed the song "Oye Como Va" alongside co-star Bidzina Gujabidze, integrating live vocals into her on-screen role. Her musical theater work highlights her live performance skills. In 2014, Furstenberg made her Broadway debut as Fräulein Kost in the Theatre Company's revival of at , where she sang ensemble numbers and delivered lines in German while playing the . The role required rapid preparation, including learning songs and choreography just weeks after giving birth, showcasing her versatility in musical productions. In 2025, she starred in a production of at the Cameri Theatre, Tel Aviv's premier stage, further embedding her talents in cultural performances. In 2025, she also starred in the drama series B. Beyond music, Furstenberg has contributed to broader cultural discussions through her public persona. In interviews, she has advocated for expanded representation of women's roles in Israeli cinema, expressing satisfaction in transitioning from teenage characters to more mature portrayals that reflect complex female experiences. As an Israeli-American artist, she has highlighted the challenges of dual identity in the industry, promoting visibility for performers navigating cross-cultural careers in both and Israeli media. Her involvement in events like the America-Israel Cultural Foundation supports emerging Israeli talent, aligning her work with advocacy for binational artistic exchange.

Recognition

Awards

Furstenberg has received several accolades from Israeli institutions, highlighting her contributions to film, television, and theater. In 2004, she won the Israeli Academy Award (Ophir Award) for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Campfire, where her nuanced depiction of familial tensions within an Jewish family earned praise for capturing emotional depth amid cultural conflict. Additionally, she received the Outstanding Actress award from the Cameri Theatre and the Most Promising Young Actress award from the city of for her early theater work. In the theater realm, Furstenberg secured the Israeli Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2010 for her physically demanding performance as a ventriloquist's dummy in Joshua Sobol's , a production that explored Jewish resistance in the during , underscoring her versatility in intense dramatic roles. On television, she earned a nomination for the Israeli Television Academy Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2018 for Asylum City, recognizing her portrayal of a resilient investigating murders amid refugee crises and corruption in ; the series itself garnered six nominations overall. Furstenberg has also been nominated for the Israeli Academy Award for Best Actress in 2019 for The Golem, a reimagining , where her lead role as a mystical protector was noted for blending vulnerability with supernatural intensity. Earlier in her career, her supporting role in (2002) contributed to the film's screening in the Panorama section at the , though she did not receive individual honors. As of November 2025, Furstenberg has not received major international awards, reflecting her primary impact within and cinema circles rather than mainstream global accolades.

Critical reception

Furstenberg's breakthrough roles in cinema during the early garnered praise for her ability to convey emotional depth in complex family and social dramas. In Joseph Cedar's (2004), where she portrayed Tami, a teenager navigating religious and personal conflicts within an ultra-Orthodox family, critics highlighted her nuanced portrayal of vulnerability and restraint, contributing to the film's success as Israel's entry for the . Her performance in Eytan Fox's (2002), as the bold soldier Goldie, was noted for injecting levity and tension into the ensemble, marking her as a rising talent in film. These roles established her reputation for authentic emotional layering, earning her the Ophir Award for Best Supporting Actress for , which boosted her visibility in circuits. As Furstenberg transitioned to international projects, her work received acclaim for subtle physicality and restraint, though responses varied. In Julia Loktev's (2011), playing the resilient traveler Nica, reviewers lauded her semi-improvised delivery and silent expressions of anger, disappointment, and tentative , which anchored the film's introspective tone during a traumatic expedition. Her portrayal was seen as a testament to her physical commitment and emotional subtlety, enhancing the realism of the couple's unraveling relationship. In contrast, her guest role as the Vodou loa in (2019) drew mixed feedback; while some appreciated the intensity she brought to scenes of ritual and temptation, others critiqued the episode's reliance on stylized visuals over character depth, noting her accent and presence as striking but underexplored. More recent roles have reaffirmed Furstenberg's versatility in genre-blending narratives, with critics emphasizing her authenticity in historical contexts. In the 2024 miniseries The Green Veil, as Mabel Rogers, a frustrated housewife entangled in government conspiracies, she impressed with her depiction of quiet defiance and wartime , making the character a compelling counterpoint to the male leads' obsessions. Reviewers praised her for grounding the sci-fi elements in relatable emotional turmoil, particularly in scenes of personal and marital strain. Throughout her career, critics have underscored Furstenberg's role in bridging and cinema, often portraying her as an "underrated" figure whose work transcends cultural boundaries. Her ability to embody characters grappling with identity and displacement— from settler debates in to authoritarian undercurrents in The Green Veil—has been highlighted as a unifying thread, with observers noting her dual heritage allows for authentic cross-cultural resonance. Despite acclaim in and prestige projects, mainstream recognition remains limited, a point echoed in profiles describing her as perpetually navigating perceptions of otherness.

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