Ronit Elkabetz

Ronit Elkabetz (27 November 1964 – 19 April 2016) was a groundbreaking Israeli actress, screenwriter and film director whose work resonated across both Israeli and French cinema, earning her three Ophir Awards and numerous international accolades. Born in Beersheba to a religious Moroccan‑Jewish family, she grew up in Kiryat Yam, a background that infused her performances with a vivid cultural mosaic and a deep awareness of the complexities of identity. Although she never received formal acting training, Elkabetz launched her career as a model before landing her first starring role in The Appointed (1990), quickly establishing herself as a fearless presence on screen. Throughout the 1990s she delivered powerful performances in films such as Sh'Chur (1994) and Scar (1995), while also learning French to broaden her artistic horizons, a skill that later opened doors to significant collaborations in France. In the early 2000s she turned her creative energies toward directing, co‑authoring and co‑directing with her brother Shlomi a semi‑autobiographical trilogy that includes To Take a Wife (2004), Shiva (2008) and the acclaimed Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (2014), each film dissecting gender, power and marital law with unflinching honesty. Her television work, notably the historic lesbian kiss in the series Florentine (2000), underscored her commitment to challenging social norms and expanding representation. Beyond her artistic achievements, Elkabetz was an ardent advocate for Mizrahi women's rights, serving as honorary president of the feminist movement Ahoti and supporting its fair‑trade initiatives. After marrying architect Avner Yashar in 2010, she gave birth to twins, balancing motherhood with a relentless career until her untimely death from lung cancer in 2016, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide.