Israeli ‘Unorthodox’ stars Shira Haas, Amit Rahav win Independent Spirit Awards
‘Best news I’ve ever received at 6 am!’ says actress after receiving honor in online ceremony; ‘Immigration Nation,’ co-directed by Israel’s Shaul Schwarz, also gets gong
Israeli “Unorthodox” stars Shira Haas and Amit Rahav won Independent Spirit Awards on Thursday for their portrayal of a married couple, the first time the honors have been given in television drama categories.
The two won Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series and Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series.
“Thank you @filmindependent for honoring me with the best female performance in a scripted series award. Best news I’ve ever received at 6 am!,” Haas wrote in an Instagram post.
“Thank you thank you thank you! Never going sleep again,” said Rahav, posting a video of the moment he received the honor.
Additionally, the award for new non-scripted or documentary series, went to Netflix’s “Immigration Nation” co-directed and co-produced by Israel’s Shaul Schwarz.
The Spirit Awards, which took place online this year due to the pandemic, are the penultimate stop on Hollywood’s award circuit before the grand finale of the Oscars, which will be held in-person in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Haas, 25, missed out on a Golden Globe award for her role in “Unorthodox” earlier this year. She was the first Israeli ever to be nominated for a best actress Golden Globe.
The actress, whose breakout role in “Shtisel” also saw her play an ultra-Orthodox character, has previously been recognized for her work, picking up an Ophir Award — the Israeli equivalent of the Academy Awards — for her supporting role in “Noble Savage” in 2018.
She is set to portray Israel’s only female prime minister, Golda Meir, in an upcoming TV series.
According to Deadline, the series will follow Meir from “her birth in Kiev to her American upbringing in Milwaukee, her role in the formation of Israel and her rise to become the new nation’s first and only female prime minister.”
