Biography
Who is Shira Haas?
Early life and education
Shira Haas was born on May 11, 1995, in Tel Aviv, Israel. She comes from a Polish Jewish family. Her grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust, with her grandfather held at Auschwitz and her grandmother emigrating from Hungary. When she was only one year old, her family relocated to Hod HaSharon, Israel.
During her early childhood at age two, Shira received a diagnosis of kidney cancer. She underwent years of radiation therapy to recover. This health struggle resulted in damage to her spine and affected her growth, which contributed to her stature. She attended the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts in Givatayim, majoring in theatre. Despite receiving a medical exemption from mandatory conscription, she completed a brief period of volunteer service with the Israel Defense Forces theatre unit.
Acting beginnings
Shira started her professional acting career at age 14. She performed in plays at the Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv, including roles in Ghetto and Richard III. Her television debut occurred in 2013 when she played the character Ruchami Weiss in the Israeli drama series Shtisel.
In 2014, she secured the lead role in the film Princess after a casting director contacted her via social media. This debut performance at age 16 received praise from critics, including The New York Times. She went on to appear in the 2015 film A Tale of Love and Darkness, directed by Natalie Portman. She also acted in The Zookeeper's Wife in 2017, where she appeared alongside Jessica Chastain.
International breakthrough
The year 2020 marked a major international milestone for Shira. She starred as Esther Esty Shapiro in the Netflix miniseries Unorthodox. To prepare for this role, she learned Yiddish, took piano and singing lessons, and shaved her head.
This performance earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series. She made history as the first Israeli actress to receive such a nomination. She also starred in the film Asia in 2020, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Her performance earned her the award for Best International Actress at the festival and an Ophir Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Recent work and roles
In recent years, Shira has continued to expand her acting portfolio. She appeared in the 2023 Netflix science fiction series Bodies. In 2025, she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play the character Ruth Bat-Seraph in the film Captain America: Brave New World. She also took the stage in the musical Opening Night at the Gielgud Theatre in London.
She resides in Tel Aviv as of 2020. In 2023, she joined other entertainment professionals in signing an open letter to President Biden regarding hostages held by Hamas.
Birthday and age
Shira Haas was born on May 11, 1995, which makes Shira 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Shira shares the date with 65 other famous people.
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