Shira Haas, born on May 11, 1995, in Israel, is an acclaimed actress who has captivated audiences worldwide with her deeply moving performances, rising from local prominence in Israeli television to international stardom with her Emmy-nominated turn in Netflix’s Unorthodox. Haas first gained attention in her home country for her role in the beloved Israeli television series Shtisel, which aired from 2013 to 2021, where she played the character of Ruchami Weiss, a young woman navigating the complexities of life within a strict ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. This early work showcased her remarkable ability to convey emotional depth and vulnerability, establishing her as a formidable talent in Israeli entertainment. Her international breakthrough arrived in 2020 when she portrayed Esther "Esty" Shapiro in the Netflix miniseries Unorthodox, a role that required her to master a Yiddish accent and undergo a physical transformation to depict a woman fleeing an arranged marriage in Brooklyn’s Hasidic community. The performance earned her widespread critical acclaim, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series, making her the first Israeli actress ever to receive an Emmy nomination. This historic achievement catapulted her onto the global stage, cementing her status as one of the most promising talents of her generation.

Before her international fame, Haas began her career in theatre as a child, performing in various productions before transitioning to film. She made her feature film debut in 2014 with Princess, directed by Tali Shalom Ezer, where she played a young woman dealing with a family tragedy, a performance that earned her the Best Actress award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. She followed this with a role in Natalie Portman’s directorial debut, A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015), based on Amos Oz’s memoir, where she played the younger version of the author’s mother, further demonstrating her range. In 2020, she starred in the Israeli film Asia, directed by Ruthy Pribar, portraying a young woman with a severe medical condition, a role that won her the Best Actress award at the Jerusalem Film Festival and earned her the Ophir Award, Israel’s equivalent of the Oscar. Haas continued to expand her international footprint, appearing in the Netflix science fiction series Bodies (2023), a time-traveling crime drama where she played a key role across multiple timelines. Her career reached new heights in 2025 when she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Ruth Bat-Seraph in Captain America: Brave New World, a significant milestone that introduced her to a massive global audience. Known for her intense preparation and commitment to her roles, Haas has become a symbol of Israeli talent on the world stage, balancing her work between independent films, television, and blockbuster franchises, and remains a highly sought-after actress with a bright future ahead.