"Sabra on the Rise"
by: Gerri Miller
Alona Tal left her native land of Israel for Hollywood three years ago and is now a regular face on shows like Veronica Mars and Supernatural. But moving thousands of miles from home took some real chutzpah, and lucky for 23-year-old Alona, it's paying off.
An Ocean Away
Where in Israel are you from?
Herzliya. It's about 10-15 minutes from Tel Aviv and is a quiet, beautiful beach town. I went to the beach every day. I love it, and I miss it.
Were you culture-shocked when you moved to the U.S.?
The biggest thing that I had to adjust to was just day-to-day life. It took a while, but I found two stores close to my house that sell all sorts of things from Israel—newspapers, food. I can buy the cottage cheese and the pita bread I like. I go to Cantor's Deli for matzah ball soup.
Have you played a Jewish character since you've been here?
Not yet. My Veronica Mars character was clearly not Jewish. I wore a cross around my neck because it made sense for the character, since she was a Christian. It was really awkward for me at first.
Do you identify as culturally Jewish, religiously Jewish or both?
I'm culturally aware, and I'm a spiritual person. I'm not religious, but I do celebrate holidays and I know a lot about Judaism. I took extensive Bible studies in high school, and I had a bat mitzvah. My grandmother is a Holocaust survivor and what she went through always reminds me of what it means to preserve thousands of years of tradition that have been passed on.
Also, being Israeli is very important to me. Here, there are a lot of Jewish people, but the fact that I'm Israeli makes me a different kind of Jewish person. There are so many of us [Jews] in L.A. Maybe that's why I love it out here.
What do you think of America's perception of Israel and how it's portrayed here?
I don't blame the news [media] for portraying Israel as a scary, terrorist-ridden place because unfortunately, it does have some of that. [News stations] have to show things that will make people watch. But when people ask me, I tell them, ‘You're more likely to get hit by a car crossing the street in L.A. than you are to be in a bombing in Israel.' Honestly, I spent 20 years there and I had a beautiful life. I show people pictures and tell them how it really is.
On Life's Path
Did you always want to act?
No — up until the time I was 6, I wanted to be a housekeeper! I actually went to an arts high school. Then I was in an army theater group in the [IDF — Israeli Defense Forces] for about six months. You go into work every day and rehearse, and then you travel to different army bases and units and perform. But we had other chores as well.
How long did you serve and what was it like for you?
Almost two years. It's a dose of reality. Three weeks out of high school, you're thrown into a system that's very demanding and not forgiving — you have to grow up, you have no choice. Some people have it harder than others. My high school sweetheart was a sniper.
Do you think there will be peace in Israel in your lifetime?
There's a saying in Hebrew that translates, ‘It's not for me to say.' I wish for peace but I think that as a human race, we have bigger problems to worry about right now, like global warming. We should unite and put our emphasis on that.
What do you do for the environment?
I switched to fluorescent light bulbs. I'm saving up to buy a hybrid car. I try to conserve energy, and I encourage people to take the same responsibility. I don't drive really unless it's for an audition. Otherwise I ride my bicycle. I hope it's making some difference.
What other priorities do you set?
My hope is to stay centered and focused, and not be drawn into the silly things in this town. There are a lot of misconceptions about L.A. — especially that you need to party. Maybe it's true, but I don't want to play that game. You've got to be careful, keep your eyes open, and stay with the good things. Girls especially need to respect themselves and demand respect.
What do you do in your spare time?
I play with my dog. She's a pit bull — Chochi — but she's a little wuss. I like to work out and read. I love shopping but I try not to spend the money. I'm looking to enroll part-time as a university student next semester. I want to study art history and geology.
Do you have any films or shows coming out soon?
Taking 5. It's a teen movie about a couple of high school girls that decide to kidnap the most popular boy band around to try to make them perform at their school. It's due out in September. It was one of the best experiences I've had, and I was surrounded by wonderful people. I keep hearing horror stories about hard people to work with, and so far, that hasn't happened to me. I've been really lucky.
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