Where Are They Now? The Stars of Israel's First Telenovela
Following Dan Turgeman's prison sentence for tax offenses, we look back at the stars of "Lehigaot Be'osher," Israel's pioneering 2001 telenovela, and discover where they are today.
Looking Back at "Lehigaot Be'osher"
The recent district court decision to sentence actor and director Dan Turgeman to 10 months in prison for tax offenses brought back memories of "Lehigaot Be'osher" (Touching Happiness). This was the first Hebrew soap opera, which burst onto our screens in 2001, captivating an entire nation and launching the local telenovela genre.
Turgeman starred as Nadav, the wealthy and tormented businessman, becoming an overnight star. As he prepares for his prison sentence, we look back at where the stars of this defining daily drama are today and what they are doing.
Where Are the Stars Today?
-
Sharon Dorani (Ofra Avraham): The central female lead who captivated the country in a local Cinderella story and performed at Festigal 2001, Dorani chose to step away from the spotlight. She focused on raising her family, worked as an interior and event designer, and later moved into jewelry design and women's circles.
-
Neta Haber (Irit Sohar): Playing the unforgettable, frustrated villain, Haber continued a steady acting career in television and theater, including roles in "The Life of the Game,Ha-Pijamot," and "Head Start." In recent years, she has also focused on teaching acting, directing, and running theater workshops.
-
Yigal Sachs (Erez Sohar): Sachs played Nadav's younger and troubled brother and remains deeply rooted in the arts. He has performed in leading theaters such as the Cameri and Habima, appeared in series like "Zinzana," and established himself as a playwright, director, and head of the "Kvutzat Avoda" theater ensemble.
-
Iris Barnea (Livnat Avraham): Playing Ofra's mother, Barnea continued acting in films and drama series like "Coordination of Intentions," but eventually transitioned into the worlds of spirituality and therapy. Today, she is a body-mind therapist, empowerment workshop leader, and founder of the holistic medicine website "Tiptipul."
-
Oded Menster (Daniel): Menster continued appearing in numerous film and television productions, including "Good Boys,Bad Boy," and "Blue Natalie," alongside theater performances and a personal stand-up show. Alongside acting, he works as a drama teacher and acting coach.
-
Ilana Avital (Livnat Azar): Played Ofra and Karin's aunt and recorded her own version of the theme songs. Alongside a long musical career and solo shows, she has participated in reality TV like "Survivor" and turned to psychodrama, leading workshops for children and youth on coping with bullying.
-
Anali Harpaz (Yamit) (Z"L): Played Ofra's loyal friend. Harpaz, daughter of Shraga Harpaz and wife of Yoram Toledo, built a respected theater and television career as a Beit Zvi graduate before her passing in May 2011 at the age of 38 following a battle with cancer.
-
Shira Arad (Karin Avraham): Played Ofra's younger and cheeky sister. After her telenovela days, Arad made a fascinating career pivot and became one of the most sought-after film and television editors. She won an Ophir Award for editing in 2016 for "One Week and a Day" and was appointed a member of the European Film Academy.
-
Eli Danker (Dan Sohar): Played the father of Nadav and Ziv. Danker is a veteran and esteemed actor (and father of Ran Danker) with an extensive career in theater, Israeli cinema, and international productions, who continues to perform regularly on stage and screen.
-
Sharon Parnes (Nati): Played Ofra's fiancé at the beginning of the plot. After also participating in the telenovela "Love Around the Corner," Parnes chose to completely distance himself from the acting and glamour world, turned to business, and currently serves as CEO of a veteran family import and marketing company.
