Jon Heder and Meital Dohan

Israeli sensation, Meital Dohan, has the potential to be the next big thing. Raised in a small village in Israel that she still returns to frequently, she began her acting career by attending Israel’s top acting school, Nissan Nativ. She then starred in a few plays, and was nominated for an Israeli Oscar. She finally bridged the acting gap between Israel and America when she ran into an old friend on a train who told her about a mutual friend in New York who was working on an off-Broadway musical. While skeptical at first, she took the offer and auditioned for the main character. “Her lines were so poetic in English,” says Meital in reference to the part. After landing the part, she has developed her acting career in America.

Meital’s recent acting credits include an Israeli part in the second season of Showtime’s smash hit Weeds and she is now working on a new comedy web series called Woke up Dead, alongside funnyman Jon Heder. Meital plays the role of Aurora, a strong, witty, funny, and powerful woman who, along with Jon’s character, “wake up dead.” She's living a normal life, and then one day, wakes up in a pile of trash after having died the night before.

The zombie Aurora, has super-human powers like super speed and strength, plus, she can’t get any more dead! She uses these powers to extort, steal and pretty much do whatever she wants. It is a really funny show that demonstrates her strength as an actress. A jet setter, Meital commutes between New York, Los Angeles and her home in Israel. I got a chance to talk with her about her work and life.

In Woke Up Dead, Aurora is such a strong, independent, fearless and sassy woman. Is she anything like you?   

Every character has something from me, but I have been living on this planet for a while now and I still can’t figure out who I am.

Israelis are known for their strong will and tough nature. Does that help you when you get into character?          

Maybe that helps me when I play the part of a strong willed character, but as an actress I play all sorts of roles and can identify with many different personality types.

 What did you do in the army and do you think that the experience helped with your fight scenes?

In the army I performed for soldiers, so I didn't really get a chance to fight, but I love physical activities and I’m always up to the challenge of any physical activity. The bigger the challenge the more excited I get.

Although you are now spending a lot of time in New York and L.A., is Israel still your home? Will you always have a connection to Israel?

Israel is a big family and I'm definitely part of this big family. I also have lots of love and strong feelings for America. I have two homes one is in Israel and one is in America.

As you can see, Meital has a strong love for Israel. She spoke about how she sees Israel as “one big kibbutz;” a sharing community. She said that she “can’t believe how small the world is” and how America is becoming more of a tight-knit family as well. Meital Dohan is not only smart, witty and funny, but she is also very talented. I highly recommend checking out Woke Up Dead on Crackle.com, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s online video network. She also has a website that includes a photo gallery, background and more.

Gabrielle Wynschenk is from Bethany, Conn., and a junior at Amity High School. She's crazy about BBYO and is the regional Aym HaChaverot (vice president of membership) for the Connecticut Valley Region.