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ALHASHARON, Tel-Aviv - OCTOBER 5, 2001
On the cover:
A Manhattan Fairy Tale
A rising star from Tel-Aviv headlines in one of the most successful shows on the NY stage.
Inside:A RISING STAR
This week, the prestigious magazine "Time-Out" named its pick of the three best shows On and Off-Broadway. In this exclusive interview, Israeli actress Inbal Samuel, starring in "MONO", reveals how she is pursuing her dream in New York City.
By Jenny Elazary
Photo: Eran Cohen and Hagit Mor
This week in 'Time-Out NY' the three best shows staged On & Off-Broadway were: "42 street", "Stones in his Pockets", and "Mono". "Mono" is an interactive comedic-drama that presents the lives and distresses of 13 bizarre characters. Their inability to communicate with each other causes them to 'monologue' one another.
"Mono" is a hysterical hit. It has been running for a whole year in Manhattan and is consistently sold-out. One of the stars of the show is Inbal Samuel.
Samuel plays two roles in "Mono", rotating every week. The director, Steven Tanenbaum, requires that each actor learn several roles; so, one night Inbal is playing a Sado-Nanny (in love with a man who abuses her and sends her to sleep with a guy that he is conning) and another night she plays a singer (dying to become famous, nagging everybody to listen to her songs).
In addition to her part in "Mono", Samuel has already participated in a dozen or so independent and short films. As a result of her recent successes, the Hollywood dream is looming, close and attainable.
She knows how to use a rifle
Samuel arrived in New York after a "typical" childhood in Israel. She is the daughter of a well-known Israeli director and producer. Samuel studied at Alon Performing Arts High School where she performed primarily as a dancer and piano player. Acting wasn't in her program. In fact, it was her brother Roy, who was the star in the family, appearing in notable TV series and commercials (such as Coca-Cola).
After finishing a long and demanding army service, Samuel moved to Paris. For two years she earned her living working in the security department of El-Al, the Israeli national airline. It was in Paris that she found her calling. Her friends urged her to pursue her gift, so, she went to New York and enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. It was there that she honed her talent and found her vocation.
Samuel studied acting and took lessons in voice, speech and accent reduction. Today, she has a perfect American accent. If you listen very carefully, you may hear just a charming glimpse of something foreign, a fact that contributes to her grace and uniqueness. Of course, if you don't listen very carefully, you will hear no accent.
Equipped with her acting skills, plus long honey-blond hair, pale skin and stunning beauty, Inbal entered the nightmare of the beginning actor: auditions. For an entire year she went from one audition to another, facing rejection time after time. "I knew from the start that auditions would be tough, but I did not realize how tough".
How many auditions?
"I went on countless auditions. It's said that this is the price you pay to succeed. You have to pay your dues. I learned that approaching an audition is an art. I took classes on auditioning for film and auditioning for theater. In each medium you have to speak in a different voice and perform in a different manner."
You didn't give up.
"I don't give up easily. As a beginning actress, you face many auditions, and that's difficult. But that's the business and I have never considered anything different. I knew that I could make it happen, as long as I kept giving it my all. I felt that there was improvement from one audition to the next. I also learned to exit an audition and put it behind me".
It's frustrating.
At first I didn't discuss the frustrations of trying to be a successful actress. But once I began to share my feelings with other actors, it turned out that every actor goes through the same thing. More than one friend told me they had the experience of preparing for an audition, dressing and putting on the make-up, preparing their text or monologue and traveling to the audition, only to turn around and go home without even going in. I've certainly experienced this kind of fear. There are days when you feel like you can no longer accept the rejection."
And when do they inform you if you got the part or not?
"It depends. Sometimes, when they are interested in you, they tell you right away that there will be a second round of auditions. But I've had all sorts of experiences. For instance, I did a comedic monologue during which the casting crew laughed uproariously, but never called. I also had what I thought was a terrible audition, and got the part."
How did you feel when you received your first 'yes'?
"At the end of the audition the director told me she would give me an answer over the weekend. When the weekend went by and she didn't call, I was sure that I didn't get the part. Finally, she called and explained that she had gone out of town and forgotten to take my phone number."
With that first "yes", the barrier was broken. Since then, there hasn't been a single audition without a call back. "A drastic change occurred", Samuel says. "Suddenly the phone started ringing off the hook. Directors started calling, even some who auditioned me before and passed, decided it was time to hire me."
So how do the failures look now?
"Today I'm very grateful that I went through a difficult period. I learned so much. I learned that you need to enter a room with energy, a positive attitude towards the project and a strong belief in yourself. Today I enjoy auditions. Now is the time things should be happening for me. I'm ready now, but I needed time to develop."
Did you find out from the directors why they are choosing you?
"Every time I've asked that question the answer has been my energy. Directors also seem to notice that I speak several languages and I can play the piano and dance."
Excuse me, but the fact that you are extremely beautiful doesn't seem relevant to you?
"I really don't think it's only about looks. Many times you see beautiful girls that project nothing. They have no vitality. On the other hand, a seemingly unattractive woman will come in and simply conquer the room. You know she will do the same on stage".
Another detail that catches the attention of the casting crew is Samuel's Israeli origin. She doesn't hide the fact that she is Israeli. She says that her tzabariut (being born in Israel) is part of her uniqueness. It not only doesn't prevent her from getting roles, but helps her. "When people find out that I'm Israeli, the first thing they ask me is if I served in the army", she reveals. "I have often been told by directors and casting directors that military service is considered an advantage. It seems to point to a strong sense of discipline and the ability to accept and work in difficult conditions. They look at you as not spoiled. Israeli girls are tough."
Among Samuel's many independent film credits is a short film called "Blissful Thinking", which won first place in a film festival in Manhattan and is now being shown before the main feature in theatres around the city. She also worked on "Timecollapse", directed by Samantha Lavin, who is currently in Hollywood working as assistant director on the movie 'Step Mom'. "The independent film industry is blossoming these days", says Samuel. "There is a real freedom within it."
Have you changed since you started to succeed?
"I'm mainly a very happy person. I'm doing what I like and I'm even managing to earn a living from it. In New York, that's a big deal. For a long time I didn't know what I wanted to do. The fact that I've found what I want for myself fills me with joy. It's a wonderful feeling to act and to perform, to create and release creative energies on stage."
How long will you stay in Manhattan?
"I can't tell. Right now I have the opportunity to perform regularly, which is my passion. I'm in the best possible place. It's important for me to express myself artistically, and I do that. Someday I would love to succeed commercially as well. For today I just feel good".
