Go with your Heart and Follow Your Gut: A Conversation with Meital Dohan
Meital Dohan is a multi-award-winning theatre, film and TV actress and has won an Israeli Tony Award and two Israeli Oscar nominations. She has previously starred in worldwide hit TV shows such as Weeds, Woke Up Dead and loads more.
She is also an incredible singer and songwriter and has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music including Sean Kingston, Reflex (Kayne West, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna), R3hab (Lady Gaga, LMFAO, Calvin Harris) and Che Pope (Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem). Her 3 music videos has raked up over 12 million YouTube views.
In our interview, Meital tells The Fan Carpet’s Marc Jason Ali about how she started in the industry, working on Cabaret Maxime and her top tips for Tiger care…
If we go back to the beginning, was there a defining moment for you to get into the Entertainment Industry?
I was 17 and I was already acting at 13 yrs old but I took a break from acting at 16 to travel the world. Upon my return to Israel I remember sitting in a dark smokey bar in Tel Aviv manifesting my whole career. I remembered that acting was what I loved do most and what I wanted to do again.
Cabaret Maxime marks a return to Cinema for you, what can you tell us about the film and where you fit into the story?
It is a beautiful artistic journey about the reservation of art and what it stands for. The story revolves around a cabaret owner (played by Michael Imperioli) who is saving his Cabaret club from being taken from him. I play a heightened fictitious version of myself who performs in the cabaret with nothing-less than her tiger.
What is your preferred genre, do you have any favourite films?
I mostly like artistic films and these days I really enjoy Paulo Sorrentino films. I also find myself watching a lot of documentaries like “Wild Wild Country”. It’s so great we can see all of these great stories from the past and learn about all the wonderful stories that are out there.
Are there any other aspects of the Film Industry that you would like to pursue?
Of course I have been a creator of some of my own artistic venture. Whether I do TV. theater, or film I am involved in the creative. Developing, writing, and creating, this is all part of the magic.
You have an eclectic range of credits from Stage to TV to Film, are there any genres that you haven’t done yet that you’d like to?
I feel like in every genre they are sub genres and therefore each creation is really unique … I actually think I’ve got the chance to act in almost every genre from comedy, drama, scripted, none scripted, parody, thriller…. but there are still so many so it is all about the piece for me, and whose involved and what it stands for….
What would be your dream role?
Cleopatra in Shakespeare play that turns into a movie….
You’ve worked with a great crop of talent from your music career to Weeds, do you have a wish list of who you’d like to work with?
I’d like to co star in a movie with Bernie Sander where we play a tragic love story such as Romeo and Juliet where the Love is the symbol for the Peace process.
Who inspires you within the film, theatre and music industries?
All the dead people Andy Warhol, Van Gogh, Sartre, Bergman, Fellini, Cassavetes, Nina Simone, Emma Goldman we used to have good ones… LOL
Other than Cabaret Maxime, what else are you working on?
I shot a couple of new movies in Israel and they’ll be released soon all over the world yay!!!! Can’t wait…
What can you tell us about your work with the Nelson Mandela Charity?
I’m very excited about this honourable opportunity to spread messages of Love and Equality through this celebration event of his 100th birthday for Nelson Mandela, please join us for this amazing festival and help spread our words….
Is there a book that you are a fan of that hasn’t been adapted to film yet that you’d love to be a part of?
Yes its called Piggies by Bohumil Hrabal one of my favourite writers…. its about a girl who turns into a pig oink oink….
Is there anything else the you are working on that you are allowed to talk about?
getting prettier by the day …
You own a Tiger, what is your top tip for Tiger care?
Avoid pajamas parties with jealous lovers…. don’t share the same tooth brush….mmm…. what else …. never believe a tiger when he says he’s full…..
And what advice do you have for someone embarking on a career in the Entertainment Industry?
Go with your heart and follow your gut, do what the F you want.
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