Ayelet Zurer

Ayelet Zurer (; born ) is an Israeli TV and film actress. She began her career on the Israeli teen drama Inyan Shel Zman and has starred in numerous Israeli TV and film roles. She received awards for Best Actress at the Israeli Academy Awards in 2003 and Best Actress by the Israeli Academy of Television in 2006 and 2013.

Zurer has also appeared in numerous Hollywood films, such as Munich (2005), Vantage Point (2008), Angels & Demons (2009), Man of Steel (2013), and Ben-Hur (2016). She also portrayed Vanessa Marianna-Fisk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Daredevil (2015–2018) and its revival series Daredevil: Born Again (2025–2026).

Personal life Ayelet Zurer was born to a Jewish family on 28 June 1969 and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her mother was born in Czechoslovakia and survived the Holocaust by hiding in a convent, later immigrating to Israel in the 1950s. Her Israeli-born father is of Russian Jewish descent.

Zurer studied theater at the 14th Municipal High School and participated in the Tel Aviv Scouts band. During her service in the Israel Defense Forces, she served in the military band of the Northern Command.

After finishing her military service, Zurer studied acting for three years at the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio. She then moved to the United States and studied with George Morison at the Actor's Workshop in New York City. In 1991, she returned to Israel.

In 2003, Zurer married her surfing instructor, Gilad Londovski. The couple have a son and reside in Los Angeles. In 1993, she also played Debbie in the Israeli comedy film Nikmato shel Itzik Finkelstein (Revenge of Itzik Finkelstein). During, this time she also participated in the cable television show Yetziat Hirum. Her character, Shira, shared the first-ever lesbian kiss on Israeli television with Ronit Elkabetz's character Nicole in a 2000 episode.

In 1998, she played the lead in the film Ahava Asura (a.k.a. The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field). She then appeared in the Israeli television series Zinzana in 2000. She appeared in the television series Shalva and Ha'Block in 2002. a role for which she won an Israeli Academy Award for Best Actress. In 2005, she starred in the Israeli television series Betipul. She played Na'ama Lerner. and was remade as the HBO series In Treatment. The following year, Zurer participated in an Israeli sketch comedy television show called Gomrot Holchot. where she played Avner Kaufman's wife. In 2007, she starred in Fugitive Pieces.

In 2008, Zurer appeared in the American thriller Vantage Point. That same year, she was cast as scientist Vittoria Vetra, in The Da Vinci Code sequel Angels & Demons (2009). Additionally, she played a nurse who falls in love with the title character in Adam Resurrected (2008).

2011–2020

In 2011, Zurer played the lead role in the film Hide Away and the role of Superman's mother, Lara Lor-Van, in the reboot of the Superman franchise Man of Steel (2013). In 2013, she starred in the Israeli series Shtisel, as Elisheva Rotstein.

In 2015, Zurer starred in the Marvel series Daredevil as Vanessa Marianna-Fisk. She appeared in the Hollywood film Ben-Hur (2016). In 2018, Zurer reprised her role in the third season of Daredevil.

In November 2020, Zurer was cast in a recurring role on the third season of the Netflix psychological thriller series You.

2021–present In 2021, Zurer starred in the Israeli psychological thriller Losing Alice on Apple TV+. In 2024, she starred as Dr. Amalia Levy alongside Amos Tamam in the Israeli drama series The Best Worst Thing on Keshet 12.

In 2025, Zurer reprised the role of Vanessa Marianna-Fisk in Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again.

Awards Zurer has received several awards throughout her career, including Best Actress at the Israeli Academy Awards for her role in Nina's Tragedies (2003) and Best Actress by the Israeli Academy of Television for her roles in BeTipul and Hostages in 2006 and 2013.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 Pour Sacha (a.k.a. For Sasha) Shoshana French drama 1993 Revenge of Itzik Finkelstein (a.k.a. Nikmato Shel Itzik Finkelstein) Debbie 1997 Ahava Asura (Forbidden Love, a.k.a. The Dybbuk of the Holy Apple Field) Lea 2001 Kikar Ha'Halomot (a.k.a. Desperado Square) Gila (the waitress) 2003 Ish Ha'Hashmal (a.k.a. Rutenberg) Becki Ha'Asonot Shel Nina (Nina's Tragedies) Nina 2004 Mashehu Matok (Something Sweet) Tamar 2005 Munich Daphna Kaufman 2007 Fugitive Pieces Michaela Rak Klavim Ratzim Hofshi (a.k.a. Wild Dogs) Telma 2008 Vantage Point Veronica Adam Resurrected Gina Grey 2009 Ingenious Gina Angels & Demons Vittoria Vetra 2011 Hide Away The Waitress 2012 Darling Companion Carmen 2013 Man of Steel Lara Lor-Van 2015 Last Days in the Desert Mother Last Knights Naomi 2016 Ben-Hur Naomi Ben-Hur 2017 Milada Milada Horáková Also producer

Television Year Title Role Notes 1992–1993 Inyan Shel Zman (a.k.a. A Matter of Time) Noga Caspi Main cast; 27 episodes 1997–2000 Florentine Shira Main cast; 39 episodes 1999 Zinzana Hanita Rozen 'Georgi' Episode: "Georgi" 2001 Laila Lelo Lola (a.k.a. A Night Without Lola) Oshrit TV movie 2004 Maktub Michal 2005 BeTipul (a.k.a. In Therapy) Na'ama Lerner 9 episodes 2012 Awake Alina Ananyev Episode: "Nightswimming" Touch Rosemary Mathis Episode: "Closer" Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Colonel Mehaffey 5 episodes 2013 Shtisel Elisheva 12 episodes Hostages Dr. Yael Danon 10 episodes 2014 Rake Fiona Rinaldi Episode: "Bigamist" 2015–2018 Daredevil Vanessa Marianna-Fisk Main cast; 11 episodes 2017 Taken Leah Episode 8: "Leah" Transparent Ronit Episode: "I Never Promised You a Promised Land" 2019 Money Heist Raquel Murillo 2nd English dub 2019, 2022 Legacies Seylah 2 episodes 2020 Losing Alice Alice Main cast; 8 episodes 2021 You Dr. Chandra 2 episodes 2022 Moonhaven Maite Voss Main cast; 6 episodes Law & Order: Organized Crime Tia Leonetti 2 episodes 2024 The Best Worst Thing Dr. Amalia Levy Main cast; 8 episodes 2025 House of David Ahinoam Main cast; 12 episodes 2025–2026 Daredevil: Born Again Vanessa Fisk Main cast; 14 episodes

Awards

Year Group Award Result Film/Show 1997 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Actress Ahava Asura 2000 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Kikar Ha'Halomot 2001 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Actress Ish Ha'Hashmal 2003 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Actress Ha'Asonot Shel Nina Jerusalem Film Festival Best Actress Ha'Asonot Shel Nina 2006 Israeli Film Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Rak Klavim Ratzim Hofshi Israeli Television Academy Awards Best Actress Betipul 2013 Israeli Television Academy Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Shtisel Hostages