Today we’d like to introduce you to Coral Mizrachi.
Hi Coral, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well, since I was a little girl, I knew exactly what I wanted to be. When I was 2 years old, a lady in my kindergarten told my dad that I’ll be an actress when I grow up, and when I was 7, I told my mom that’s what I want to be an actress. I got my first agent when I was 13 years old, and I started to work and audition, and study.
2016 was a really big year for me. That year, I booked my first big TV show, “Shutafim” on Comedy Central, and also booked my first big theatre show, “Into The Woods”. I was over the moon. I loved every minute of it. A year later, I moved to the states to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I wanted to expand my horizons and learn the craft from the best of the best.
I studied under Jennifer Leigh Mann (House of Cards) and David Dean Bottrell (Modern Family). I had the most amazing time, and since graduating I flew around the USA working on different sets. I love working as a storyteller, and that’s all I know actually. At that moment, life is extreme and becomes more than what we know.
I can’t describe the feeling of living truly in an imaginary situation and just being. At that moment, I’m happy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I can’t imagine any journey being smooth sailing, really. Every road has its own twists and turns. My case isn’t different. Being an actor means you have a lot of competition, and it’s a lot of hard work. I’m a perfectionist, and I’m my worse critic. The pressure I put myself under is immense, but I know that if I don’t push myself I won’t get to where I want to be; in my art, and in my career as well.
However, I think my story is a bit different than most. When I was in my first year in drama school, I was injured and had to have 2 surgeries on my lumbar spine, it left me with nerve damage in my right foot. I had to learn to walk again, and I managed to hide the limp (but if you look closely you might spot it still). I was determined not to let it interfere with my acting or with my studies, so I went back to school after 6 months.
I finished 5th in my class, and I was lucky enough to have a project waiting for me when I graduated. But unfortunately, my health issues wouldn’t leave me alone, and I wasn’t even a year out of school when I was diagnosed with cancer, lymphoma stage II. I immediately went back home to Israel and started chemotherapy. I can’t tell you how hard it was.
The hardest thing was not being able to do anything else besides lie in bed. I’m grateful every day that I concurred this monster and was able to come back from its head high. Even though chemo is the cure, it felt like it was what made me weak.
I couldn’t sit still anymore, and although my “good days” were scary, I said yes to making a music video about my cancer called “Can’t Kill Me now”. I know it sounds cliche, but my art saved me. I had a purpose, and the battle was a little bit easier to handle.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an actress. I love working on film and TV, where I get to use my full set of skills, go into a deep dive and I can take my time to explore my imagination and the character I’m playing. I worked on sets all around the US and outside of it, and worked with amazing creatives such as Ski-tar Jones and Arian Behpour.
Recently I had the pleasure of participating in the monologue competition “Monologues For Ukraine” organized by casting director Nancy Bishop, and I was lucky enough to be short-listed and have my monologue screened in the fundraising event in London. The money raised went directly to survivors and injured from the recent Russian-Ukraine war. I was extremely happy to be able to use my art to do some good in the world.
I am most proud of my sensitivity and my ability to empathize. I know it’s weird because it’s not an achievement or something, but it is a skill that I had to develop in order to be a good actress. I’m proud in it because it gives me the ability to connect and personalize each character I play with the upmost respect, and no judgment.
After all, we are all human beings.
What makes you happy?
Many things make me happy. Acting makes me happy and fulfilled, it’s my calling.
But the one thing that makes me happy no matter what, is the amazing people that surround me. My friends and family are my rock, they keep me stable in the crazy life I chose for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coralmizrachi.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coral.miz123/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shir.cohen.12979
Image Credits
Shir Or, Roi Ziv, Khalid Michaels, Arian Behpour, Kristie Grosvenor, and Meshi Shay
