Haya Harareet was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Ben-Hur, Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer, and The Secret Partner.
Personal and Family Life
Haya Harareet was born on September 20, 1931, in Haifa, Palestine, to Polish Jewish immigrants Reuben and Yocheved Neuberg. She was the eldest of three siblings and grew up in a family that valued education and culture. Haya was married twice, first to Nachman Zerwanitzer, an Israeli irrigation engineer, with whom she shared an apartment in Tel Aviv, and later to British film director Jack Clayton, whom she married in 1984.
Career
Harareet made her film debut in the Israeli movie Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer in 1955, which was the first feature film shot entirely in Israel. She gained international fame for her role as Esther in the epic film Ben-Hur in 1959. Throughout her career, she worked on various notable films, including The Doll That Took the Town and The Secret Partner. Additionally, she co-wrote the screenplay for the film Our Mother’s House.
Death and Legacy
Haya Harareet passed away on February 3, 2021, in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, from natural causes. She was the last surviving star of the classic film Ben-Hur. Her contributions to cinema and her notable performances continue to be celebrated and remembered.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Ben-Hur | 1959-11-18 | Esther |
| Antinea, l’amante della città sepolta | 1961-05-05 | Queen Antinea |
| La donna del giorno | 1957-02-06 | Anna Grimaldi |
| The Secret Partner | 1961-05-01 | Nicole Brent |
| The Interns | 1962-08-08 | Dr. Madolyn Bruckner |
| גבעה 24 אינה עונה (Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer) | 1955-11-01 | Miriam Miszrahi |
| La leggenda di Fra Diavolo | 1962-10-26 | Fiamma |
| The Oscars | 1953-03-19 | Self |
| Cinépanorama | 1956-02-04 | Self |