Norman Issa
| Norman Issa | |
|---|---|
 Norman Issa in April 2012 | |
| Born |
17 June 1967 Haifa, Israel |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse(s) | Gidona Raz |
Norman Issa (Arabic: نورمان عيسى, Hebrew: נורמן עיסא; born 17 June 1967) is an Israeli Arab actor, active in cinema, theatre and television.[1] His parents, who are Maronite Christians, are from the village of Kafr Bir'im.
Career
He studied at Beit Zvi and has acted in many plays by William Shakespeare at the Haifa Theatre and Cameri Theatre. He worked at the The Arab-Hebrew Theater together with fellow Israeli-Arab actor Yousef Sweid.
He started to become famous as the main protagonist of the Israeli sitcom Arab Labor, created by Israeli-Arab journalist Sayed Kashua.[2]
Personal life
He is married to Jewish playwright Gidona Raz, and together they founded the Elmina Theater in Jaffa.
Controversies
In 2015, Issa refused to perform in a settlement in the Jordan Valley, causing the Minister of Culture Miri Regev to threaten to shut down the Elmina Theater.[3][4]
Filmography
- The Syrian Bride (2004), directed by Eran Riklis
- Arab Labor (2007–present), created by Sayed Kashua
- Ana Arabia (2013), directed by Amos Gitai
- A Borrowed Identity (2014), directed by Eran Riklis
Awards
At the 2016 Haifa International Film Festival, Norman Issa and Moshe Ivgy were awarded the prize for Best Actor in a Feature Film, for The 90 Minute War.[5]
References
- ↑ "Fiche de Thousand and one nights". Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ↑ Shani, Ayelett (2013-08-01). "Playing Sayed Kashua: Actor Norman Issa Feels Like the Third Brother of Arabs and Jews". Haaretz. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
- ↑ "Arab Israeli actor Norman Issa refuses to cross the Green Line". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
- ↑ Levy, Gideon (2015-06-11). "The Jewish State Has No More Room for 'Good Arabs'". Haaretz. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
- ↑ "The award winners- Haifa International Film Festival 2016". Haifa International Film Festival. Retrieved 7 November 2016.