Hadas Yaron is set to captivate audiences as Mila alongside Logan Lerman and Joey King in Hulu’s upcoming mini-series, “We Were the Lucky Ones,” which premiered on March 28th. Based on the New York Times bestseller by Georgia Hunter, the show delves into the poignant journey of a Jewish family torn apart during World War II, striving to reunite in its aftermath. Yaron's character takes center stage as one of the main siblings navigating the challenges of war while caring for her young daughter.

In her most recent endeavors, Hadas has been praised for her role in the critically acclaimed Netflix Israeli Television Series, “Shtisel.” Currently, she is engaged in the production of a spin-off that follows her character, Libbi Shtisel, and her father.

Her illustrious career boasts notable achievements, including her Venice Film Festival award for Best Actress and the Best Actress Award at the Israeli Academy Awards for her performance in "Fill the Void." She has also showcased her talent in films such as "Mary Magdalene," opposite Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix, and "Felix and Meira," directed by Maxime Giroux. With a versatile repertoire spanning television and film, she continues to leave an indelible mark in the world of entertainment.

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Earrings + Necklace by Catherine Weitzman

Tell us about your experience in working on the mini-series "We Were the Lucky Ones" and your role as Mila?
Working on "We Were the Lucky Ones" was a beautiful and unique experience. Having worked on many sets before, I know how rare it is to find a project where every single person involved is absolute sunshine and a loving soul. Georgia, the author of the book on which the show is based, which tells the true story of her family, is literally an angel. Then there's Tommy and Erica, two super kind and genuine human beings. It really shows that when the people in charge are good and kind, it sets the tone for the whole team and highlights the importance of having good people creating things.

This experience set a high standard for me going forward because when you work with such wonderful people every day, you don't understand how it is even possible to go to work any other way. So, from now on, I want all of my projects to look like this! Every person involved, in every department reflected that warmth and positive energy. Bringing Mila to life in such a sweet and safe environment was a wonderful experience and being surrounded by people who support you and with whom you feel comfortable makes all the difference. Mila is the oldest sister in a family of five siblings. When we first met her, she's just had her first baby and is struggling with motherhood. Her journey through motherhood really touched my heart, and all this during wartime. It's such a beautiful, complex journey; it was really a privilege to tell her story.

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Earrings: Lele Sadoughi

Given that "We Were the Lucky Ones" is based on Georgia Hunter's bestselling novel, please share your process in bringing a character from the pages of a book to life on screen?
Working on a story based on a book is wonderful because so much of the inner dialogue and feelings of the character are already written down. As an actor, my approach changes with each project and character, but one of the things that helps me is understanding what the character is thinking and what's going on in her mind. In this sense, having the book was heaven to me because, even when I bring my own thoughts and experience, this book is incredibly intimate, delving deep into each character's mind and experience. So, while filming, I could always refer back to it to enrich my understanding of the character, and it gave me a lot.

This series delves into the harrowing history of WWII and the Holocaust. How does your approach to portraying a character inspired by real events differ from that of a fictional role?
Normally, when you portray a fictional character, you feel less pressure because there's no one out there to call you out on something that might not feel completely authentic or true to the person. But with Georgia around on set, it was more reassuring than anything else. It wasn't just about "acting out the character as she was there," but rather about telling the story of real people and staying true to their human experiences.

Meeting Georgia filled me with love and gratitude for being part of telling her family's story. The crazy thing is that she reciprocated these feelings and she was the one to express gratitude to us for being a part of telling her family's tale. In a way it felt like we were all joining her family. And because this story is deeply connected to my own family history . Some of the scenes I acted in the series actually happened to my family during the war. It was incredibly personal and I felt like I was telling my own family's story. My grandmothers who have both passed away, but were meaningful in my life. I felt their presence with me deeply while filming this show.

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Working alongside accomplished actors like Logan Lerman and Joey King must have been a unique experience. Please share any memorable moments or aspects of collaboration that stood out during filming?
Firstly, one of my favorite things is meeting people who achieve remarkable success in their field and discovering they're genuinely good people. It's what I hope for from the world, you know? To see that success and kindness can go hand in hand. Both Joey and Logan are super down-to-earth, sensitive, sweet, and fun. I mostly worked with Joey, and what amazed me was how easy-going she is. She could crack a joke one moment and then dive into the most intense scene and be all in. She's such a pro. And a hilarious human being.

As for specific memories I can share, I have a cute memory with Logan in the first week of our arrival to Bucharest when I fell sick. He saw me in our hotel lobby and was so sweet, he was worried about me getting sicker and not feeling well and then he said: "wait here.” He went up to his room and a few minutes later was back with all these vitamins and good healthy stuff he brought from home and was like: "take this! you'll feel much better.” I just found it so sweet and caring. Logan will always offer you help with anything and will do it so naturally and chill.

There are so many moments with Joey. One day we had a day off set and she asked Sam (who plays Adam) and me, “wanna go meet some animals?" She just felt like she’d been away from animals for too long so she found a shelter where we could meet some animal friends. At the end of that visit, she ended up rescuing a dog and taking her home (to the set) with her. When we finished filming , she took the dog from Romania to Los Angeles.

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You’re currently working on a spin-off series for Netflix Israeli’s, 'Shtisel.” How has your experience been working on the show, and what can fans look forward to in the new series that follows your character, Libbi?
My experience with "Shtisel" has been a long and good one. I felt so lucky to join the second season. The storytelling in "Shtisel" is beautiful. it's simple, deep, and poetic all at the same time.

The third season was released about three years ago, and I don't want to spoil it, but in that season my character appears in the beginning and then disappears. I remember running into the writer and creator in a bar in Tel Aviv right when the season dropped on Netflix and telling him that everyone's asking me what happened to Libbi. We spoke and laughed and I told him jokingly, why don't you write another show that explains the mystery of what happened to her or how her marriage to Kive was before the third season started.

A few months later I got a call from the producers telling me about their plans for the spin-off. Funny how life works. Working on this has been so much fun . I'm currently on set in Libbi's costume as I write this. Portraying Libbi is both familiar as it feels natural to just walk into her, and it’s also fresh and new, as we delve into her character in a whole new setting and time period. We follow her life in Belgium before she met Kive. So, there's a European feel to it which gives it a different tone. I'm genuinely curious to see how the show’s fans will respond to this new chapter in the”Shtisel” story.

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Earrings by Lele Sadoughi

In addition to your work in television, you've been part of films like “Mary Magdalene” and ‘Felix and Meira.” How does your approach to acting differ between television and film, and do you prefer one medium over the other?
TV has thrived in the past few decades. Sometimes it's like TV shows became series of little movies, each episode is a film on its own. With television, you've got so much room to let the story and characters unfold gradually, which I love. You can really dive deep into your character because there's more screen time to work with. However, movies have their own unbelievable magic. They take you on a ride and tell a whole story in just a couple of hours.

When it comes to acting, my approach is pretty much the same whether I'm working in film or television. It changes based on the specific project, genre, the creative team involved, and what the vision is. It's important to be incredibly precise in every scene, both in TV and film but I sometimes feel that in film each scene serves a specific purpose in advancing the storyline. And, so it demands more focus on each and every scene. Actually, that's true for TV as well, maybe I just feel more pressure about it when it comes to a film because you feel that if you missed a moment to tell something about the story or character, you might not get it again. I think the main difference is that in TV I have to pay closer attention to the story's timeline since you film so much material from different episodes each day, and you need to keep track of where you are in the story.

Are there specific types of roles or projects that you aspire to explore in the future? How do you see your career evolving in the coming years?
I don’t have a specific character in mind. I know that when I see a film or a character that’s well-written and touches something within me, I go “wow, that’s what I want.” Writing is where it all starts for me. The story. A story that is powerful and clear, stories that explore reality and play with our minds and hearts (in beautiful ways, like “Severance” or “The Truman Show”). I love stories that play with our conception of truth and reality and ask questions about life. I love stories that show love and compassion for human beings. ”Past Lives” is so deeply beautiful, “Nebraska,” “Take Shelter,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.” Or shows that delve deep into characters and the human condition in all its aspects (“Mad Men,” “The Sopranos”). I love a feel-good joyful film, like “Groundhog Day” or “Palm Springs.” Stories that play with time in a sweet and loving way, like “Back to The Future.” I feel we need a lot more joy in our world and a lot of the time when I want to relax and watch something that will make me feel better. I feel like there are not enough of these. And of course, I love deep elevated dramas that will just make me feel good. I think everything I like to watch I would love to be a part of. So, this answer was basically a little sneak peek into my wish list, and I hope my career in the coming years will give me the opportunity to do projects as beautiful as these. This is what I aspire to and wish for myself and where I will direct myself.

Sequence White and Gilded Jumpsuit by Nadine Merabi
Rings by ZYNNIA COLLECTIVE
Earrings + Necklace by Catherine Weitzman
Shoes by Chinese Laundry

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Aaron Jay Young
Talent: Hadas Yaron
Fashion Stylist: Petar Georgiev
Hair: Sheridan Ward at Walter Schupfer Management
Makeup: Mai Quynh at Forward Artists
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Makenna Tourville, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine