Actress Daniel Gimpel Recounts Real Alarm During Nova Party Scene Filming

Actress Daniel Gimpel has spoken about her experience filming a scene for Avi Nesher's film "Our Loves," which recreated the Nova music festival party. During the filming, which involved hundreds of extras who had actually been at the festival, a real air raid siren sounded, startling the cast and crew. Gimpel recounted how she initially mistook the siren for a sound effect before realizing it was real, prompting panic among those present, some of whom had survived the actual Nova massacre.

Gimpel, 28, secured a leading role in "Our Loves" after a lengthy casting process involving nearly ten auditions. She chose this opportunity over a guaranteed role in a theater production, a decision that significantly impacted her career. She described the casting process as challenging, especially while also dealing with personal issues like a breakup and apartment hunting after graduating from acting school.

In "Our Loves," Gimpel portrays a young Haredi woman dealing with heartbreak. Her role required extensive research, including meeting women who left the Haredi community and studying religious practices. The film's depiction of the October 7th events and the Nova party left a lasting impression on her and the cast.

Gimpel also expressed frustration with the Israeli entertainment industry, noting a perceived preference for social media influencers over trained actors. She stated that some projects explicitly seek individuals with large followings, even before considering talent or auditioning. Despite receiving an Ophir Award nomination for her role, Gimpel feels her career has not yet fully benefited professionally from the film's success, though she remains ambitious for future roles both in Israel and abroad.