Hana Laszlo: Ten Things Behind the Beloved Israeli Star

Hana Laszlo is presented as far more than a comedian, a performer who has entertained, moved audiences, challenged conventions and become one of Israeli culture’s most beloved figures. The article marks her birthday by listing 10 lesser-known facts about her life and career.

Laszlo was born in 1953 in Jaffa to a family that came to Israel from Poland after the Holocaust. Her home language was Yiddish, and her father, a survivor of the Lodz Ghetto, worked as a hatmaker. She got her early break in the army, serving from 1972 to 1974 in the Southern Command Band, where she learned to perform for audiences and developed her stage style. She also appeared in the children’s classic "Ma Pitom?" with Kishkashta, and later took part in other children’s shows as a host, singer and dancer.

She appeared in iconic Israeli films including "Givat Halfon Ainah Onah," "Save the Lifeguard" and "Koni Lemel in Cairo," and became a nationwide sensation in the 1980s through the character "Sבתא זפטא" on "Siba LeMesiba." The role and its catchphrases entered Israeli popular culture, and many people still identify her with it first. In an era dominated by men in entertainment and stand-up, she became one of the women who opened the door for a generation of female comedians.

Laszlo has also said faith is central to her life. She said, "I say ‘Modeh Ani’ every morning," and added, "I really feel for people who have no faith." In 2005, she won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for "Free Zone," a rare achievement for an Israeli actress. In the 2000s she returned to prime-time success as Naomi Shahar in "HaShir Shelanu." The article also notes that in 2026 she was chosen to light a torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl, but later withdrew after public controversy over earlier remarks about IDF soldiers and bereaved families.