Shira Alterman Says She Wants to Prove She Can Do More Than Be 'the Daughter of'

Shira Alterman, 22, says she is used to people crediting her success to her father, comedian and actor Idan Alterman, but insists she has earned her place on her own. In an interview about her work in the Beit Lessin Theatre production of "West Side Story," she said criticism about privilege misses the point: she has danced since age 3, trained for years, and reached the show only after auditioning and working hard with choreographer and director Uz Morag. "No one pushes me through that door, only me," she said.

Alterman said the role mattered because many people still see her as a child, even though she is 1.58 meters tall and sounds youthful. She said she wanted to show that she can also "tear it up." After about two weeks, she learned she had been cast opposite Dor Harari as the female lead's partner, in a production that also stars Rivab Kenner, Maggie Azarzar, Linoy Cohen and Harel Lisman.

She described her path from dance to acting, including studies at the Yoram Loewenstein acting studio, years in dance programs at Telma Yellin and Ironi Alef, a short film called "Solo," and a stint in "Jungle Book." During the pandemic, clips she filmed with her father and brother, Ori, went viral and helped her gather about 100,000 TikTok followers. She now also appears as a singer, dancer and actor in the stage show.

Alterman said her parents' divorce when she was 15 was difficult but handled well, and that she speaks with her father about auditions, though he does not accompany her. She also said she has been with her boyfriend, computer science student Shon Sirota, for five years. Looking ahead, she wants more theater, film and television work, would love to join "Dancing with the Stars" as a celebrity contestant, and said she has no ambition to become a pop arena performer.