Swell Ariel Or (born c. 2000) is an Israeli actress based in the United States who is best known for her role in the Israeli television series The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. She portrayed Luna, the chief protagonist of the series during its entire duration.
Early life
Or was born in Tel Aviv and grew up "near the beach". According to Or, her name came from her parents having decided to give her the unusual name of Swell, slang for a surfer’s wave.[1] In 2016, at age 16, she witnessed a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv, and was later diagnosed with PTSD.[2][3] She served in the Israeli Defense Forces' Intelligence Corps in 2018 and 2019, and took acting classes during her mandatory military service.[1][4][2][5][6]
Career
Or started acting in 2020, after serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.[1] She was 21 when she was cast as Luna, the protagonist in yes Drama's The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem.[7] The role was her first acting job.[7]
She subsequently traveled to Brazil and starred in the Brazillian Disney+ series How to be a Carioca.[1] She later starred in the Israeli series, Kissufim, a series detailing Israeli history on a kibbutz in the 20th century.[1][4][2]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Channel | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem | Luna | Yes! TV | ||
| How to be a Carioca | Laila | Disney+ | |||
| 2023 | Kissufim |
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Arava | Tzipi | [8] |
Personal life
Or is of Russian-Jewish, Iraqi-Jewish, and Yemenite-Jewish descent.[7] She moved to Los Angeles in 2023.[2][9]