Mira Awad

Mira Anwar Awad was born in Rameh, Israel, to an Arab-Christian father Anwar Awad (أنور عوض) from the Galilee region in Israel, who is a physician; and to a Bulgarian-Christian mother Snezhanka (Снежанка), an expert on Slavic languages. They met while her father studied medicine in Bulgaria.{{cite news |last=Bronner |first=Ethan |date=February 25, 2009 |title=Musical Show of Unity Upsets Many in Israel |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?ref=world |access-date=May 12, 2010 |archive-date=9 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109233051/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?ref=world |url-status=live }}

She studied at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Ramat HaSharon, Israel. Awad participated in improvisational workshops in Israel and the UK sponsored by the BIArts, British Council, and studied at the Body Theatre School after receiving a scholarship from the America-Israel Culture Foundation.

Awad lived in Tel Aviv with her husband Kosta Mogilevych, an Israeli of Ukrainian descent who is "half-Jewish,"{{Cite web|url = https://www.yediot.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4974529,00.html|title = "אשיר בכל מחיר"|date = June 11, 2017|access-date = 4 August 2018|archive-date = 5 August 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180805053628/https://www.yediot.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4974529,00.html|url-status = live}}[https://www.facebook.com/miraawad/photos/a.171764766183182.52062.170618816297777/894353493924302/?type=1&permPage=1 Mira Awad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602220016/https://www.facebook.com/miraawad/photos/a.171764766183182.52062.170618816297777/894353493924302/?type=1&permPage=1 |date=2 June 2021 }} Facebook{{cite web|url=http://www.syntorama.com/eng/artists/Mira_Awad/ |title=Artists : Mira Awad |website=Syntorama.com |access-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716180341/http://www.syntorama.com/eng/artists/mira_awad/ |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/politics/articles/pol_0100.htm |author=Ellis Shuman |title=Arab actress to be Israels "My Fair Lady" |publisher=Israel Insider |date=January 18, 2002 |access-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223140242/http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/politics/articles/pol_0100.htm |archive-date=February 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }} but they moved to London in the summer of 2022.{{Cite news |last=בוקר |first=רן |date=2022-07-11 |title=מירה עווד עברה ללונדון: "לא ירידה מהארץ. הרפתקה לכמה שנים" |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/entertainment/article/sypzflksc |access-date=2022-12-26 |archive-date=26 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226000459/https://www.ynet.co.il/entertainment/article/sypzflksc |url-status=live }}

At the age of 16, she was a soloist for the band Samana, which performed Western rock in Arabic. In the 1990s, she studied at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Tel Aviv.

Awad became a star on Israeli television after appearing in the sitcom Arab Labor.{{cite news |author=Ruta Kupfer |date=February 21, 2008 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/954436.html |newspaper=Haaretz |title=Talent or traitor? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511160331/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/954436.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008}} She also appeared in The Bubble, a film by director Eytan Fox. She sang the theme songs for the films Forgiveness (directed by Udi Aloni), and Lemon Tree (directed by Eran Riklis).

In 2002, she collaborated with Achinoam Nini in a version of the Beatles song "We Can Work It Out." She appeared in an album of live performances of Greek singer George Dalaras. In the summer of 2002 she starred as Eliza Doolittle in the Israeli Opera production of My Fair Lady, directed by Micha Levinson, at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.{{cite news |date=July 16, 2002 |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1962594,00.html |title=ברד ירד בדרום ערד |language=he |trans-title=Hail fell in South Arad |author=Merav Yudilovitch |publisher=Ynet |access-date=9 June 2009 |archive-date=17 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017014022/http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1962594,00.html |url-status=live }} She also participated in the Israeli children's song festival "Festigal", performing the song Take the Journey.{{cite web|url=http://go.walla.co.il/festigal2002 |title=Festigal 2002 official site |website=Go.walla.co.il |access-date=April 7, 2013 |archive-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224191922/http://go.walla.co.il/festigal2002/ |url-status=dead }} In 2005, Awad collaborated with The Idan Raichel Project on the song Azini (Comfort Me) on Idan Reichel's second album "Mi'ma'amakim."

In 2006, she appeared as an IDF soldier in the Cameri production of a musical adaptation of Maya Arad's novel in verse "Another Place, a Foreign City."{{cite web |url=http://www.mouse.co.il/CM.shows_item_show,411,208,617,.aspx |title=מקום אחר ועיר זרה |trans-title=Another Place and a foreign city |publisher=City Mouse |language=he |access-date=May 15, 2009 |archive-date=18 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318022256/http://www.mouse.co.il/CM.shows_item_show,411,208,617,.aspx |url-status=dead }} In 2007, she played Amal, an Arab-Israeli human rights lawyer married to Amjad's Jewish friend, Meir, in the Israeli sitcom "Arab Labor."

In 2008, she played a Palestinian refugee in the stage production of "The Return to Haifa."{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelis-stage-daring-saga-of-the-abandoned-palestinian-raised-as-a-jew-808651.html |title=Israelis stage daring saga of the abandoned Palestinian raised as a Jew |access-date=October 6, 2010 |location=London |work=The Independent |first=Donald |last=MacIntyre |date=April 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720161458/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelis-stage-daring-saga-of-the-abandoned-palestinian-raised-as-a-jew-808651.html |archive-date=July 20, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

Awad represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, along with Achinoam Nini (known outside Israel as Noa).[http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12891?rss] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504193507/http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12891?rss|date=May 4, 2010}} The song won a place in the Eurovision final on May 16, and eventually finished in 16th place with 53 points. Awad had previously tried to represent Israel in Eurovision 2005 with the song Zman (Time), but landed 8th place in the national final.

On May 15 Noa and Awad released a collaborative album There Must Be Another Way featuring both duets and solo tracks. Awad's debut solo album Acrobat (بهلوان, Bahlawan) was released in June, featuring songs she wrote and composed, in collaboration with Israeli guitarist Amos Ever-Hadani. In 2010, she was part of a panel that chose the song to represent Israel in Eurovision 2010 to be sung by Harel Skaat.

She participated in the fifth season of Rokdim Im Kokhavim, the Israeli version of Dancing with the Stars. Her dancing partner was Dani Yochtman. They reached the semi-final stage of the competition, coming in 4th place.{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenland.com/Mira_Awad.htm |title=Mira Awad biography |publisher=Golden Land |access-date=April 7, 2013 |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529153343/http://www.goldenland.com/mira_awad.htm |url-status=dead}}

She also starred in the TV drama Noah's Ark, playing Ruthi.{{cite web|url=http://reshet.ynet.co.il/shows/teivat_nohch_video/characters/ |title=Tevat Noah official site |website=Reshet.ynet.co.il |access-date=April 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225125905/http://reshet.ynet.co.il/shows/teivat_nohch_video/characters/ |archive-date=February 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }} In 2013, Awad performed with Israeli heavy metal band, Orphaned Land, on their fifth album, All Is One, replacing their long time female vocalist, Shlomit Levi.

In February 2025, Noa and Mira Awad performed at the first night of the Italian Sanremo Music Festival with a cover of "Imagine", addressing the Gaza war.{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/tv/storie/11-02-2025/noa-e-mira-awad-a-sanremo-2025-chi-sono-e-perche-cantano-imagine/noa-e-mira-awad.shtml|title=Noa e Mira Awad a Sanremo 2025, due culture unite dalla musica con Imagine di John Lennon|language=IT}}

Awad identifies herself as Palestinian and Israeli.{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Arab+and+Jew+to+sing+for+peace+in+Israel+at+Eurovision.-a0199513925 |title=Arab and Jew to sing for peace in Israel at Eurovision |agency=AFP |date=May 10, 2009 |access-date=March 11, 2013 |archive-date=13 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713124404/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Arab+and+Jew+to+sing+for+peace+in+Israel+at+Eurovision.-a0199513925 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=Berita |url=http://news.id.msn.com/entertainment/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3295838 |title=Berita Dalam dan Luar Negeri Terbaru di situs plasamsn Berita |publisher=MSN |access-date=September 18, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} While she has received criticism from both sides of the Palestinian–Israeli divide, she has many fans in both camps.{{cite web|url=http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=93204&a=1353566&lid=puff_1355913&lpos=lasMer |title=Kobra Tel Aviv – Kobra |website=svt.se |access-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004063157/http://www.svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=93204&a=1353566&lid=puff_1355913&lpos=lasMer |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Musical%20show%20of%20unity%20upsets%20many%20in%20Israel&st=cse |author=Ethan Bronner |title=Musical show of unity upsets many in Israel |work=The New York Times |date=February 25, 2009 |access-date=April 7, 2013 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805160827/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Musical%20show%20of%20unity%20upsets%20many%20in%20Israel&st=cse |url-status=live }} The debate has exposed the uneasy position of the Arab citizens of Israel with their ties to both Israeli and Palestinian societies.{{cite news|last=Kraft|first=Dina|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4434610/Israeli-Eurovision-singers-condemned-as-traitors.html|title=Israeli Eurovision singers condemned as 'traitors'|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=February 2, 2009|access-date=April 7, 2013|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143322/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4434610/Israeli-Eurovision-singers-condemned-as-traitors.html|url-status=live}}

During the 2008 municipal elections to the city council of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Awad was a running candidate from the Ir LeKulanu (lit. A City For All Of Us) party.

During the 2009 national elections in Israel, Awad voiced support for the Israeli-Arab Communist party, Hadash.{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3668839,00.html |title=250 Arab artists voice support for Hadash |author=Sharon Roffe-Ofir |publisher=Ynetnews |date=February 9, 2009 |access-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-date=18 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418082303/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3668839,00.html |url-status=live }}

Prior to her participation in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest representing Israel, Palestinian and Arab intellectuals circulated a petition calling on Awad not to take part in it.{{cite web|url=http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=31&article=503048&issueno=11007/details.asp |title=Intellectuals and artists of the 1948 Arabs Appeal to Mira Awad Not To Represent Israel in Moscow |publisher=Asharq Alawsat |access-date=April 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722014030/http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=31&article=503048&issueno=11007%2Fdetails.asp |archive-date=July 22, 2012 }} The petition failed to deter Awad and Noa, who said, as peace advocates, they were surprised such a petition went around. According to The New York Times, "The antiwar movement, they say, seems to have turned into a Hamas apology force."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?ref=middleeast|work=The New York Times|title=Musical Show of Unity Upsets Many in Israel|first=Ethan|last=Bronner|date=February 25, 2009|access-date=May 12, 2010|archive-date=18 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618232740/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25israel.html?ref=middleeast|url-status=live}} Awad laughed off the suggestion that she might be used as a fig leaf to cover up the Israeli government's actions. "The government didn't choose to send me to Eurovision. Noa and I agreed because of our eight-year collaboration," she said.

On November 19, 2009, Awad and Noa were awarded the Haviva Reik Peace Prize from the Israeli Givat Haviva education institution, to honor their commitment to peace and dialogue between Jews and Arabs.{{cite web|url=http://www.aviva-berlin.de/aviva/Found.php?id=1425598|title=AVIVA-Berlin|website=Aviva-berlin.de|access-date=December 26, 2012|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718201030/http://www.aviva-berlin.de/aviva/Found.php?id=1425598|url-status=live}}

In December 2023, Awad spoke to El País about the Gaza war.{{cite web|url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-12-18/mira-awad-arab-singer-the-alternative-to-peace-is-the-hell-we-see-now.html|title=Mira Awad, Arab singer: 'The alternative to peace is the hell we see now'|website=El País|access-date=11 April 2024|archive-date=24 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224000523/https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-12-18/mira-awad-arab-singer-the-alternative-to-peace-is-the-hell-we-see-now.html|url-status=live}}

{{Discography simple

|header = Albums

|album1 = Bahlawan / Acrobat

|album1-releasedate = 2009

|album1-label = LabelFree Music

|album2 = Write Down...

(soundtrack for the film Write Down, I Am an Arab)

|album2-releasedate = 2014

|album2-label = LabelFree Music

}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.miraawad.co/ Mira Awad Official Website]
• [http://www.labelfree.co Mira Awad Official Music Label]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iqZzi9mj4M Mira Awad talk at TEDx]
• {{Discogs artist|Mira Awad|Mira Awad}}
• {{AllMusic|artist|mn0001949199|Mira Awad}}
• {{IMDb name|0043384|Mira Awad}}

{{S-start}}

{{S-ach}}

{{Succession box|before=Bo'az
with The Fire In Your Eyes|title=Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest|years=(with Noa)
2009|after=Harel Ska'at
with Milim

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2009}}

{{Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Awad, Mira}}

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Israeli women singers

Category:Israeli women pop singers

Category:Israeli women guitarists

Category:Israeli women songwriters

Category:Israeli stage actresses

Category:Israeli Arab Christians

Category:Israeli Arab musicians

Category:Israeli Arab actors

Category:People from Rameh

Category:Israeli people of Bulgarian descent

Category:Arabic-language singers of Israel

Category:English-language singers from Israel

Category:Israeli children's musicians

Category:Israeli emigrants to the United Kingdom

Category:Israeli children's television presenters

Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants