Yuval Gonen hasn't fully embraced acting as her destined career just yet. With only three auditions under her belt and a few roles in multiple Israeli youth shows, she was completely caught off guard when an invitation to audition for a Ridley Scott film landed in her lap.
Trailer for Gladiator 2
(Video: Tulip Entertainment)
In an upcoming interview with Ynet, Gonen delves into how she managed to outshine hundreds of actresses from Israel and beyond to snag a part in "Gladiator 2." She credits a blend of spiritual and professional work for her success. "Just days before, in March 2023, I engaged in deep meditation. I believe in crafting reality through consciousness in partnership with the divine. During the meditation, I envisioned myself on the largest set imaginable. Two days later, my agent, Hadas Moses from ADD agency, informed me of an audition call."
Gonen realized it was a substantial role, though she wasn’t aware of the specifics during the auditions. "The scene I was given didn’t mention the film's name. As I read through it, I noticed the word 'Gladiator.' I stopped, read it again, and thought, 'Wait, what?' I was insanely excited."
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She advanced through several stages until she received the much-anticipated news: Ridley Scott's approval for her to play the wife of the main star, portrayed by Paul Mescal. Initially, the script didn’t offer Gonen many lines or much screen time. "Once editing began, they realized it was crucial to deepen the main character's relationship with his wife. I got feedback that Ridley was pleased with me, and they added scenes for me."
In the interview, Gonen also discusses her Hollywood counterparts: "Ridley is a fascinating character. He spends 10 minutes discussing the scene and then 20 minutes sharing life stories. For instance, he mentioned visiting Israel decades ago and meeting Moshe Dayan. Paul is young and talented. He doesn't see himself as a Hollywood star."
Interestingly, she wasn't supposed to cross paths with the other Israeli actor in the film, Lior Raz, during shooting, but they met in Israel. "We met for coffee. I wanted someone to talk to about the movie, to share, because it's the biggest thing that happened to me, but I wasn't allowed to discuss it with others."
Contrary to her fears, during filming, Gonen did not encounter hostility from the international cast; quite the opposite. "There was a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Malta. The makeup artist and hair designer were the first to check in with me. I hugged the people on set and started crying because I suddenly felt safe, and they were very sensitive toward me."