dress. Elisabetta Franchi
earrings. Givenchy @ Luxe Rebellion Styling Haus
cuffs. KALLATI Jewelry
diamond bangle. Le Vian Jewelry
Inbar Lavi is stepping into a new era – one filled with love, creativity, and the beautifully unexpected. The actress is navigating the uncharted territory of new motherhood (“I feel like I’m living in a parallel universe”) while preparing for the release of ‘Bau: Artist at War’, a biographical romance drama. Lavi stars as Rebecca, a prisoner at the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp during World War II, where she meets her future husband, fellow inmate and renowned artist Joseph Bau. “Despite the horrors they faced, they used laughter and humour as a form of resilience, and that became their superpower,” she reflects. “It was their bond and joy that helped them survive the darkest times.”
Lavi is no stranger to hard work, though. In 2004, she packed her bags and moved to New York City — and later to Los Angeles — with her sights firmly set on an acting career. Her persistence paid off with guest roles on hit shows like ‘Entourage’, ‘Criminal Minds’, and ‘Sons of Anarchy’, before she finally landed her breakout lead in the dark comedy series Imposters.
Arguably, Lavi’s most recognizable role, ‘Imposters,’ allowed her to explore multiple personas within a single character. As Maddie Jonson, a con artist who marries her victims before stealing everything from them, Lavi didn’t just portray the complex Maddie – she also embodied a range of alter egos (Ava, Alice, CeCe, Saffron, Molly), each crafted to manipulate a different target. “I would choose to play Maddie Jonson from ‘Imposters’ every day until the end of my life if I could,” she shares. And for die-hard fans not unlike myself, we’d be more than happy to keep watching.
In conversation with Schön!, Lavi details the preparation for her role in ‘Bau: Artist at War’, shares (a few) details on ‘Stay With Me’, and reminisces on past roles.
crystal shirt. Burberry @ Luxe Rebellion Styling Haus
sequins trousers. Cavanagh Baker
shoes. Aleví Milano
earrings. Le Vian jewelry
opposite
crystal shirt. Burberry @ Luxe Rebellion Styling Haus
sequins trousers. Cavanagh Baker
earrings. Le Vian jewelry
You’ve got a lot of upcoming projects at the moment! Are you excited for people to finally see them?
Absolutely, I’m beyond excited to share these projects with the world. The first is ‘Bau: Artist at War’, which we filmed over three years ago. It’s an incredible true story, and I feel deeply honoured to bring these characters to life. We can’t wait for audiences to meet them. The second project is a comedic thriller called ‘Stay With Me’, which is a genre I’ve never explored before. I’m incredibly proud of our talented cast and crew, and the fact that we filmed it right here in Los Angeles, which is a rare treat these days, makes it even more special. We’re all thrilled for the release!
Congratulations on ‘Bau: Artist at War’, releasing in September! How did you prepare for the role of Rebecca Bau?
It was incredibly important for me to spend time with Joseph and Rebecca’s daughters, to truly understand who they were as people. I wanted to capture their essence, characteristics, features, accents, the small details of their lives – what they liked, what they called each other. Diving into the nitty-gritty of who they were as human beings, I found myself falling in love with them even more. The more I read of their diaries and biographies, the more I watched their home videos and heard their stories, the more I realized how unique they were. Despite the horrors they faced, they used laughter and humour as a form of resilience, and that became their superpower. It was their bond and joy that helped them survive the darkest times.
Were you at all apprehensive about stepping into a role based on a true story?
Stepping into Rebecca’s shoes was both thrilling and daunting. Portraying a real person comes with an immense responsibility, especially someone like Rebecca, whose strength and courage were tested under the most horrific circumstances. Her story – and that of so many others who suffered during the Holocaust – resonates even more today.
How would you say the project challenged you as an actor?
This is my first time playing a real-life character in so much depth. I’ve had one tiny role in the past, but it doesn’t come close to the depth I had to explore for this project. It felt like a real responsibility, and I had to treat it with great sensitivity – especially because the story is set during the Holocaust and World War II, when so many of my people perished. It’s such a deeply sensitive topic.
I had to treat it with such delicate gloves that it was very daunting for me, and, physically, I went through challenges as well, where I really ate very little. I felt that deprivation was a big part of what Jews endured in work camps and death camps, so to honour what they went through, I lived off one can of tuna and one can of corn a day while filming. I was quite hungry most of the time – irritated, frustrated, and cold – and it was not an easy filming experience. But in comparison to what my people endured during World War II, one month of discomfort felt like something you couldn’t fake. You couldn’t pretend to be hungry. You kind of had to be to have that weight to you, in a sense. So yeah, it was very, very challenging.
Your next project is the psychological thriller ‘Stay With Me’. What can you share about the role?
I can’t share much about it. I can just say it’s my first time doing a psychological comedic thriller. I got to play a lot with comedic timing and got to work with a really incredible cast that was really fun to play off of, and it was a pleasure. I love being in Los Angeles. I love working in Los Angeles. That doesn’t happen very often these days, and it’s always great to be able to do that here in Los Angeles.
What was the most exciting part about getting a role like this? What scared you the most about taking it on?
The most exciting part of this role was definitely getting to shoot in Los Angeles, which is a rare treat these days! I also had the pleasure of working with an incredible cast, which made the experience even more fun. Plus, diving into comedy for the first time was a fantastic change of pace. On the flip side, what worried me the most was that I was in the early stages of pregnancy, and I was naturally concerned about how the psychological intensity of the thriller might impact both me and the baby.
What first made you fall in love with film and TV?
I love the ability of film and TV to provide an escape from my own life and transport me into a different universe or reality. That sense of immersion into a parallel world is what I enjoy most about filmmaking and watching films and TV.
plaid suit. Alberta Ferretti
loafers. Gucci
earrings. Le Vian Jewelry
watch. Michael Kors
(left index finger) diamond ring. Le Vian Jewelry
(right middle finger) diamond ring. KALLATI Jewelry
opposite
dress shirt. Burberry
trousers. Pinko
tie. Prada
gloves. Luxe Rebellion Styling Haus
jewellery. Le Vian Jewelry
Playing Maddie in ‘Imposters’, a dynamic character who has many different personas herself, how do you think the role helped you evolve as an actor?
Playing Maddie was a significant milestone for me as it was my first real lead in a show. I got to portray many different personalities for the character, which helped me evolve as an actor. I learned how to handle the weight of the show on my shoulders, how to switch in and out of characters, and how to perform under pressure with long hours and many moving pieces. It was a thrilling and honourable experience, and I consider it one of the highlights of my professional career.
If you could revisit one of your characters, which would it be and why?
I would choose to play Maddie Jonson from ‘Imposters’ every day until the end of my life if I could. It was the highlight of my professional career, and I loved playing Maddie because the character was fascinating, full of life, and allowed me a lot of creative freedom. I would love to play her again and again.
What’s one role you haven’t played yet but would love to?
I would love to do a romantic comedy, as it’s my favourite genre and one I’ve never done before. I have a strong desire to explore that type of role.
Outside of acting, you’ve released music and are the founder of your own clothing brand, House of LAVI. How do these endeavours fuel your creativity?
I’m a very creative person and love creating art in all its forms. I view my clothing brand as a form of storytelling and self-expression, and the same applies to my music. These creative outlets fuel and inspire me, serving as powerful ways to express myself.
When you look at your career thus far, what moments stay with you the most?
Several moments stand out for me. Filming season one of Imposters was a highlight, as was filming Prison Break in Morocco, which allowed me to connect with my ancestry. Working on the globally successful show Lucifer was also a unique experience. Additionally, filming Fauda – the biggest hit to come out of the Middle East – was very meaningful. I feel incredibly grateful and honoured to be part of such unique and diverse projects and consider myself very lucky to look back on these moments.
What are you looking forward to in the future, both personally and professionally?
This is my first interview as a new mom, and I feel like I’m living in a parallel universe – both the same person and completely different. My priorities have shifted, and I hope to navigate parenthood while being a good mother to my daughter, a good wife to my husband, and balancing my personal and professional life. I want to continue working on projects I’m proud of – ones that fuel my creativity and feel authentic to me. Ultimately, I want to tell stories that excite me and leave behind a meaningful legacy.
‘Bau: Artist at War’ is out September 26th.
photography. Kudzai King
fashion. Lisa Cera @ 3 Public Relations
talent. Inbar Lavi
hair. Sienna Watsonn
make up. Luis Casco @ Cloutier Remix
nails. Amber Studer @ Hype Creative LA
interview. Amber Louise
