Dafna Dekel is an Israeli stage and screen actor and singer. On completion of her military service which she spent in the IDF’s Nahal Band (aka The Nachal Troupe), Dekel started landing roles both in film and in theatre, whilst at the same time also launching her music career. In 1993, Dekel appeared in Eran Riklis’s biographical film, Zohar, playing the wife of late Israeli Middle Eastern Soul singer, Zohar Argov – a performance that earned her a Best Leading Actress nomination at that year’s Ophir Awards. In theatre, Dekel has appeared in countless musicals, including Peter Pan, Sallah Shabati, Billy Elliot, Road Signs, and Chaplin.
Many young Israelis will remember Dekel from the hit children’s programme, Dafna and Dudidu that aired on Israeli children’s cable network, HOP, from 2000 – 2005. Highlights of Dekel’s additional TV series credits include Grass Legend (‘agadat deshe’), Blue Natalie, Sisters, and The Station.
Dekel’s debut album, the self-titled Dafna Dekel came out in 1989 and featured the hit single Hatzilu (‘help’) (aka ‘Who will Save my House?’). In 1994, her follow up album, yet another self-titled release came out and featured a cover version of The Pure Souls’ Israeli folk classic, I will Wait for you (‘achake lecha’). In the interim, Dekel represented Israel at the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest, coming in sixth place with her entry, Viva Sport (aka ‘ze rak sport’ – it’s only sports).