We recently had the chance to connect with Shani Atias and have shared our conversation below.
Shani, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
Morning routines with my 4 year old girl and my 1 year old son. After dropping off my daughter at school, I love to start my day with a workout. It really helps me feel good, strong, centered and motivated. Then it kind of depends on the day, lately it was reading scripts for a project I worked on – Joseph Of Egypt (a limited series for Amazon), working on my character, researching, watching a lot of biblical films and shows and reading some bible stories. When auditions come in, then it’s prep and tape. Back home with the kids or out and about depending on the day. And in the evening after bedtime I juggle between premieres, date night or late reading for an audition due the next day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
About Me
Hi, I’m Shani Atias — actress, producer, speaker, and TV host. I’ve always been passionate about storytelling, especially the kind that moves people, sparks emotion, and brings characters to life in unexpected ways.
My love for acting started when I was just nine years old, watching Argentinian telenovelas (yes, dramatic pauses and all!). I was so inspired that I taught myself Spanish — and that early spark turned into a lifelong calling. I’m now fluent in English, Hebrew, and Spanish.
I moved from Israel to Los Angeles to follow my dream, and since then, I’ve had the chance to work on some incredible projects. Emmy winner and Golden Globes nominee – HBO’s The Pitt, Shameless, FBI: Most Wanted, Ten Days in the Valley, MacGyver, NCIS: Los Angeles, and more. Each role has been a chance to grow, connect, and bring something real to the screen.
If you’ve played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, you’ve probably heard my voice as the main war zone announcer. It’s been a great experience to be part of a game that so many people around the world love.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
It’s not my earliest memory, but it is the moment I understood true power — and it happened four years ago during the birth of my daughter. I was nine months pregnant and had severe COVID. As I went into labor, we rushed to the hospital, but the moment we arrived my husband was taken away by security due to the strict protocols. I had to deliver completely alone.
Labor was intense — I was wearing a mask, holding a phone in my hand, FaceTiming my family while literally pushing my baby out. I had planned a whole beautiful birth experience with my husband: a playlist, fake candles, you name it.
In that moment, I opened Tehilim, said a prayer, and told God: I’m ready. I understand life now. I can do this.
And somehow, something inside me shifted. A strength I didn’t know I had took over. After many pushes, my daughter was born, and we named her Eliya which means “God is the God.”
The meaning of her name reflects exactly what I felt in that room: that even in the darkest, loneliest moment, I wasn’t truly alone. I felt powerful in a way I had never experienced — because if I could bring life into the world while sick and alone what can’t I do?!
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell myself: Have faith. Focus on getting to know yourself and believing in yourself, more than worrying about what others think you should do. Don’t stress about being perfect at everything. Work on your craft, but also nurture your faith — because that is what will carry you through and help you keep going, especially in Hollywood, and of course, in life.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
My mom. She is genuinely a good person with the biggest heart and willingness to help. She is always there to help each and every person in our family day or night, even if she is sick she will take care of a baby, stay up all night, call an airline to change a ticket (spend hours on the phone) or get that bank wire fee canceled. And above all, she takes care of her parents. After my grandfather passed, she has been the anchor for my grandmother, who literally says my mom is her oxygen.
Her kindness, patience, and dedication for the well-being others are inspiring to me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I definitely danced my way to work when I found out I booked a tv show with my sister, Moran Atias for the first time.
When my manager called to tell me I got the part, he made me swear to secrecy — he said an offer was going out to my sister that day too, and I couldn’t say a word until her team contacted her. The only reason I managed to keep quiet was because she was in Israel and it was 2 a.m. there… and I couldn’t wait for her to wake up so she could call me with the news!
I literally have a video from set dancing to “I believe in miracles…”
We had such a great time on set and laughed so hard in between takes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shaniatias.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__shaniatias/?hl=en
Image Credits
Photographer: Helge Gurll
Makeup: Efrat Deloya
Hair: Ido Vital
Styling: Lee Abodi
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
