From her acclaimed performance in Losing Alice to fan-favorite turns in You and Moonhaven, Ayelet Zurer continues to captivate global audiences with a string of memorable roles. Now starring in Season 2 of House of David and the highly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again, Zurer is further cementing her reputation as a dynamic and compelling presence across international television—while also helping reshape the conversation around beauty and aging in an industry still catching up.
Ahead, we speak with Zurer about her latest projects, her evolving perspective and how she approaches aging today.
You’ve had a remarkable international career. How has your perspective on beauty evolved from your early roles to now?
“The concept of beauty evolved defensively. I once had an Italian makeup artist tell me, ‘A beautiful woman dies twice.’ Once she gets old. And the second time…well, you know. I remember thinking, really? Is that what I want to believe in? Absolutely not! There is the social concept of beauty at a certain time or era, and then there is an aura, that thing that you can’t grasp. And today, when I look in the mirror, I say thank you since I’m healthy. This age-concept poison floods my psyche through the media, and I find myself saying I’m too this or I’m too that. I once had a producer call me to say, ‘Please lose weight.’ That call today is probably unacceptable. But somehow, expectations haven’t changed.”
You’ve worked with legendary directors and actors. Did any of those experiences shape how you view aging and beauty in Hollywood?
“I have learned that while beauty can get you in the door, talent is what makes you stay.”
Your role in Losing Alice was deeply complex. How did you prepare physically and emotionally, and did it affect your self-care routine?
“It was wonderfully intense in a good, creative way. I was surrounded by talented women—I had a female director, female producer, female co-star and much more. And that naturally created a type of freedom and support.”
Between projects like House of David and Daredevil: Born Again, how do you maintain consistency in your skin care and wellness habits?
“House of David was shot in hot weather. And Daredevil: Born Again during a New York winter. The same goes for both shows—or any work for that matter—sleep, hydrate and exercise.”
You’ve described one of your recent roles as a mix between Yoda and Oprah—how do you channel that sense of wisdom and presence into your everyday life?
“Oh, that’s funny! Yes, that was ‘Maite’ in Moonhaven, which is now available to stream on Netflix. I was deep into daily meditation while we shot the show, and because we were filming in Ireland during COVID, I got to walk to a swimming cove and back with my co-star almost on a daily basis, which kept me present, joyous and content.”
What are some of your favorite beauty moves that help you stay grounded, especially during intense filming schedules?
“I find that taking makeup off before sleep, even after a 15-hour shoot day, is a must. And, if I have time, I like to find a facialist to help revive skin that was buried under makeup for so many hours and days.”
What does beauty mean to you today, and how do you hope that definition continues to evolve in the entertainment industry?
“I’m interested to see a shift in the industry’s approach to aging. I believe it will change once we tell more stories from the female perspective beyond age, the concept of female existence…ingénue, mother, femme fatale, etc. We are still bound to concepts that hold us back.”
