Julia Garner’s parents: Her mother was a famous comedian in Israel

Julia Garner continues to wow audiences and critics with her acting range. The New York native made her acting debut in Martha Marcy May Marlene in 2011. She went on to star in multiple films and shows, earning local and national plaudits. Garner became an international star through her portrayal of Ruth Langmore in the Netflix hit Ozark. 

Garner spent one month talking in a south Missouri accent to better portray the fearless and erratic Ruth. Ruth’s efforts earned her two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Garner impressively played Anna Delvey in Shonda Rhimes’ Inventing Anna. 

Julia Garner was born in The Bronx, New York, to Tami Gingold and Thomas Garner. She grew up alongside her older sister Anna Garner. 

Thomas, from Shaker Heights, Ohio, is an art teacher and painter. Gingold is a therapist, but before she immigrated to the United States, she was a comedian and actress in Israel.

Julia started acting to combat her shyness. “I started in this business because I was very shy, so I started taking acting classes,” Garner said in an interview with BUILD Series. 

Anna benefited from having a parent with experience in the industry. Tami warned Julia that the acting industry could be unforgiving, but Julia pressed on anyway. Julia told The New York Times:

“My mother was a famous comedian in Israel 30 years ago, Tami Gingold. And I remember when I told her I wanted to act, not just as a hobby, she asked: ‘You want to act professionally? Julia, are you sure? It’s really hard.'”

Tami kept her Israeli heritage alive by speaking Hebrew in the house. Consequently, Julia understands Hebrew but isn’t fluent in the language. 

Julia told e.walla that she considers herself ‘semi-Israeli.’ “I have a lot of family in the country: in fact, my whole mother’s family is there, and I come to visit often,” she added. 

Garner added that she’s a huge fan of Israeli productions. “Yes, Israelis grasp things quickly, and they are good at producing content that will be the basis for remakes,” Julia said. “I really like ‘Fauda’ and also ‘In Treatment.’

Julia Garner and Tami are Jewish.