Israeli filmmaker and actress Ronit Elkabetz was the recipient of the prestigious France Culture Cinema award for 2010 at the Cannes Film Festival.
 

Actress Julie Gayet head of the jury panel who decided to award Alkabetz the prize, said, “Ronit is a woman who radiates passion and eroticism, who has the ability to act even the queen of Egypt. I am proud to present her with this award.”
 

After accepting the award a clearly overwhelmed Elkabetz told the audience, ”I embarked on a difficult and unclear journey when I decided ten years ago to split my time between Israel and France.
 
In recent years Cannes has become a second home to me. I dreamt about France even before I could speak one word in French. Therefore to receive such an award is a great thing for me. I would like to thank all those who helped and supported me and recognized my work over the years,” she said.
 

Elkabetz has starred in some of Israel’s most acclaimed films, including Jaffa, Girl on the Train, Late Marriage and  The Band’s Visit. She has also co-written and directed two films with her brother, Shlomi.
 

Born to a religious Moroccan Jewish family, Alkabetz was raised in Kiryat Yam. Her mother was a hairdresser and her father was a postal employee. Her mother spoke French and Arabic, but her father insisted on speaking only Hebrew. She never studied acting and started her career as a model.

In 1997 she moved to Paris, to study in Ariane Mnouchkine`s Théâtre du Soleil. During that period, she supported herself as a waitress.