However, obviously Israel is a much smaller place in terms of population. There are only 6 million people in Israel, where there might be 6 million people in one city in America.

Meital Dohan

I also love a film by Ang Lee - "Lust, Caution."

Meital Dohan

caution film lust

I don't really consider myself a writer, but I am writing so I guess I'm a writer.

Meital Dohan

writing

I treat both acting and writing as a creation - writing is just another element or aspect of it.

Meital Dohan

elements acting writing

While I'm acting I'm focused on what I'm trying to say through the character. And when I'm writing, I'm just putting down on paper or on the computer what I have to say.

Meital Dohan

writing trying character

I'm connected to both places because I already feel like New York is my home. But then again I feel like L.A. is my new home and Israel is my real home.

Meital Dohan

real new-york home

I kind of feel connected to all places at the moment, and I've done very interesting projects in both places (Israel and America).

Meital Dohan

israel america interesting

Israel has the mentality of a small Kibbutz. Kibbutz is kind of like a small village that - actually there aren't many Kibbutz left in Israel - but it was something that was based on socialism and based on a principle that everyone is working for the Kibbutz and the Kibbutz is one.

Meital Dohan

small-villages israel principles

And that's how show business is like in Israel - it's very, very small. It kind of feels like a high school environment, you know? Everyone knows everyone and if you come to Israel for a month, you'll meet half of the actors on different occasions - not to mention in the doctors office!

Meital Dohan

doctors israel school

In America, everything is big and more like a jungle.

Meital Dohan

jungle bigs america

I really love Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Edward Norton. I also like Ryan Gosling and Rick Bentley. And of the girls I like Naomi Watts and Juliette Binoche, and I would like to work with...

Meital Dohan

girl-i-like bentley girl

I'm very picky and I'm very critical.

Meital Dohan

picky critical

I also like Juliette Lewis - I think she's great.

Meital Dohan

thinking

I like "Talk to Her" by [Pedro] Almodovar and "Happiness" by Todd Solondz, "Mullholland Drive" by David Lynch .

Meital Dohan

almodovar

The new film I'm shooting in Jerusalem - which is partly why I'm here in Israel - is something I co-wrote.

Meital Dohan

jerusalem shooting israel

It's always nice to meet friends of friends.

Meital Dohan

nice

My role on "The Sopranos" was so small and I only had one day of shooting. I had fun that day because I met Michael Imperioli, who is a friend of Johnny Ventimiglia, and Johnny and me are close friends.

Meital Dohan

one-day roles fun

The work on "Weeds" was wonderful! It was pure fun, from the people involved in the production to Jenji Kohan, who was the creator of the show, to Justin Kirk, who was my partner and who was terrific to work with because he's a great friend. The whole experience was just wonderful.

Meital Dohan

weed fun people

I like to take on a different role every time or else I make myself bored.

Meital Dohan

bored roles different

I like to do variations of all kinds of different work. One of my roles in Israel was for the theatre - Romeo & Juliet. So from that role I went to - I was playing, I believe her name was Amanda in the U.S., on "Ugly Betty."

Meital Dohan

israel names believe

I like to do projects that are off-the-wall and on top-of-the-wall.

Meital Dohan

off-the-wall projects wall