Fifteen years after moving to the United States to jumpstart her career, Israeli actress Inbar Lavi has finally landed a role in her homeland, having been recruited for season 4 of Fauda.

The critically acclaimed action series, originating from Israeli satellite network Yes and distributed globally by Netflix, follows counter-terrorism unit, known as “Mista’arvim” and led by decorated soldier and team commander Doron Kavillio, played by Lior Raz, who also co-created the show with journalist Avi Issacharoff, both drawing inspiration from their experience serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.

Fauda is considered a breakthrough international achievement for the Israeli TV industry. It has won 12 awards at the Israeli Television Academy annual ceremony, including two consecutive wins for Best Drama Series in 2016 and then in 2017, when it was ranked as one of the best shows of the year by The New York Times, noting it as a “standard-bearer.”

While the series continues to garner praise for its authentic depiction of the tumultuous action-packed Middle East, in a manner Western production cannot, the new season already managed to crack the top 10 most watched content on Netflix globally, and specifically in 36 territories over the world, namely Arab countries such as Jordan, UAE, Egypt, Morocco and even Lebanon, where it ranked #1.

Lavi, whose television credits include Imposters, the 2017 revival of Prison Break and most recently Lucifer, joins the Fauda pack as Shani Russo, a returnee soldier who shares a history with Doron.

We interviewed Lavi by phone as she promoted Fauda, now streaming on Netflix.

How did you land the part?

I guess I’m the girl they call for season four. I mean, that’s how it happened on Lucifer, and with Prison Break, right? They need someone to spice things up, so hey, let’s call Inbar. She’s that girl. I’ve kind of developed this system where I refuse to watch the show before I commit, because it’s almost like I don’t want to know the tone or what they’ve been up to, unless it’s absolutely vital for my storyline, which has never been the case. I always come in as the outsider. And it’s proven to be refreshing, or at least that’s the response I’ve been getting. I’m not trying to fit into any existing mold. I create my own breath of fresh air, and it’s been really fun and different. It allows me to explore a little more and not try to squeeze into something that is already there.

Ironically, this is your first Israeli project despite being a native

Yes, the only one I’ve ever done back home. So, this was a huge deal for me. I will forever be grateful to Lior and Avi, who are the masterminds behind this phenomenon, for trusting me with this. I’ve been auditioning for Israeli productions for years. I spent a good four years just trying out and coming in for tests and chemistry reads, flying in from the US for final stages but eventually not getting the job. And no one ever really saw it for me. I always felt they were like, why is this girl doing so well in the States? Because we don’t see it. They didn’t believe that I was Israeli, they thought I was like too American or too broad. It just never worked. And now with Fauda it was just the perfect storm where I happened to be in Israel and available to come in and meet with Lior and read. And finally, it all worked out.”

Were you surprised by the show’s success, especially in Arab countries?

I probably brought them in because Lucifer is so huge, it’s really just because of me. I’m joking. To be honest, I’m obviously delighted that we’re spreading the word and that the more people get to watch the show and be exposed to both sides of the story, I think it’s wonderful and exciting. You really never know why something hits. There can be so many different reasons. But to me, it doesn’t matter just as long as it’s getting seen. The more spotlight you can shine on the region, which people don’t dive into lightly or are too scared or just not exposed to on their daily reach, the more important it is to tell these stories and give voices that aren’t being heard and educate.

What’s it like working on an Israeli production?

It’s immensely different. Needless to say, if I’m filming in Los Angeles or on another American production somewhere, you’re talking massive budgets and a comfortable setup for you to do the best job that you can do. There’s a lot of luxury that comes for an actor, especially in Hollywood. It’s a glamorous job. Going to Israel was a complete lack of that. There’s no pizzaz, you’re like everyone else, no hierarchy, an even playing field. We didn’t have trailers. And it really grounds you and it makes you be very grateful for when you do come back to an American set. But having this be my first production in Israel and having such an important subject matter, it was charged emotionally. I got to play a soldier that fights to protect her homeland. And not like on a soundstage in Burbank. You’re where actual blood is shed and it’s humbling in every way. You’re not pretending anymore.

Now back in L.A. – What’s next for you? Would you return for more acting in Israel?

I’m leaving to Vancouver next week to shoot a WWII biopic, based on a true story. It’s always juiciest for me to dive into a real tale. And in terms of working in Israel, I would love to. We have some of the most original, authentic, and interesting storytelling coming out of our country, thinking outside the box. Now more than ever, we really honed in on our strengths. And I’m always curious to see what comes out of there. It needs to be the right project, at the right time and with the right people. The character has to grab me and that goes for any acting job I take. But when the project is right, then I’m absolutely in.