Gila Golan
Encyclopedia
Gila Golan (born ca. 1940) is an Israeli former fashion model and actress.
Golan was born in Krakow
, Poland
, around 1940. Her exact birthday is not known, as she was hidden from the Nazis at a young age. She was adopted by a Roman Catholic family that found her left in a bundle at a train station during the Holocaust
. Her adopted family sent her to be educated in a monastery. Arriving in Israel
after World War II
with the name Zusia Sobetzcki, she became Miriam Goldberg and continued her schooling in an Orthodox
girls' boarding school
.
After becoming enamoured with fashion
and undergoing plastic surgery
, she was spotted by an American photographer, and ultimately ended up in the Israeli women's magazine LaIsha
. Her new fame launched her to the 1960 national fashion competition, where she won first place and was crowned Miss Israel
, though she changed her name to Gila Golan to prevent word getting back to her religiously conservative benefactors. After receiving second place in that year's Miss World
competition as Israel's representative, she was sent to the United States to raise funds, and she ended up staying there.
Director Stanley Kramer
started her film career with the role of Elsa Lutz in his film Ship of Fools
, whence she continued to establish herself in Our Man Flint
, Three on a Couch
, and The Valley of Gwangi
.
Golan was married and divorced, remarried and widowed, and finally married a third time, and has several children from her three marriages. In recent years she has returned to religion and now runs an investment business.
Golan was born in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, around 1940. Her exact birthday is not known, as she was hidden from the Nazis at a young age. She was adopted by a Roman Catholic family that found her left in a bundle at a train station during the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
. Her adopted family sent her to be educated in a monastery. Arriving in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the name Zusia Sobetzcki, she became Miriam Goldberg and continued her schooling in an Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
girls' boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
.
After becoming enamoured with fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
and undergoing plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
, she was spotted by an American photographer, and ultimately ended up in the Israeli women's magazine LaIsha
LaIsha
LaIsha is an Israeli women's magazine. It is published on weekly basis since 1947, and is owned by Yedioth Ahronoth media group.Since 1950, LaIsha holds the annual Miss Israel beauty pageant....
. Her new fame launched her to the 1960 national fashion competition, where she won first place and was crowned Miss Israel
Miss Israel
-Winners:...
, though she changed her name to Gila Golan to prevent word getting back to her religiously conservative benefactors. After receiving second place in that year's Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
competition as Israel's representative, she was sent to the United States to raise funds, and she ended up staying there.
Director Stanley Kramer
Stanley Kramer
Stanley Earl Kramer was an American film director and producer. Kramer was responsible for some of Hollywood's most famous "message" movies...
started her film career with the role of Elsa Lutz in his film Ship of Fools
Ship of Fools (film)
Ship of Fools is a 1965 film drama which tells the overlapping stories of several passengers aboard an ocean liner bound to Germany from Mexico in 1933...
, whence she continued to establish herself in Our Man Flint
Our Man Flint
Our Man Flint is a 1966 action film that parodies of James Bond genre. The film was directed by Daniel Mann, written by Hal Fimberg and Ben Starr, and starring James Coburn as master spy Derek Flint...
, Three on a Couch
Three On A Couch
Three on a Couch is a comedy film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis.Filmed from September 13-December 1, 1965, it was released on July 7, 1966 by Columbia Pictures. Co-starring are Janet Leigh, James Best, Mary Ann Mobley and Kathleen Freeman....
, and The Valley of Gwangi
The Valley of Gwangi
The Valley of Gwangi is a 1969 American western-fantasy film directed by Jim O'Connolly and written by William Bast. The film is also known as Gwangi, The Lost Valley, The Valley Time Forgot, and The Valley Where Time Stood Still...
.
Golan was married and divorced, remarried and widowed, and finally married a third time, and has several children from her three marriages. In recent years she has returned to religion and now runs an investment business.