Shirly Brener

Biography

Shirly (pronounced – Sheer- Lee) Brener is already a known celebrity in her homeland. Born in Haifa and raised in London and Los Angeles, she is well on her way as a rising film star. This modern day Renaissance woman has a diverse career as an actress, producer and host as well as ventures as an art historian, writer and philanthropist.

Her breakthrough role came opposite Henry Thomas in the comedy Highjacking Hollywood and since then she has been compared to a young Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan or Goldie Hawn, Brener embodies the essence of a Hollywood IT girl with her talent, charm, humor, edge and confidence.

Since 2005 has completed over 20 projects booking job after job and traveling the US and the world working alongside great actors and directors. She is known to be wide ranged from a romantic lead to an accented (Shirly has an ability to do many dialects and accents) hooker or drug addict. Her outgoing personality, sense of humor and a super professional attitude on the set and approach has some of the creative teams hiring her over again.

Most recently on location in Connecticut, acting in the much anticipated Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes) cop drama, Righteous Kill, starring no less than- Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The film is set to be released by Overture Films, later in 2008. Other roles include but not limited to: War Inc, playing John Cusack’s wife and also starring Academy award winners Ben Kingsley and Marisa Tomei as well as Hillary Duff -shot on location in Eastern Europe and produced by New Crime Productions (High Fidelity). Shirly , who is described by her friends as hilarious, is showing her funny side and romantic comedy appeal in films like Bill starring Jessica Alba and Aaron Eckhart, produced by GreenStreet Films ( In the Bedroom), Employee of the Month with Jessica Simpson Dane Cook and Andy Dick directed by Greg Coolidge , produced by Tapestry Films (Wedding Crashers) and LionsGate.. Very anticipated is the indie Letting Go, where Shirly plays her favorite character to date as the dysfunctional April who is a psychologically challenged designer hooked on prescription medication, she stars as the lead opposite Bokeem Woodbine, Sam Golzari and Christopher Knight, directed by award winning Jake Torem to premiere in 2008 at SlamDance and Tribeca film festivals. Also the Israeli Crime Drama- homage to the Godfather- Honor (KAVOD) in which she plays an undercover cop and a supporting-lead in the psychological -thriller Session, starring Steven Bauer (Scar Face) which she is a Producer on too, both directed by festival acclaimed -Haim Bouzaglo.

Securing a path in higher education as well, Shirly graduated with honors- on the Dean’s List- from the University of Southern California with a degree in Art History and a minor in Film Critical Studies. She then got accepted after to the Masters of Business Administration program at Pepperdine University. While in school, Shirly never let her acting ambitions down, and managed book and shoot in such films as The Gray Zone, directed by Tim Blake Nelson opposite Mira Sorvino and Harvey Kietel, by Killer Films and LionsGate, Blind Horizon starring Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard and Faye Danway (was in the official selection of South by Southwest) and Shadow of Fear opposite James Spader and Aidan Quinn..

Other projects she completed were the Weinstein Co. The Killing Grounds (aka Children of Wax) as a Lead opposite Armand Assante and Udo Kier playing a German Neo Nazi girl, directed by European award winning Ivan Nichev and produced by legendary producer Menahem Golan, and a supporting role in the Steven Seagal film Mercenary for Justice, playing a field reporter in an actions filled film and another Lead for the Sci Fi Channel, in Petrified. (Directed by cult followed – Charles Band).

Not leaving her passion for theater behind, Shirly also just completed a very edgy supporting role in the play – “Eccentric”, at the RipRap Theater in NoHo, which won rave reviews (pick of the week) and is nominated for an LA WEEKLY Award.

Her career began at age 2 doing commercials for Merci Chocolate in both France and Germany, at 15 she was accepted to the prestigious theatrical performing arts department of Beverly Hills High School acting in such productions as “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby” and “The Pirates of Penzance”. She later went on to act in local community and college theater with leading roles in “The Heidi Chronicles” and “It Had to be You”.

Juggling a career in 2 continents, she became a series regular on the popular Ramat Aviv (show was a smash hit, much like The OC), the host of the popular MTV- Singled Out and a supporting-lead in the Israeli Academy Award winner film- Mr. Baum. Stardom became synonymous to Brener and she recurred on shows, did Guest Stars, hosted a variety of shows and her name and face were used for product endorsements such as “Burger King”, the “Milk Company”, “Planet Hollywood” and others.

Maintaining her career abroad, she regularly hosts shows and does entertainment news reporting for E! Entertainment and Y BE 10(like Access Hollywood).

Producing films has always been a sought after pursuit, most recently Shirly was able to put together her first full length feature film – the psychological suspense thriller- Session, starring Steven Bauer(ScarFace, Traffic) . She has a major role in the film too. Before which she Exec produced the short –Shoot starring Jonathan Silverman and Nikky Six and 2 documentary films both of which she produced, directed, wrote, shot and co-edited. One about her father (a famous sport figure) - Danny the Golden Fish and another about abstract expressionist LA based artist (her hubby) - Bruce Rubenstein. Shirly has several other projects in development like the films Doves in a Blizzard, The Gatewood Project, Pawn and a TV reality show.

Brener studies regularly in the Advanced scene study class at the prestigious Beverly Hills Playhouse (she calls it the LA version of the legendary “Actor’s Studio” in NY) under the renowned- Milton Katselas. Also one of Brener’s coaches is Danny Mora (teacher of George Lopez, Jennifer Coolidge and Jay Hernandez), a former stand up comic, he has helped her with sitcom and improve techniques.

Her writing can be read in a monthly column in Shavua Israeli (Israeli Week) in LA, which is titled :”Café Latte with Shirly Brener”, in which she writes about her life, fashion, entertainment, being a Mom and Wife etc. She also writes poetry both in Hebrew and English, which she hopes to publish some day.

Shirly loves her supportive family and friends and is always deeply committed and dedicated to them as well as helping them and other people around her.

She is adding charity and volunteer work to her always fully loaded schedule. Her work in organizations such as Narconon, Gan Hayeled, Yad Beyad, Reading Writing Its Exciting, The Haifa Foundation and Living Beauty are a testament to her giving nature.

Always on the go, Brener is an avid athlete and adventurous sports aficionado, she practices Bikram Yoga weekly and enjoys outdoor activities such as snow- skiing, water skiing and wind surfing as well as hiking, tennis and, of course, regular workouts.

In her downtime she enjoys traveling to exotic locals such as Africa, Greece, Bulgaria, Jamaica as well as frequenting art exhibitions and museums around the world as well as cooking creative recipes for her always welcomed family and guests while compiling ideas for a future cookbook

Shirly credits her spiritual path as well as her supportive family and friends to her success, well- being, courage, tenacity, love, happiness, and positive attitude.