Odelya Halevi made the dark rainy Brooklyn day we got together to shoot pure luminous joy! you can catch this Israeli beauty brilliantly playing lawyer Samantha Maroun in Law and Order. so scroll on down and find out what qualities about her are similar/different to Samantha, what she loves about her chosen craft, finding humor in the little things, stealing oversize jackets from her husband, skincare tips and one of her bare essentials a neck massager…which we need asap.

the bare magazine: what have been some of your favorite highlights and scenes to play in this season so far?

Odelya Halevi: The scene that really challenged me, both as an actress and for Samantha is the scene in the premiere episode of this season, “Street Justice” — when Price shows up at Sam’s apartment right after the detectives have been searching it. Sam is trying to stay composed, but inside she’s a mess. She knows she doesn’t have the gun because she threw it into the East River and she also knows that makes her look guilty. She’s torn between trusting him as a friend and remembering how suspicious he’s been of her. She feels completely alone but in the end decides to tell him the truth anyway, hoping he’ll believe her — challenging the trust one more time and sort of giving this professional relationship one more chance. When he asks her “Why did you throw the gun in the water?” She says “I was afraid of what I might do with it” that line always breaks my heart. It shows how deep her pain runs — that she’s afraid of both her anger and her sadness. What made it even more challenging is that although the scene is short, it goes from 0 to 100 emotionally. Sam starts off defensive, not trusting, and ends up completely vulnerable. As an actor, I had to go through all those layers: resistance, anger fear, and finally surrender and vulnerability in just a couple of minutes. It was tough, but also one of the most rewarding scenes I’ve done.

bare: in what way is the cast like family? in what ways do they inspire you?

OH: The inspiration comes from working with people who’ve been in this industry for so long and have done such incredible work, projects I actually watched and admired long before I ever worked with them. My cast members all have so much more experience than I do, and I get to watch them every day and learn from them. It’s a gift. I also feel like Dick Wolf’s talent, beyond his amazing creative vision and the brilliant way he tells stories, is really in how he brings people together. He has this incredible ability to cast not just talented actors, but genuinely grounded, humble and good humans that not only care about the craft, but deeply care about the people they work with. Because of that, it immediately feels like family on set. Everyone’s agenda is that the show will remain successful. We all get along, respect each other and there’s such a sense of trust and collaboration. From time to time, Hugh Dancy’s family will come visit set and some of my family members have visited as well. It just adds this extra layer of familiarity. I got to meet Tony Goldwyn’s wife, Jane Musky, a few months ago at a political event he hosted and his daughter, Tess, even got to play his on screen daughter on the show. When you work with people for so many hours over the course of a few years, they really do become a significant part of your life. They naturally become more than just coworkers.

bare: compare and contrast your character samantha to your own personality and vibe in real life (how are you alike and different).

OH: Samantha and I are alike in many ways. We’re both opinionated, strong women, daughters of immigrant parents who really had to fight to be heard and to get to where we are. Neither of us comes from money, and both of our families had to leave their home countries to build a better future for themselves and their children. So I relate to her on such a deep level…. That drive, resilience, the need to prove yourself in a world that doesn’t always make it easy.

What’s crazy to me is that when I first got the audition, they were actually looking for a “southern belle” which, of course, is exactly me! Haha. At first, I didn’t even want to read for it… I thought, “I don’t want to take this from someone who really fits that description. I’m not a Southern belle, and I definitely can’t do a Southern accent, at least not yet.” But then I told my agent, “I have to at least tape for this. It’s Dick Wolf’s team — it’s such an honor to even audition.” The casting director, Jonathan Strauss, who I’ve known for a while, sent me the material, and I had this little feeling that maybe there was some flexibility with the character. And sure enough, about a week later, I got the call that I’d booked the role. I was shocked! I said, “Wait, what about the Southern belle part?” And they said, “It’s okay, they like you just as you are.” That really meant a lot to me because, for so long, I’d been told that I’d only ever play Middle Eastern roles, that I’d never be cast as a lawyer or a doctor because English isn’t my first language. So this was huge. Dick Wolf and our show runner Rick Eid, gave me the opportunity and allowed me to be myself and bring some of my story to the character.

I feel incredibly lucky because I know how rare that is. This is something I’ve been waiting for my whole life. It felt like a win not just professionally, but personally.

Having said all that, of course, as Odelya , I wouldn’t make a lot of the choices that Sam makes on the show. But that’s the beauty of acting. You get a script, and you have to put your own beliefs aside and step into the world that the writers have created. That’s what’s so fun about acting. You get to live someone else’s truth, even when it’s completely different from your own. I actually love that Sam and I don’t always see the world the same way. Playing her without judgment isn’t always easy, but every time I have to stretch like that and succeed, I feel like I’ve grown a little more as a person.

bare: aside from playing an attorney what would a dream role and genre be for a future project?

OH: I’d really love to explore more comedy in the future. My first two TV roles were these small guest spots on “Mike and Molly” and “The New Girl”. I had the best time. There’s something so special about being on a comedy set, the energy is just different. You’re laughing all day, everyone’s improvising, throwing out ideas, and it’s just… joyful. Hearing people laugh during a take is so satisfying and fulfilling.

I also think part of me wants to show the audience that side of myself, the playful and silly, because Sam Maroun is very serious. “Law & Order” has a certain tone, and I love her for that strength and intensity. But in real life, I love finding humor in little things and not take myself or life too seriously. I’d love to play a role that’s funny, but still grounded in real emotions.

Judd Apatow, Mike White, Adam Sandler, if you’re reading this- give me a ring :)

bare: are you loving working in NYC and why? have you lived in LA? do you have a preference between cities?

OH: I absolutely love and adore New York City. I had lived in L.A. because, you know, as an actor, that’s just where you lived back in the day… You’d attend auditions mostly in person so it was the place to be. I’ll be honest, L.A. kind of grew on me, but it was never really my first choice. New York was always the dream.

I remember the first time I came here. I was 24 and the moment the airport doors opened, I just had this feeling like I belonged here. I wasn’t even in the city yet, but something clicked. After that, I’d come to New York every chance I got. Then during COVID, when everything shifted and self-tapes became the norm, it suddenly felt like you didn’t have to be in L.A. anymore. You could live anywhere and still audition, which was so freeing. I remember sitting at home one day, writing on a sticky note, “By the end of 2021, I want a big movie and an Emmy-nominated show in New York City.” I even wrote myself a check, (stole that from Jim Carrey) I tucked it away and forgot about it. A few weeks later I booked “Law & Order.” I was packing my bags, couldn’t believe I was finally moving to New York. No one knew yet if the return of the show would go beyond one season, but I didn’t care, I just knew this was my opportunity to finally make the move. I left my apartment in L.A. as it was, told my roommate, “It’s all yours,” and took off.

I think because I lived in L.A. for so long, I don’t really get into comparing the two. L.A. has a lot to offer; peace of mind, nature, quiet, space, it really great for your mental health. And New York… well, New York is New York. It’s intense, it’s alive, and yes, it can absolutely trigger your anxiety, but I just love it. It makes me feel alive.

bare: did you enjoy our shoot in Brooklyn - a rainy rooftop windy shoot?!

OH: I really really enjoyed shooting with you! I’ll be honest, I was so worried at first because it was one of those rainy days that just wouldn’t stop. It was cloudy, the light was terrible, and I really thought we’d have to reschedule.

But you completely surprised me with your amazing energy, creativity and artistic eye. You found a way to capture the little bit of light we had and turn it into something beautiful. We even went up on the roof and took advantage of the rain with an umbrella which, of course, you could never fake. Instead of seeing it as an obstacle, you turned it into an opportunity.

I also love that we got Gil Hayon to join us and capture the cutest behind behind the scenes video. His energy and talent combined with yours was magical. He captured all moments in between shots that really show the energy of that day. I couldn’t wait to share it.

Honestly, that whole experience taught me something really valuable... I can be a bit of a perfectionist, but that day forced me to just let go and trust the process. And I’m so glad I did, because sometimes the imperfect days end up giving you the most authentic, joyful results.

bare: you put together some great outfits for it. describe your personal style and favorite designers/shopping destinations.

OH: For this shoot, I really just brought a lot of options. I love dressing up, and I feel like I have this whole closet that’s basically waiting to be used for shoots so I didn’t want to use a stylist. The whole concept felt more laid back and more about showing my essence rather than doing a full on fashion spread. It made sense to keep it personal. (I may have stolen a few oversized jackets from my husband’s closet!) Then we mixed my items with some of yours, like the socks, boots, sweatshirt hat, skirt and socks. We just played around, got creative and threw together these cute, unexpected outfits without taking any of it too seriously. That’s what I loved about this shoot… We didn’t overthink anything, just worked in the moment with what we had. There’s something really beautiful about simplicity and spontaneity.

It felt authentic to who I am right now. And that’s kind of how I approach fashion in general. I really like to support small businesses… New York has so many little boutiques, especially around my neighborhood, and I love discovering those one of a kind items. For me, it’s all about good fabrics and comfort. I don’t really care about labels… I care about how something feels. Pieces that aren’t overly trendy. I’d rather invest in timeless things I can wear for years. When I shop for labels I know I can always count on Alice and Olivia, Favorite Daughter and Retrofete. They all strike that perfect balance between contemporary and classic, and the quality is amazing. But I’ll also shop at Zara. It’s affordable, and they always have great basics and fun statement pieces. I like mixing high and low, pairing something simple with a really beautiful, well made piece that lasts.

Especially in New York City, where closet space is limited, you can’t really buy a hundred trendy items that will go out of style next year.

bare: your skin is flawless ...what are some of your tips/secrets? do you also think it's in part due to your diet? sleep? do you get facials anywhere?

OH: Might be an unpopular opinion but I love Proactiv. I’ve been using it since I was 19. A friend told me to try it for those stubborn little pimples on my forehead, and within three days my skin cleared up. I’ve been loyal ever since.

Now that I’m working almost every day and wearing makeup on set for hours, I need a really deep cleanse, and Proactiv’s salicylic acid keeps my skin balanced and breakout free. After cleansing, I use Paula’s Choice exfoliator. It gives my skin such a glow. I finish with a Kiehl’s moisturizer. Twice a week I’ll use a retinoid, just to keep everything smooth.

I know I’ve been really blessed with good skin to begin with, and I’m fully aware of that. But I also just want to say — don’t believe everything you see online. There’s so much out there on TikTok and Instagram, and it can get overwhelming. In my experience, it really just comes down to the basics: a great cleanser, a good moisturizer, and lots of water. I have friends who’ve struggled with their skin and found that changing their diet helped a lot, but for me, keeping it simple and staying hydrated has always been the key.

I get a little bit of Botox once a year between seasons as a preventative. I don’t like to overdo it. Having full expressive face is crucial for my job.