Yael Grobglas (, ; born ) is an Israeli actress, best known for her role as Petra Solano on The CW's television series Jane the Virgin.
She started her career in Israeli television, gaining prominence among Israeli teenagers. Between 2007 and 2012, Grobglas took on lead and supporting roles in several major Israeli TV shows. She also gained recognition for her debut film role in the first Israeli horror film Rabies (2010), which participated in the Tribeca Film Festival, and a number of other venues internationally. In 2013, Grobglas was cast for The CW's historical romantic drama series Reign as Olivia, a noblewoman who is an old flame of Prince Francis.
Early life Grobglas was born in Paris, France. Her father Jean Pierre Grobglas hails from a French-Jewish family of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her mother Eva (Rosner) is originally a Christian from Austria, who has converted to Judaism. Both her parents are artists. On her father's side she has relatives who died in the Holocaust. In 1986, when she was a two-year-old baby, Grobglas's family immigrated to Israel with her; and resided in the city of Ra'anana, Israel, where she grew up.
Grobglas began performing at a young age. As a teenager she studied and performed in professional dance and ballet groups. She later led a brief modelling career and participated in a number of runway shows and advertising campaigns. Eventually having realized a greater interest in acting, Grobglas graduated from the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio in Tel Aviv, Israel.Yael Grobglas Biography TV Guide. Retrieved on 25 August 2024‘Jane the Virgin’ lets Israeli actress strut her evil stuff The Times of Israel. 1 March 2015
Career In 2007, Grobglas was cast to her first major role for the Israeli sci-fi series The Island, which made her popular among Israel's young audiences. Following two consecutive seasons of the show Grobglas enrolled in a full-time three-year acting program at the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio. She completed performing for the third season of Israeli series The Island in 2010, and was cast for a number of major commercials during the course of her acting studies.
In 2010, Grobglas gained international recognition when she starred in the first Israeli horror film Rabies (Kalevet). She was part of the main cast of the Israeli sitcom HaShualim (The Foxes). Grobglas also played the role of Linda Christie in a Beersheba Theater adaptation of Play It Again, Sam.
In 2012, Grobglas was cast to the Israeli comedy-drama series Tanuchi ("Chill").
In 2013, Grobglas starred as America Singer in the CW's The Selection pilot, described as a cross between The Bachelor and The Hunger Games, but it was ultimately not picked up to series. In the same year, she began the recurring role of Olivia D'Amencourt in the CW's series Reign.
In 2014, Grobglas was cast as Petra, one of the main characters on the CW's Jane the Virgin. When describing her experience as Petra to the New York Times, Grobglas said, "I'm usually cast for the more goofy and tomboyish characters [...] I'm having a wonderful time playing someone so complex and layered and funny." "She's calculating, resourceful and manipulative," she said. "But even though I don't agree with the decisions she makes, you have to admire her. It's been a blast playing such a mischievous character because she's so unlike me." In January 2015, Time magazine stated that "Grobglas [...] has turned Petra into one of television's most amusingly complex comic villains. Fans love to hate her, yet as Jane delves deeper into Petra's backstory – and shows off her lighter side – they're starting to love her as well."
In 2015, Grobglas starred along Yon Tumarkin and Danielle Jadelyn in JeruZalem, an English-language Israeli horror film.
In March 2016, TVLine gave Grobglas an honorable mention for her performance in Jane the Virgin Chapter 36: "Leave it to Jane the Virgin's unsung MVP Yael Grobglas to turn the painful process of giving birth – to twins, no less! – into a comedic tour de force ... After witnessing Grobglas' impeccable ability to mix humor and emotion, we can't wait to see what challenges (and laughs) motherhood will bring for her character."
In 2024, Daniel Feinberg of the Hollywood Reporter noted Yael's performance in the 2024 CBS series Matlock: "I also quite liked the one-off guest appearance by Jane the Virgin‘s Yael Grobglas. She plays a human lie detector working as a jury consultant and her return might be what it would take to get me to come back to Matlock at some point."
Personal life Grobglas is married to Israeli businessman Artem Kroupenev, her high school sweetheart. They have a home in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2020, she gave birth to a baby girl, Arielle.
Grobglas has mentioned she has a strong passion for food, cooking and hosting dinner parties in her spare time. She avoids eating meat, and in 2012, she became a pescetarian before moving to the United States.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes2007Maybe This TimeToti2007–09The IslandGinnyMain Role. Hebrew title: האי (ha'iy)2010RabiesShirHebrew title: כלבת (Kalevet)The FoxesEli2011RamzorNufar LevyRecurring roleSplitNoyRecurring role (season 3)Golden GirlsLihiBarefoot JaneMini-series2012ChillGaby2013The SelectionAmerica SingerUnsold TV pilotSavri MarananAmit (Adam's date)Guest role; 2 episodes2013–14ReignOlivia D'Amencourt7 episodes2014–19Jane the VirginPetra Solano/Natalia Dvořáček98 episodesAnežka Archuletta2015JeruZalemRachel KleinFilm, Lead roleThe PajamasAmitRepeating her role from Savri Marnan2016Grace NoteTheaShort filmCrazy Ex-GirlfriendTrinaEpisode: "When Will Josh and His Friend Leave Me Alone?"2017–18SupergirlGayle Marsh / Psi2 episodes (season 3)2018An Interview with GodSarah AsherFilm2019Hell's KitchenHerselfReality series; Guest diner; Episode: "The Grand Finale"2022UndoneLeebaEpisode: "Rectify"2022Hanukkah on RyeMollyTelevision film2024–26MatlockShae Banfield11 episodes2025S.W.A.T.Heather3 episodes2026Jerusalem '67SarahFilm2026NCISRebecca LeeGuest star
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2012Play It Again, SamLindaBeersheba Theater
Music video Year Title Artist Role Notes2011"Say You Like Me"We the KingsThe Girl
References
External links
List of Israelis Women in Israel List of Jewish actors