Background:

Daphna Kastner is a Canadian actress, director and screenwriter. She won the Paris Film  Festival Press Award for “Spanish Fly” (1998), which she directed, wrote and starred in, and was nominated for Deauville Film Festival's  Grand Special Prize for her directorial debut, “French Exit” (1995). Her collaborations with Canadian filmmaker Bashar Shbib, “Julia Has Two Lovers” (1991) and “Lana in Love” (1991), were premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and received critical acclaim at the 1991 Montreal Film Festival and the New Orleans Film Festival.

Kastner is married to American actor Harvey Keitel. Together, they have one son, Roman (born 2004). Keitel also has two children from his previous relationships.    


Keitel's Spouse

Childhood and Family:

Daphna Kastner was born on April 17, 1961, in Montréal, Québec, Canada. She first met Harvey Keitel in the 1980s. They did not reunite until August 11, 2001, and while attending the Haifa International Film Festival in Israel, they eloped in a secret weeding ceremony in Jerusalem. On October 7, 2001, the couple had their official ceremony at the home of Keitel's friend, Robert De Niro, in New York City.  

In August 2004, Daphna give birth to a baby son, Roman.


Julia Has Two Lovers

Career:

Daphna Kastner made her feature film acting debut in Peter Sasdy's drama, “The Lonely Lady” (1983), which starred Pia Zadora, Lloyd Bochner and Bibi Besch. Four years later, she co-wrote and appeared in the Canadian movie “Evixion” (1987), helmed by Bashar Shbib. She went on to land roles on films such as Dan Peterson's comedy “Girlfriend from Hell” (1989, starred Liane Curtis, Dana Ashbrook and Lezlie Deane) and Henry Jaglom's dramas “Eating” (1990, starred Frances Bergen, Lisa Blake Richards and Nelly Alard) and “Venice/Venice” (1992, starred Nelly Alard, Henry Jaglom and Melissa Leo).      

Kastner delivered a notable performance as Billy Jean, a tough love prostitute, in the independent drama “Crack Me Up” (1991), under the direction of Bashar Shbib. She also co-wrote the screenplay with Shbib. The same year, she wrote the screenplay of “Julia Has Two Lovers,” another film by Bashar Shbib, where she played the title role, opposite David Duchovny. The film was nominated for Panorama Audience Award for Fiction Film at the Berlin International Film Festival. She also co-wrote and starred in the drama film “Lana in Love” (1992), which was also directed by Bashar Shbib.  

In 1995, Kastner made her feature film directorial debut with “French Exit,” a comedy/romance starring Mädchen Amick, Jonathan Silverman and Molly Hagan, which she also co-wrote with Michael A. Lerner. She was nominated for Deauville Film Festival's Grand Special Prize for her the film.

Following a small part in Jordan Alan's comedy/drama film “Kiss & Tell” (1996), starring Richmond Arquette, Lewis Arquette and Peter Greene, Kastner returned to the director's chair to helm “Spanish Fly” (1998), which she also wrote and starred in, opposite Felipe Vélez and Toni Cantó. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 1998 and later won Press Award at the 1999 Paris Film Festival.  

In 2000, Kastner was featured on Mike Figgis's drama “Timecode,” which starred Jeanne Tripplehorn, Stellan Skarsgård and Salma Hayek. She then was cast as Silvia in the film “Eden” (2001), by Israeli auteur filmmaker Amos Gitai. In 2007, she played the role of Gloria in Howard Himelstein's comedy/drama film, “My Sexiest Year,” which starred Frankie Muniz, Amber Valletta and Kastner's husband, Harvey Keitel.    


Awards:

Paris Film Festival: Press Award, “Spanish Fly,” 1999 Show Less