Claire Danes knows that starring in adaptations of Israeli shows can be a boon: Her longtime starring role as Agent Carrie Mathison in “Homeland” gave her a steady paycheck and two Emmys and Golden Globes over 11 years.
So it’s not surprising that she’s slated to star (and executive produce!) in yet another adaptation of an Israeli show. This time, it’s a romantic drama titled “Lovesick,” a fairly literal translation of the show’s original Hebrew title, “Cholei Ahava.” Sarah Treem, who created the show “The Affair” with Israeli TV maker Hagai Levi (“Scenes from a Marriage,” “Our Boys,” “In Treatment”) is the showrunner.
The show is described as a “sweeping, modern romantic epic.” Dane’s character, Annika, is described as “a renowned breast cancer surgeon” who has just been diagnosed with cancer herself.
“Her new patient, Nate, is a promising politician. The series explores their interwoven lives, delving into themes of love, sex, illness, death, family, children, health, medicine and the meaning of life — all while Annika is simultaneously undergoing breast cancer treatment,” reads the show’s logline.
The plot is very similar to that of “Cholei Ahava,” whose official English title is “The Best Worst Thing.” That show premiered in Israel in February 2024. In it, Ayelet Zurer, known for her roles in Apple TV’s “Losing Alice” and “Shtisel,” plays Dr. Amalia Levi, a determined, high-achieving cancer surgeon and a divorced mom of two. “Do you know what the difference is between a surgeon and God? God wants to be a surgeon,” her longtime mentor, played by veteran actress and comedienne Hana Laszlo, jokes in the trailer.
It’s definitely exciting to think of Danes stepping into Zurer’s shoes to play this fascinating character, who reminds me a little of her complex character Rachel Fleishman from the very Jewish “Fleishman Is in Trouble.”
“I’m thrilled to get to tell this story with the genius Claire Danes,” Treem shared in a statement. “We’ve been looking for something to do together for a very long time and this character, Annika, is perhaps a mix of both of our wildest dreams. To get to tell a story about all the things keeping me up at night anyway — life, death, children, love, middle-age, courage, science and faith — is an extraordinary opportunity I don’t take lightly in these turbulent times. We’re very grateful to Netflix for this significant commitment and we cannot wait to get going.”
I also can’t wait for “Lovesick” to hit Netflix! Here’s hoping it comes to the streamer sooner rather than later.
Can we ask? Keep Jewish joy accessible to all. Reader donations help us do just that. Can you help us meet our year-end goals? (We'll love you forever.)
