Tovah
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Date Reviewed: 28/10/2026
Reviewed by Elise Archer
“The message of the transformational actor,” Tovah tells us, “is, if I can do this, think what you can do!”
In a few simple words, she captures what makes her such a compelling subject for a documentary: an innate generosity and a passion for experience that she is equally eager to share with others. Later, when asked how she delivers such exceptional performances, she says she invites the audience to come into her and feel what it means to be the character. She finds what’s universal.
Likewise, this documentary feels universal in its celebration not only of the renowned Broadway actress at its centre, but of all that it means to make a life. Through interviews with Tovah and those close to her—from her husband and children to a range of figures from film, stage and television—we see a warm, vibrant portrait of a woman who, as one friend puts it, “grabs the ring of the full life movement”. At 77, Tovah seems ageless, energetic and full of joy. “Excellence first, happiness second,” her daughter recalls Tovah telling her. It looks like it has paid off for the Jewish-American triple threat, whose credits include Golda’s Balcony, the longest-running one-woman show on Broadway, and a lauded leading performance in Yentl.
The documentary returns to Tovah’s remarkable work ethic and wholehearted commitment to everything she does. She is willing to try something boldly, even recklessly: at 60, she agreed to get up on a trapeze for the first time in her life for a production of Pippin—“no harness, no mat, no insurance,” as she puts it. This is how Tovah approaches life, we are told: without a net. People can have enormous amounts of talent, Broadway icon Patti LuPone muses, but craft without talent is not sustainable, and talent without craft isn’t either. Tovah’s impact is felt most in her enthusiasm and dedication.
Tovah’s Jewish identity has been instrumental throughout her life and has deeply influenced her career, including the roles she has taken and become best known for. The Jewish experience is fundamental to her approach to her craft, while the culture and connections of New York’s Jewish community come vividly into view through the writers, producers, actors and directors who speak about her.
That same commitment to community is reflected in Tovah’s charitable work, including the Felsher Fund for Women’s Health, which supports the early detection of reproductive cancers for women working in arts and entertainment, at every level of production. Time and again, we learn more about this extraordinary woman, whose wit and warmth light up the screen and are reflected in the affection of those who speak about her. “Tovah’s greatest Broadway hit is not a role. It is her life.”