# Bar Paly
**Bar Paly** (בר פאלי; born Varvara Alexandrovna Paley, Варвара Александровна Палей) is an Israeli-American actress and model, born in the Soviet Union and raised in [Tel Aviv](https://www.edgepedia.org/tel-aviv), best known for her recurring role as Special Agent Anna Kolcheck on *NCIS: Los Angeles* and her comedic turn as Sorina Luminita in [Michael Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-bay)'s *Pain & Gain* (2013)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/). Most sources give her birth date as 1985, in [Nizhny Tagil](https://www.edgepedia.org/nizhny-tagil), Sverdlovsk Oblast, in the Ural Mountains of the Russian SFSR[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [10](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/bar_paly), although two biographical references give April 29, 1982 instead[3](https://moreshet.com/%D7%91%D7%A8-%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99) • [4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/bar-paly-43100/biography/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 (some sources say 1982), Nizhny Tagil, USSR (now Russia)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [3](https://moreshet.com/%D7%91%D7%A8-%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99) |
| Background | Moved with her family to Tel Aviv, Israel at age seven; began modeling at 17[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bar-paly/bio/3000240942/) |
| Breakthrough film role | Sorina Luminita, a Romanian stripper, in Michael Bay's *Pain & Gain* (2013), opposite Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [5](https://www.tribute.ca/people/videos/bar-paly/43100/) |
| Signature TV role | Special Agent Anna Kolcheck on *NCIS: Los Angeles*, 34 episodes from 2015 to 2023[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) |
| Other films | *Non-Stop* (2014) with Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore; *Million Dollar Arm* (2014) with Jon Hamm[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) |
| Citizenship | Became a U.S. citizen in 2016[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8½ in)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) |
## Early life
Paly was born Varvara Alexandrovna Paley in Nizhny Tagil, then part of the Soviet Union, to Olga (née Drob) and Alexander Paly[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/). When she was seven, the family relocated to Tel Aviv, Israel, where she was raised[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/). A 2003 Israeli interview states she immigrated at age ten and that her name was changed to fit the Israeli environment shortly after arrival[6](https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-2759658%2C00.html).
She has described her relationship to three languages and countries as splitting her life into thirds: a childhood in Russia, schooling and a discovery of acting in Israel, and an adult career in the United States[7](https://pplus.ynet.co.il/rechilut/article/b1trhhe62).
## Modeling and early acting
**Modeling as a means to acting.** Paly began modeling at 17, working with brands and designers and appearing in swimwear and lingerie shoots for publications including *Esquire*, *GQ*, *Maxim*, and *Sports Illustrated*[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bar-paly/bio/3000240942/) • [8](https://24smi.org/celebrity/80258-bar-pali.html). She has consistently described modeling as a way to finance her real goal, acting: "I was fortunate enough to model, but it was always work for me. It was a way to support myself and finance acting classes"[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bar-paly/bio/3000240942/).
Her screen career began in 2003, the year [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) lists as her start as an actress[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bar-paly/bio/3000240942/). In Israel she starred as Yulia in the daily drama *Ahava Me'ever LaPina* (*Love Across the Corner*) on Channel 2, appeared in the musical *Speed and the Magic Wheels*, and worked as the "Tnuva girl" in advertising[7](https://pplus.ynet.co.il/rechilut/article/b1trhhe62). In her early twenties she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/).
Her first American project was the 2006 television movie *Filthy Gorgeous*, starring [Isabella Rossellini](https://www.edgepedia.org/isabella-rossellini) and [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://www.edgepedia.org/nikolaj-coster-waldau)[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/bar-paly-43100/biography/). Guest and recurring parts followed on *CSI: NY* (2007), *Unhitched* (2008), and a full season of the NBC comedy series *The Starter Wife* (2008) opposite [Debra Messing](https://www.edgepedia.org/debra-messing)[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/bar-paly-43100/biography/) • [9](https://www.yuligroup.com/clients/bar-paly-2/). Feature work in this period included DreamWorks' horror film *The Ruins* (2008), the comedy *A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III* (2012) directed by Roman Coppola, and *Hyenas* (2011)[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/bar-paly-43100/biography/) • [10](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/bar_paly). She also provided the voice of Marguerite Cansito in the 2011 video game *L.A. Noire*[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bar-paly/bio/3000240942/).
## Hollywood breakthrough
**Pain & Gain.** Paly's breakthrough came with Michael Bay's 2013 dark comedy *Pain & Gain*, based on a 1999 three-part *Miami New Times* article by Pete Collins about the Sun Gym Gang, bodybuilders who kidnapped a wealthy businessman[5](https://www.tribute.ca/people/videos/bar-paly/43100/). Paly played Sorina Luminita, a Romanian stripper who becomes Daniel Lugo's ([Mark Wahlberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-wahlberg)) girlfriend[11](https://www.israelhayom.co.il/magazine/shishabat/article/14070948). She won the role by filming an audition tape at home in Israel, in which friends read lines in Hebrew while she answered in English[12](https://www.klikk.no/underholdning/bar-paly-stripping-er-hardt-arbeid-4149760). For the part, Bay asked her to gain weight rather than lose it; she trained with weights and drank protein shakes of up to 5,000 calories, which she compared to "chocolate-filled cement", ultimately adding about nine kilograms[12](https://www.klikk.no/underholdning/bar-paly-stripping-er-hardt-arbeid-4149760).
**2014 films.** In 2014 she appeared as Iris Marianne in the action thriller *Non-Stop*, opposite [Liam Neeson](https://www.edgepedia.org/liam-neeson) and [Julianne Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/julianne-moore), and as Lisette in Disney's *Million Dollar Arm* with [Jon Hamm](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-hamm)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/bar-paly-43100/biography/).
## Television career
Paly's most prominent television role is Special Agent Anna Kolcheck on the CBS series *NCIS: Los Angeles*, a recurring character and love interest of G. Callen, played by [Chris O'Donnell](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-odonnell)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [13](https://pplus.ynet.co.il/rechilut/article/5059106). She appeared in 34 episodes between 2015 and 2023, through the series finale[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/).
Her other television credits include a full season of the Amazon action-comedy *Jean-Claude Van Johnson* (2016–2017) as Krisztina, a recurring role as the mythological [Helen of Troy](https://www.edgepedia.org/helen-of-troy) in DC's *Legends of Tomorrow* (2017–2018), a guest spot on *iZombie* (2018), an episode of *[Bosch](https://www.edgepedia.org/bosch-tv-series)* (2017), and an appearance in CBS's *Training Day* (2017)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [9](https://www.yuligroup.com/clients/bar-paly-2/). Her later film work includes the thriller *Headlock* (2019) and the psychological thriller *Painted Beauty* (2021), in a leading role[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [9](https://www.yuligroup.com/clients/bar-paly-2/).
## Public image
Paly has appeared repeatedly in men's magazine rankings. The Russian-language celebrity profile 24СМИ reports that she placed 66th on *Maxim*'s "100 sexiest women" list in 2014[8](https://24smi.org/celebrity/80258-bar-pali.html), while an Israeli interview places her 52nd on the same list in 2013[7](https://pplus.ynet.co.il/rechilut/article/b1trhhe62). She served as the 2013 face of Oliver Peoples Eyewear's 25th anniversary campaign alongside [Ray Liotta](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-liotta)[4](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/bar-paly-43100/biography/).
She became a U.S. citizen in 2016[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/). She married the Jewish-Canadian screenwriter Ian Kessner on February 10, 2007; the marriage ended in divorce in 2018 after eleven years[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/) • [7](https://pplus.ynet.co.il/rechilut/article/b1trhhe62).
## References
1. [Bar Paly, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1427034/)
2. [Bar Paly Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bar-paly/bio/3000240942/)
3. [בר פאלי, Moreshet.com](https://moreshet.com/%D7%91%D7%A8-%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99)
4. [Bar Paly Biography, Showtimes.com](https://www.showtimes.com/celebrity/bar-paly-43100/biography/)
5. [Bar Paly Trailers & Videos, Tribute.ca](https://www.tribute.ca/people/videos/bar-paly/43100/)
6. [אני לא ברבי, Ynet (2003)](https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-2759658%2C00.html)
7. [בר פאלי: "שילמתי מחיר של חיי משפחה עבור הקריירה שלי", פנאי פלוס, Ynet](https://pplus.ynet.co.il/rechilut/article/b1trhhe62)
8. [Бар Пали, 24СМИ](https://24smi.org/celebrity/80258-bar-pali.html)
9. [Bar Paly, Yuli Group](https://www.yuligroup.com/clients/bar-paly-2/)
10. [Bar Paly Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/bar_paly)
11. [בר פאלי סוף סוף כובשת את הוליווד, Israel Hayom (2013)](https://www.israelhayom.co.il/magazine/shishabat/article/14070948)
12. [Bar Paly: Stripping er hardt arbeid, Klikk.no](https://www.klikk.no/underholdning/bar-paly-stripping-er-hardt-arbeid-4149760)
13. [בר פאלי: בהוליווד מצפים ממך להיות נחמדה, פנאי פלוס, Ynet](https://pplus.ynet.co.il/rechilut/article/5059106)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames P to Ph*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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