British actress Roxy Sternberg is deeply connected to her Jewish roots. She began working as an actress in her youth, gaining traction and going on to star in major roles on screen. Her love for her Jewish community flourished at West London Synagogue, where she continues to teach when she is not filming for television, but she has faced some discrimination as a Jew of Color.  

Sternberg’s mother moved to the United Kingdom from Uganda when she was fifteen years old and later married Sternberg’s father, a British Jewish man of Russian and Polish descent. Roxy was born on April 20, 1989, in West London. 

Sternberg and her older sister were raised Jewish. Growing up as a Jew of Color in London was not always easy, as Sternberg explained in an interview with the Jewish Chronicle. She is often questioned about her Jewish identity because of her race, by Jews and non-Jews alike. She attended West London Synagogue growing up, where she says she always felt welcomed.  

Sternberg began acting on the stage, after graduating from the Royal Holloway University in London. She had a starring role in the play It’s a Lot, an especially popular play in the United Kingdom. She began her on-screen acting career in 2012, mostly taking short-term roles on sit-coms. Her talent was quickly discovered. In 2013 she was featured on Law and Order: UK, and after advancing in the world of television, she became known for her roles in Chewing Gum (2015), Emerald City (2017), and Mars (2018).  

In between acting jobs, Sternberg often returns to West London Synagogue to teach Hebrew school. She hopes to impart the same experience she had growing up and learning in an open and welcoming environment. Her strong connection to continuing Jewish education moves her to return to her roots, where she works to inspire the next generation.  

Sources: 

“Roxy Sternberg.” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4662925/. Accessed November 29, 2022. 

“10 Things You Didn’t Know about Roxy Sternberg.” TVOM, https://tvovermind.com/roxy-sternberg/. Accessed November 29, 2022. 

 “The Hollywood star who still teaches at cheder.” The Jewish Chronicle, https://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/features/the-hollywood-star-who-still-teaches-at-cheder-1.57684, Accessed November 29, 2022.