Juliana Harkavy

Juliana Harkavy – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore Juliana Harkavy’s journey from child actress to superheroine: her biography, multicultural roots, breakthrough roles like Arrow, her creative philosophy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Juliana Jay Harkavy (born January 1, 1985) is an American actress known for her versatility, depth, and a willingness to engage with emotionally challenging roles. She has earned recognition for parts in Dolphin Tale, The Walking Dead, and especially for portraying Dinah Drake / Black Canary in Arrow. Her multicultural heritage, artistic passion, and steady climb in film and television make her an inspiring figure in contemporary acting.

In this article, you will discover her early life, influences, career milestones, legacy, and her own words about art, challenge, and identity.

Early Life and Family

Juliana Harkavy was born in New York City on January 1, 1985. Berta Carela, is originally from the Dominican Republic, and her father, Michael Harkavy, has worked in the entertainment business (he is a former senior executive at Warner Bros publications and related divisions).

She describes her background as richly multicultural: she is of Dominican, African, Chinese, Ukrainian, Hungarian descent (among others).

Her upbringing included time in both New York and Los Angeles. Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, which helped make her fluent in French.

Her early exposure to music and the arts was strong: she took piano, guitar, voice, and flute lessons from age three, and she also began writing, visual arts, and poetry early on.

These layers of background – a multicultural family, artistic early training, bilingual schooling – set a fertile foundation for her professional life.

Youth and Education

Juliana’s acting career began early. At age 10, she landed her first job in a commercial for Fox Kids’ Goosebumps. A Little Princess (1995) as “Girl in India.”

For education, after attending Lycée Français and doing part of her schooling in France, she completed high school at Milken Community High School in Los Angeles. NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, in the Meisner Studio.

Her training emphasized authenticity, emotional truth, and technical discipline—skills she has often credited in interviews as critical to tackling complex roles (especially in genre work).

Career and Achievements

Early Screen Roles & Growth

Juliana gradually built her résumé with roles in both television and feature films:

• In 2005, she appeared in Flushed (short).

• She had smaller parts in films like Love Is Blind (2006) and My Super Ex-Girlfriend (uncredited)

• In 2010, she starred in the short Whatever Lola Wants (nominated for Best Actress at a film festival)

• In 2011, she played Rebecca in Dolphin Tale, a role she reprised in Dolphin Tale 2 (2014)

• She also appeared in Last Shift (2014) as Jessica Loren, highlighting her ability to carry tension in horror genres.

• On television, she guest-starred in The Walking Dead as Alisha in episodes “Dead Weight” and “Too Far Gone.”

• She appeared in Constantine in 2014.

Breakthrough & Arrow Era

Her breakthrough into mainstream prominence came when she joined The CW’s Arrow, playing Dinah Drake / Black Canary.

• Initially recurring in Season 5, eventually she was promoted to series regular for seasons 6 through 8.

• Her Black Canary character also appeared in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow in crossover episodes.

• The role required a blend of emotional range, physicality, combat, and presence, and it widened her visibility in genre (superhero) fandoms.

Other Notable Work & Range

Beyond Arrow, Juliana has kept her career eclectic:

• House of Bodies (2013) — a thriller role.

• To Write Love on Her Arms (2015) — she played Jessie in the drama film adaptation.

• She has also written, sung, painted, and maintained side creative practices alongside acting.

Her ability to cross genre—from family/animal drama to horror, superhero action, and indie drama—speaks to a willingness to lean into challenge rather than stay in one lane.

Legacy and Influence

Although still in the prime of her career, Juliana Harkavy has already made notable impact:

• She brings representation of a multicultural background to television and film, which matters in diversifying the images we see in popular culture.

• Her journey—from childhood commercial actor to lead superheroine—offers an example of patience, steady growth, and flexibility.

• By embracing darker, emotionally fraught roles (e.g. Last Shift, Arrow’s dramatic arcs), she signals that genre work can carry weight and complexity.

• Her involvement in multiple artistic disciplines (music, writing, visual art) suggests that future contributions might include writing, producing, or other creative leadership.

Over time, her legacy may further evolve in how she shapes projects from within—especially in the rising convergence of genre storytelling and socially aware narratives.

Personality, Passions & Perspective

Juliana is often praised for her grounded nature, empathy, and commitment to authenticity. In interviews, she speaks openly about mental health (anxiety, depression) and how those experiences inform her work.

She is passionate about animal rescue, especially “bully” breeds, and considers that cause close to her heart.

Her art beyond acting includes music (instruments), painting, poetry, and storytelling—outlets she often refers to when speaking about balance and emotional grounding.

She has expressed that when she booked the Arrow role, she and her then-husband sold nearly everything, moved with their dogs on a prayer and little money—and when she got the part, they “cried for a week from gratitude.” That anecdote captures her faith in process, resilience, and humility.

Famous Quotes of Juliana Harkavy

Here are several quotes that give insight into Juliana Harkavy’s mindset and approach:

“I think the physicality of being an athlete or working out, it grounds you. It centers you.” “A couple months before I got the audition for ‘Arrow,’ my husband and I had just sold everything we owned, packed our dogs and belongings into a truck, and moved to Los Angeles with a prayer and almost no money. … we both cried from joy and gratitude for a week straight.” “I have struggled with anxiety and depression since I was a teenager.” “When I auditioned for The Black Canary, I only knew I was reading for a new recruit on team ‘Arrow.’ It wasn’t until I’d booked the role that they told me who I’d be playing.” “You can’t be upset for someone’s loyalty to a character. As an actor, that’s a gift to see fans care that much.” “I am extremely passionate about animal rescue. My focused interest is in helping pit bulls and other bully breeds that have been given an unfair stigma.”

These statements show her honesty about personal struggle, her reverence for craft and fandom, her grounding in physical discipline, and her compassionate activism.

Lessons from Juliana Harkavy

1. Embrace risk and faith in the process
   Her move (with little resources) and perseverance in auditioning demonstrate that faith, persistence, and vulnerability can lead to opportunity.

2. Allow your full identity to inform your art
   Her multicultural heritage, openness about mental health, and varied artistic interests all feed into more dimensional performances.

3. Train broadly and deeply
   Her dedication to physical fitness, stunts, music, and multiple artistic disciplines helps her be more than a “one-note” actor.

4. Acknowledge struggle without being defined by it
   She speaks about anxiety and depression as part of her truth, not as limiting labels.

5. Give back where your heart is
   Her advocacy for animals and rescue work shows how personal values can align with public voice.

Conclusion

Juliana Harkavy’s story is one of layered identity, slow and steady momentum, courageous choices, and artistic breadth. From a child actor to a genre heroine, she shows us that resilience, authenticity, and a rich inner life can be as powerful as any spotlight.