You know that feeling when you're watching a show and a character is so deliciously awful that you actually start rooting for them? That’s the Yael Grobglas effect. If you spent any time on the internet between 2014 and 2019, you likely knew her as the sharp-tongued, perfectly tailored Petra Solano on Jane the Virgin. But honestly, if you only know her from that pastel-colored hotel lobby, you're missing out on a massive chunk of her career.
She's done it all. Horror, sci-fi, period dramas, and even a weirdly charming Hallmark movie about rival delis.
The Breakout: How Jane the Virgin Changed Everything
Let's be real: Petra Solano was supposed to be a one-dimensional villain. In the original script for Jane the Virgin, she was the "mean wife" standing in the way of Jane and Rafael. But Yael brought something... different. She made Petra human. One minute she’s stealing sperm in a clinical, terrifyingly efficient way, and the next, she’s breaking your heart because she just wants to be loved.
And then came Anezka.
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Playing your own twin is a TV trope as old as time, but Yael turned it into a masterclass. Seeing her switch between the icy, poised Petra and the bumbling, scratchy-voiced Anezka was basically a weekly reminder that she has some of the best range in the business. It wasn't just a gimmick; it was the backbone of the show's later seasons.
The Early Days and the Israeli Horror Scene
Before she was dodging drama in Miami, Yael was a massive star in Israel. Most people don't realize she actually started in a sci-fi series called Ha-Iy (The Island). It was a huge deal for Israeli teens back in the late 2000s. Basically, if you were a kid in Israel during that time, Yael Grobglas was your Jennifer Lawrence.
But then she took a hard left turn into horror.
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- Rabies (Kalevet, 2010): This is technically Israel's first-ever slasher film. It’s gritty, it’s weird, and Yael plays Shir. It’s a far cry from the high-glam looks of her later American roles.
- Jeruzalem (2015): If you like found-footage horror, this is a trip. She plays Rachel Klein, a tourist who gets stuck in Jerusalem during a literal biblical apocalypse. It’s intense, claustrophobic, and shows off her "scream queen" chops perfectly.
Navigating the CW and Beyond
Before Jane was even a thing, Yael almost became the face of a different massive franchise. She was cast as America Singer in the pilot for The Selection. It was based on the popular YA books—basically The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor. The pilot didn't get picked up (a tragedy for book fans, honestly), but it’s what brought her to the CW's attention.
She didn't wait long for the next thing. She landed a recurring role on Reign as Olivia D’Amencourt. If you haven't seen it, think Gossip Girl but with 16th-century French royalty and more beheadings. She played an old flame of Prince Francis, and even in a show full of heavy velvet and corsets, she stood out.
Recent Hits You Might Have Missed
Lately, Yael has been popping up in some unexpected places.
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- Matlock (2024–2025): She played Shae Banfield, a "human lie detector" and jury consultant. Critics actually loved her in this; she brought that same "smartest person in the room" energy that we saw with Petra.
- S.W.A.T. (2025): She did a three-episode arc as Heather, proving she can handle the procedural action vibe just as well as the soap-opera drama.
- Hanukkah on Rye (2022): This is a Hallmark movie, and it is adorable. She plays Molly, a deli owner who falls for a guy (Jeremy Jordan) who—surprise!—owns a competing deli. It’s basically You’ve Got Mail but with pastrami.
Why We’re Still Talking About Her
Yael doesn't just "play" characters; she builds them. In interviews, she’s talked about how she worked with the Jane the Virgin costume designers to make sure Petra's wardrobe reflected her emotional state—using colder colors when she was guarded and warmer tones as she opened up. That’s the kind of nerdery that makes a performance stick.
Honestly, the "villain-to-hero" arc is the hardest thing to pull off in Hollywood without feeling cheap. Most actors fail at it. Yael Grobglas didn't just pull it off; she made it the reason we kept watching.
If you want to dive deeper into her work, your next step is easy: skip the Jane the Virgin rewatch for a second and find a subbed version of Rabies or stream Jeruzalem. Seeing her in a gritty, low-budget horror setting after seeing her in Petra’s power suits is the best way to appreciate how much of a chameleon she actually is.
Keep an eye on her 2026 projects, especially if she makes a return to the Matlock universe. She has a way of turning "guest appearances" into the best part of an entire season.
Next Steps:
If you want to explore the darker side of her filmography, check out the Paz Brothers' work on Jeruzalem. For those who prefer the comedy, search for her guest spots on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend or her voice work in Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.