Banai was born in Beersheba and raised in Omer. Her father was a judge in Beersheba, and her mother was an education executive for the City of Beersheba. Many of her relatives are successful Israeli actors and singers. The next generation of the Banai family, including Orna and her brothers, Meir and Eviatar, followed this tradition. After three years of studying acting in Nissan Nativ's studio in Tel Aviv, Banai started performing in stand-up comedy and entertainment shows.
Banai became known for her portraying "Limor" in the humorous Israeli television showsAction and Rak BeIsrael (with Erez Tal). Since 2003, Banai has appeared in the popular satiricaltelevision show Eretz Nehederet. In addition, Banai acted in television dramas like Merchav-Yarkon and Max VeMoris. Banai also appeared in theatrical plays like Singles and The Last Striptease.
She served as a member of the Tel Aviv-Yafo City Council on behalf of the Green Party from 2003 to 2008.[1]
In 2005, Banai played "Efrat" in the television show Ima'lle, to which she contributed writing. The show was based on the story of Banai's own pregnancy and the birth of her son, Amir Banai [he], now an actor.
In 2003 she had a son named Amir. In 2008 she revealed in an interview with the newspaper Yedioth Tel Aviv that the father of the child is the journalist Aharon Barnea, who did not respond to the news.[4]
In 2008, while in a relationship with a partner named Karin, Banai adopted her second daughter, Mika.[5]
On December 27, 2011 Banai came out of the closet as a lesbian.[6] In July 2017 she started a relationship with the actress and screenwriter Bat Chen Sabag [he], and in May 2019 it was published that they had broken up.[7] Afterwards, she was in a relationship for about six months with the chef Shiral Berger [he].[8] Since 2021 Banai has been in a relationship with Adi Cohen.[9]
^Shapira, Michal (2008-12-03). "אורנה בנאי פורשת מהפוליטיקה" [Orna Banai quits politics]. Maariv. Retrieved 2018-02-17 – via Makor Rishon. .חברת מפלגת הירוקים החליטה לפרוש מהמפלגה ומהפוליטיקה ולא להשתתף בבחירות המקומיות שיתקיימו בנובמבר השנה [The member of the Green Party has decided to quit the party and politics and will not participate in the local elections that will take place in November this year.]