In 1993 she arrived in New York City to study acting at the Circle in the Square Theatre School. The following year, discovered by an agent while working as a waitress, she was cast as the female lead in the 1994 science fiction film "Stargate", for which she received a Sci-fi Universe award. She has appeared in films such as Jim Jarmusch's "Dead Man" opposite Johnny Depp, Doug Ellin's "Kissing a Fool" opposite David Schwimmer, "Polish Wedding" opposite Claire Danes, and Robert Benton's "The Human Stain" opposite Anthony Hopkins. In 1999, she portrayed a Bosnian rape victim in the of the long-running NBC legal drama, '. Avital appeared in three other episodes of the series: "Parasites", "Manhattan Vigil", and "Depravity Standard". She also appeared in the ' episode "Palimpsest". Her television work includes Scheherazade in the Emmy-nominated ABC miniseries "Arabian Nights" to rave reviews, Jon Avnet's "Uprising", and "After the Storm ". In 2009–2010 Avital appeared in the FX TV show "Damages", in a recurring role as the mistress to the husband of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close). She recently appeared in the 2012 ABC television series "666 Park Avenue".