Gal Gadot was born on April 30, 1985 in Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel to a Jewish family of German and Northern European descent. Her grandparents survived the Holocaust, while her father was an engineer and her mother was a teacher. Although Gal dreamed of becoming a lawyer, her stunning looks made it difficult for her to pursue that path. Her mother encouraged her to enter a beauty pageant during a short break from school.
Not only a beauty queen but also a soldier, Gal Gadot decided to join a beauty contest with the purpose of experiencing and challenging herself. However, what was unexpected for the beauty queen was that she won the Miss Israel 2004 title. Just when she was still in shock holding the crown, Gal Gadot was astonished to realize that she had to enter another contest, the Miss Universe. Although she only wanted to join the army right after graduating from high school, Gal Gadot now had to participate in one competition after another.
“At that time, I was mischievous and caused chaos everywhere. Honestly, I am usually a good girl, but my fear of winning again made me act out. I intentionally arrived late to events and even wore the wrong outfit on purpose. When the competition judge asked me a question, I pretended to misunderstand her. In the end, I succeeded in not winning. It was a tough journey, but looking back on it now, it’s pretty funny.” – Gal Gadot recounts her challenging journey to intentionally sabotage her own chances of winning in the final night of the competition with a humorous tone.
After a nerve-wracking competition, Gal Gadot returned to her hometown and joined the Israeli Defense Forces. The actress believed that it was her civic duty to enlist in the military and that it was not a personal matter but an opportunity to learn discipline and focus. Following two years of service in her home country’s army, Gal Gadot immediately enrolled in law school to fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until someone contacted her with a tempting offer.
Losing out on the role of a Bond Girl wasn’t a bad thing for Gal Gadot after all. The director tasked with finding the perfect actress to play the iconic role flew from England to Israel in search of the ideal candidate. Despite being approached for the part, Gadot was more focused on her law studies at the time and didn’t think she was cut out for acting. However, after getting a taste of the profession, she quickly realized that it brought her more joy than her legal pursuits.
Being passed over for the coveted Bond Girl role in Quantum of Solace (2008) turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Gadot. Olga Kurylenko, who did get the part, struggled to shake off the typecast “Bond Girl” label throughout her career. The casting director thought Gadot would be perfect for the role of Gisele Harabo in Fast Furious (2009) and introduced her to director Justin Lin. Lin was impressed by Gadot’s background in weapons training.
In Fast Furious (2009), Gadot played Gisele Harabo, a former member of a drug cartel who decides to help Dominic Toretto. She successfully portrayed a strong, independent woman with a touch of femininity. Gadot loved playing a character who was capable and empowered rather than a typical damsel in distress. Her commanding on-screen presence made her co-stars pale in comparison, earning her the title of the most beloved actress in the Fast Furious franchise. One memorable scene had her stripping down to a purple bikini in Fast Five (2011). Unfortunately, her character met a tragic end in Fast Furious 6 (2013).
Gal Gadot’s big break came when she landed the iconic role of Wonder Woman. However, before the movie was released, she faced criticism for not fitting the physical description of the comic book character. Fans argued that her breasts were too small for the part, but Gadot brushed off the negativity and trained hard to achieve a strong, athletic physique.
When Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) was released, Gal Gadot silenced those who had previously ridiculed her and made them feel ashamed. Her portrayal of Wonder Woman was that of a mysterious, alluring, independent, powerful, dangerous woman who could not be trifled with. Standing between two beefy men like Batman and Superman, Wonder Woman exuded the aura of a mighty warrior. Even director Zack Snyder acknowledged that Gal Gadot was undoubtedly the perfect choice for the role.
The recent release of the film with the same title has only amplified the love that audiences have for Wonder Woman, especially as it reveals her past and ideals. Prior to meeting her allies Batman and Superman, Wonder Woman was a princess of the Amazonian people, born and raised on a paradise island and trained to become an unbeatable warrior. Driven by her desire to bring peace to the world, the princess decides to leave her homeland and throw herself into the midst of a brutal war.
Gal Gadot has successfully led fans through the emotional journey of Wonder Woman as she transforms from a naive princess to a brave warrior. Diana is sometimes just a curious and adventurous young princess in the world of humans, even inviting a stranger to sleep with her while they hide on an island and make their way to London, England. But at times, she can be fiercely wild, charging towards enemies like a ferocious beast.
Fans will soon be reunited with Wonder Woman in the upcoming “Justice League” (2017) film, set to be released later this year. The actress has expressed her excitement, saying “I feel honored to have the opportunity to portray an iconic female hero. I admire the character and what she stands for – love, compassion, trust, and truth.” As for the audience, they will undoubtedly be thrilled to finally see the Wonder Woman they’ve been eagerly anticipating for so long. This incredible heroine is more than capable of bearing the weight of the destiny of the entire DC cinematic universe on her shoulders.
Gal Gadot and her husband attend “Wonder Woman” press conference.
The movie “Wonder Woman” is currently being shown in theaters.
