Gal Gadot, renowned for her empowering portrayal of "Wonder Woman," has captivated global audiences and become a symbol of female strength.
Born on April 30, 1985, in Israel, Gal Gadot is the daughter of an engineer father and a gym teacher mother. She spent her formative years in Petah Tikva, and her family history is deeply marked by the Holocaust, with her grandparents being survivors. Both her parents were born in Israel. Interestingly, her first name, Gal, translates to "wave," while her last name is a Hebrew adaptation meaning "riverbank."
Miss Israel and Miss Universe
At the age of 18 in 2004, Gal Gadot was crowned Miss Israel. Her mother encouraged her to participate in the pageant immediately after completing high school. She also represented Israel in the Miss Universe 2004 competition, although she didn't advance to the semifinals. The title that year was claimed by Jennifer Hawkins from Australia. Surprisingly, Gadot's reluctance to win the pageant was evident in her actions, as she arrived late for events, donned an inappropriate evening dress, and even pretended not to speak English.
"I was afraid they would pick me again. I was late. I came without a robe. They tell you to come to breakfast in a robe. I was like, 'There's no way I'm going to breakfast in a robe!' 'Who needs to wear an evening dress at 10:30 a.m.?' " she recalled, as reported by Glamour magazine.
Military Service
Gal Gadot served in the Israeli military from the age of 20 to 22 as a combat trainer in the defense forces. During her service, she acquired skills in tactical maneuvers, weapon usage, and self-defense. These skills would later prove invaluable for her roles in action films. She clarified that her military duties did not involve actual combat or dangerous situations but mainly focused on training soldiers and keeping them in peak physical condition.
"I was never in the field doing anything dangerous or with weapons. I was in the gym training soldiers and keeping them in shape. I did that for two years. I learned how to use a weapon in training camp. But I was never in a situation where I had to use one," she explained in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
Law School Aspirations
Gal Gadot's initial career aspiration was to study law and become a lawyer. She expressed in an interview with Glamour that her dream had never revolved around acting or modeling. Her inspiration to study law came from the character Ally McBeal in the American TV series of the same name. Despite this, fate led her toward an acting career that she ultimately fell in love with.
While studying law, Gadot had the opportunity to audition for the role of 'Bond girl' Camille Montes in "Quantum of Solace" after her first year of school. However, she narrowly missed out on the opportunity, losing the part to another actress. In her own words, "I never planned to be an actress. It happened to me, and I fell in love with the profession."
Becoming 'Wonder Woman'
When Gal Gadot auditioned for "Wonder Woman," she initially had no idea about the character or the storyline. She learned about her role only two weeks after her successful audition. To prepare for the iconic role, she embarked on an extensive training regimen, mastering skills in swordsmanship, capoeira, Kung fu, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu.
During a re-recording phase of the film, Gadot was five months pregnant. To accommodate her condition, the director and technical team creatively concealed her pregnancy by adapting the color scheme of her suit.
Ahead of the film's Israeli premiere, the Azrieli Center towers in Tel Aviv were illuminated to honor her, with the message, "We are proud of you, Gal Gadot, our Wonder Woman." The gesture signified the nation's pride in her global achievements.
