Wonder Woman of the Week: Gal Gadot

This week’s Wonder Woman was a fight-instructor in the military, an international beauty pageant winner, and actress known for doing her own stunts. She continues to represent her home country of Israel with immeasurable pride, has unbreakable self-discipline, and works diligently to inspire not only young women and girls; but people of every age, race, gender, and religion. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Wonder Woman herself; Gal Gadot.

Gal Gadot was born in Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel to a Ashkenazi Jewish family who migrated from Central Europe. [1] While growing up, Gadot ignored offers for a modeling career to focus on her dancing. She danced ballet, hip-hop, modern, and jazz all the way into high school because she wanted to become a choreographer. When Gadot graduated high school and was set to serve her minimal required two years in the Israeli Defense Forces, she was asked to enter the Miss Israel Pageant. Gadot decided it would be a great story to tell her future grandchildren and took up the offer and won. [2]

Bar Refaeli- another Israeli model- caused controvercy when she refused to serve the required two years of military service claiming her career- of having photos taken of her- was more important. Gal Gadot was not having any of that and served her required two years. [3] Not only did Gadot serve her country in the military, she was an IDF fight-training instructor. She later reported boot camp “was a good prep for acting, because movies require a lot of discipline and responsibility.” The discipline and training of the IDF paid off for Gadot. When filming The Fast and the Furious, Gadot did all of her own stunts to show her character could be as impressive as the boys. [4]

Speaking of acting, Gal Gadot has been in three Fast and the Furious movies, appeared in the 2010 films Date Night and Knight and Day. In 2013, Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman in the upcoming 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. [1] In an interview with Teddy Wayne, Gadot talked about a common issue for female actresses. In all of Gadot’s films, the cast is dominated by male actors drastically under representing women. She recalled talking to actress Kate Winslet while filming Triple Nine about what it’s like to be a parent and an actress. When the interviewer asked Gadot how her role of Wonder Woman might advance how women are portrayed in film, the Israeli actress became excited. “I feel like I’ve been given a huge opportunity to inspire people, not only women.” Gadot responded. “And not because of me, but because of who Wonder Woman is and what she stands for.” [5]

Gal Gadot was not universally accepted however when news arrived she would be portraying the seventy year-old character for the first time ever on the silver screen. The actress responded calmly and brilliantly. “No matter what you do, you can never please them all,” Gadot spoke. “… Whatever I do, I take it very seriously and I do my research and I give it my best.” [6] Gadot’s acting ability was not the only issue called into question by critics. To criticisms about her body- and specifically her bra size- Gadot channeled her obvious research on the role stating, “…The true amazons had one boob so it won’t bother them in their archer. So it’s not going to be like real amazons…” [7] [For information on what Gal Gadot was referencing, you can follow the link here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141029-amazons-scythians-hunger-games-herodotus-ice-princess-tattoo-cannabis/ ]

Gal Gadot is essentially all previous Wonder Women of the Week rolled into a single person. She grew up dancing ballet- citing the dancing talents of historic women such as Anna Pavlova and Josephine Baker. She served in the military as did Kim Campbell and Lyudmila Pavlichenko. She is a model like Heidi Klum and Ashley Callingbull. Gadot is a powerful actress like Audrey Hepburn and Felicia Day. Most importantly, like Lynda Carter, Gal Gadot is not only a Wonder Woman of the Week, she is Wonder Woman.

“Gal Gadot Biography.” 2015. IMDB.com. Accessed 9 December 2015. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2933757/bio

Jacobs, Laura. “Meet Gal Gadot, Our New Wonder Woman.” 31 July 2015. Vanity Fair. Accessed 9 December 2015. http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/07/gal-galdot-wonder-woman-miss-israel

“’The military trained me for Hollywood’: Gal Gadot talks serving in the Israeli army… and playing ‘symbol of strength’ Wonder Woman.” 6 July 2015. Daily Mail. Accessed 9 December 2015. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3151210/Gal-Gadot-talks-serving-Israeli-army-playing-symbol-strength-Wonder-Woman.html

O’Neill, Carolina. “Meet Your Newest Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot.” 2015. Marie Claire. Accessed 9 December 2015. http://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/news/g3125/wonder-woman-gal-gadot/?slide=1

Wayne, Teddy. “Gal Gadot.” 22 July 2015. Interview Magazine. Accessed 9 December 2015. http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/gal-gadot#_

Holub, Christian. “Gal Gadot on Wonder Woman backlash: ‘No matter what you do, you can never please them all’”. 23 July 2015. Entertainment Weekly. Accessed 9 December 2015. http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/23/gal-gadot-wonder-woman-backlash-interview

Fanelli, William. “Gal Gadot Had This Awesome Response To Her Boobs Being Too Small For Wonder Woman.” 2015. Cinema Blend. Accessed 9 December 2015. http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Gal-Gadot-Had-Awesome-Response-Her-Boobs-Being-Too-Small-Wonder-Woman-70428.html