Gal Gadot, the star of the hit movie Wonder Woman 1984, recently opened up about her personal life and background. Born in 1985 in Rosh HaAyin, Israel, Gadot’s name means “wave” and “riverbank” in Hebrew. Both of her parents were born in Israel, with her mother working as a teacher and her father as an engineer. Gadot also shared that her maternal grandparents were fortunate survivors of the Holocaust. With the film now released in theaters and on HBO in various countries, the actress has been reflecting on her experience behind the scenes for both Wonder Woman movies.
Gal Gadot, the winner of Miss Israel 2004, made a name for herself in Hollywood by taking on powerful roles. She hails from various European countries, including Poland, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic, in addition to having Jewish heritage. With her unique and striking features, Gal Gadot stands tall at 1m78 and excelled in basketball during her high school years.
At the young age of 18, she participated in the Miss Israel contest and emerged victorious. Her stunning beauty landed her the opportunity to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2004 contest, which was held in Ecuador. Gal Gadot, after serving in the military, pursued a degree in law at university. However, her plans took an unexpected turn when she received a call from a casting director inviting her to audition for the role of Camille Montes, the “Bond girl” in the movie “Quantum of Solace”. Recently, she was seen at the premiere of “Fast Furious”, looking as gorgeous as ever.
Despite a previous unsuccessful casting attempt, Gal Gadot was given a second chance by the same casting director to audition for the role of Gisele in “Fast Furious”. This time, she was successful and even performed her own action scenes without the aid of a stuntman. Gal Gadot has since starred as Wonder Woman in four films, including “Batman v. SuperMan”, “Wonder Woman”, “Justice League”, and “Wonder Woman 1984”. However, with each film, the actress experienced health issues.
Two movies, Wonder Woman and Justice League, were shot and released in the same year. Gadot, who was pregnant during the filming of Justice League, kept her pregnancy a secret to ensure that the progress of both films was not affected. Despite receiving criticism for not fitting the plump and fiery appearance of the comic book character, Gadot filmed additional scenes for the first Wonder Woman while in her fifth month of pregnancy. Her second daughter arrived shortly after the conclusion of both projects.
Gal Gadot, who was pregnant during the filming period, fondly reminisced about her experience on set. She shared that during close-up shots, she looked like a true Wonder Woman, but during full shots, she felt comical and comparable to a pregnant frog. However, many are unaware of the hazardous situations Gal encountered when performing most of the movie’s action scenes herself. As a result, the film crew had to modify her costume to fit her body while incorporating visual effects for optimal results. Unlike other superheroes, Wonder Woman does not wear a mask during combat, which compelled the producers to limit the use of stuntmen and CGI effects for this particular role.
Gal Gadot took on most of her scenes in Wonder Woman without much help from stunt doubles, with only two being used for a few particularly challenging scenes. Despite her background as a soldier, she still sustained injuries while on set. In fact, after the movie’s premiere, she had to undergo surgery for a back hernia that had been causing her pain for six weeks. During that period, she was unable to sit and could only stand or lie down, as can be seen in interviews from that time.
During the filming of Wonder Woman 1984, Gal Gadot experienced consistent neck and shoulder injuries. She understands that portraying the iconic character requires a lot physically, and these types of incidents are just part of the job. Additionally, Gadot recognizes the hard work of her stunt doubles and expresses her gratitude towards them. In preparation for the role, she endured intense physical training for months, resulting in a 7 kg muscle gain. Her daily routine often begins with a nutritious breakfast consisting of an omelette, bread, and fruit.
Gal Gadot, known for her portrayal of Wonder Woman on screen, has a healthy lifestyle that includes drinking four liters of water daily and consuming protein-rich chicken and fish dishes, along with a variety of vegetables comprising 40% of her diet. Despite being a food enthusiast, she indulges in “free” eating for a few days after filming, treating herself to favorite dishes like hamburgers and fries. The studio has asked Gal to be an inspiration for women in real life, and she participates in various events promoting gender equality. Additionally, she frequently shares positive images and meaningful messages about living on social media.