Before Gal Gadot was known as Wonder Woman, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to be in the entertainment industry. She avoided it for a long time, saying, “It wasn’t like I was growing up, dreaming of becoming an actress,” as she shared with Today. However, casting directors kept approaching her, and eventually, she was drawn to acting.
Gadot’s roles often reflect her real-life experiences. She’s served in the military, strives to be a positive role model, and handles press interviews with ease, thanks to her beauty pageant background.
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges, though—she’s faced her share of bumps, including a widely criticized cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Still, like her iconic character, Wonder Woman, Gadot has always come out on top. Here’s a look at her remarkable transformation from age 6 to 38.
#1. Gal Gadot grew up as a tomboy
The Gal Gadot we know as Wonder Woman had a very different start, growing up in Israel. Even as a child, she was a tomboy, often covered in scrapes and bruises. “I was a tomboy,” she shared with Rolling Stone.
Although she had heard of Wonder Woman, her parents limited her TV time, but Gadot was always drawn to performance. She spent 12 years dancing and loved entertaining her family and friends.
Once, when no one was paying attention, she playfully sprayed them with a hose. “I loved the attention,” she confessed to Glamour, though she never connected the dots to acting.
Despite multiple modeling offers during her teens, Gadot chose to work at Burger King instead. She wasn’t interested in just standing around looking pretty. Little did she know, her decision to step away from the spotlight would soon lead her right back to it in a big way.
#2. She was named Miss Israel
After graduating high school, Gal Gadot planned to enlist in the military. However, her mother had other ideas and entered her into the 2004 Miss Israel competition.
Gadot, then 18, was surprised when she won. “I never thought I would win,” she told W Magazine. “And then I won, and it scared me.”
Later that year, Gadot competed in the Miss Universe pageant but took steps to avoid winning. “I was afraid I might get picked again,” she said to Glamour.
She showed up late, skipped the gown breakfast, and even pretended to speak limited English to avoid answering judges’ questions. Her tactics worked; she didn’t win, but she did land a stable modeling gig as a result.
#3. Gal Gadot had set herself up for a modeling career
After winning Miss Israel, Gal Gadot completed her two-year service in the Israel Defense Forces, where she focused on fitness, teaching gymnastics and calisthenics.
Her striking looks caught more attention when Maxim featured her in their “Women of the Israel Defense Forces” in 2007.
Modeling was never on her radar as a teen, but with her pageant win and a feature in a major magazine, she began to see it as a viable career path.
“Because of Miss Israel, I started modeling and traveling,” she told Glamour. “It opened my mind to different possibilities.”
#4. The future Wonder Woman star got married
In 2006, while Gal Gadot was still in the Israel Defense Forces, she met real estate developer Jaron Varsano at a quirky desert party focused on yoga, chakras, and healthy eating.
Despite feeling somewhat out of place, they hit it off. “We didn’t exactly find ourselves there,” Gadot recalled. “But we found each other.”
By their second date, Varsano was already smitten and told Gadot, “I’m going to marry you. I’m going to wait for two years, but we’re going to get married.”
True to his word, they tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Israel in 2008.
#5. Gal Gadot was then in demand as an actor
After her time in the military, Gal Gadot decided to pursue law school, as her parents insisted she get a degree. “My parents were like, ‘You need to graduate university and get a degree,'” she told Vanity Fair. Becoming anything other than a lawyer was the last thing she expected.
However, her modeling headshot caught the eye of a casting director for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. When her agent asked her to audition, Gadot was reluctant.
“I’m in school. I’m not an actress. I’m not gonna go,” she remembered telling him, according to Rolling Stone. Her agent convinced her to go just to be respectful.
Though she didn’t land the role—Olga Kurylenko got it—the experience ignited her passion for acting. Gadot realized, as she told W Magazine, “acting is so much more fun than going to law school,” so she dropped out. She soon hired an acting coach and, in 2007 and 2008, starred in her first show, the Israeli series Bubot.
#6. She got her breakthrough role in Fast & Furious
When it came time to cast the fourth film in the Fast & Furious franchise, Gal Gadot got a call from the same casting director who had invited her to audition for Quantum of Solace. This time, he had her in mind for the role of Gisele. The director was on board, especially after learning about Gadot’s real-life military experience with weapons.
Her time in the Israel Defense Forces proved invaluable beyond just handling firearms. Gadot performed many of her own stunts, including daring moves like jumping from a moving motorcycle onto a Jeep. “It was important for my character to be as impressive as the boys,” she told Marie Claire.
Released in 2009, Fast & Furious was a major hit, leading to Gadot’s roles in the next three films in the franchise. “It was a very, very big thing for me,” she told Vanity Fair. This success marked just the beginning of her ongoing acting career.
#7. Gal Gadot became a mom
Among all her achievements, becoming a mom stands out as Gal Gadot’s greatest accomplishment. In 2011, she welcomed her first child, a daughter named Alma, with her husband, Jaron Varsano. The arrival of Alma deeply influenced her life and career choices.
Gadot shared with Interview magazine that when selecting roles, she always considers whether her daughter will benefit from or enjoy watching the film as she grows up.
As Gadot’s family grew, so did her career demands. Balancing filming schedules with family life became a challenge. She often found herself away from home for extended periods, but her family was always on her mind, as she told Baby magazine.
In March 2017, the Gadot-Varsano family welcomed their second daughter, Maya. Gadot announced the news on Instagram with the caption, “And then we were four. I feel so complete, blessed, and thankful for all the Wonders in my life.”
By mid-2021, they had expanded their family once more with the arrival of their third child, Daniella. Gadot shared her joy in a heartfelt post alongside a beautiful family photo.
#8. The movie star almost quit acting
After Alma was born, Gal Gadot began questioning whether acting was worth the struggle. “Once you become a mother, you always have a guilt trip,” she admitted to Interview magazine.
The constant travel, numerous rejections, and unfulfilled callbacks made her wonder if it was all worth it. “There’s so much rejection in this profession, and it came to a point where I was just like, ‘Is it really worth it?'” Gadot told Access Hollywood.
During a 2015 trip to Los Angeles, Gadot even considered not returning and suggested to her husband that they should move on from her acting career. She thought about giving law school another try, believing it might be a more stable and successful path.
Her husband, however, was not in favor of this idea. He challenged her by asking, “What kind of role model do you want to be?” Gadot recounted to Female First.
He reminded her of her passion for work and self-challenge, which made her realize she wanted her daughter to see that anything is possible. Thankfully, Gadot didn’t give up. Just two weeks later, she received a call that would change her life.
#9. Gal Gadot was cast as Wonder Woman
Just before Gal Gadot was about to leave Los Angeles for good, she was asked to audition for another action film. Despite her doubts, she went for it. Later, the director called to discuss the role, asking if she had heard of Wonder Woman. Gadot was intrigued to learn they were looking for someone to fill the iconic superhero’s shoes—er, boots—and eventually, the role went to her.
What started as a cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 quickly turned into a starring role in Wonder Woman in 2017. The film was a massive hit, grossing nearly $822 million and becoming the highest-grossing superhero origin movie of all time, according to Forbes.
Gadot was determined to perform her own stunts, just as she had in the Fast & Furious films. During the re-shoots for Wonder Woman, she even fought through morning sickness from her pregnancy with her second daughter, Maya. “We cut open the costume and had this green screen on my stomach,” she told Rolling Stone.
Looking back, Gadot is grateful she stayed in Hollywood. “It completely changed my life,” she told Vogue.
#10. She was named an Honorary Ambassador for Women and Girls
The release of Wonder Woman brought Gal Gadot international acclaim even before the film premiered. In 2016, the United Nations named her Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls, celebrating her portrayal of a powerful female superhero.
Gadot saw this role as a chance to reflect on the kind of role models available to young people, saying it was important for inspiring future generations.
However, the honor was short-lived. Critics argued that Wonder Woman’s image set unrealistic standards and was not a suitable role model for young girls. A petition led to the UN revoking Gadot’s title within two months.
Gadot responded, “There is still a long way to go because there’s no true equality yet,” emphasizing the need for real change.
#11. These days, Gal Gadot is taking over entertainment
After making a mark as Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot sought to expand her creative horizons. “Yes, I am an actress, but I have this appetite to do more — bigger, deeper, more interesting,” she told Vogue.
In 2019, she and her husband, Jaron Varsano, launched their own production company, Pilot Wave Motion Pictures, to bring their stories to life.
By 2020, Gadot was set to reprise her role in Wonder Woman 1984. However, the release faced delays due to the global pandemic before eventually debuting on Christmas Day as a gift to fans.
Despite the challenges, Gadot’s influence endures. She emphasizes that gender equality isn’t about competing; there’s space for everyone. “There’s enough room for all of us,” she told BBC News.
#12. The actor got into an ugly feud with Joss Whedon
In May 2017, Zack Snyder stepped away from directing Justice League due to his daughter’s tragic death, and Joss Whedon took over, leading to a November 2017 release. The film underperformed at the box office, and Ray Fisher later hinted at a toxic work environment under Whedon on Twitter.
Gal Gadot’s own experience with Whedon came to light when she discussed it with the Los Angeles Times, mentioning she had a less-than-pleasant encounter but addressed it through proper channels.
Gadot later claimed to Israeli publication N12 that Whedon threatened to make her career difficult, which made her fearful. She explained to Elle that she felt compelled to speak out because it was important to address unacceptable behavior.
Whedon denied these allegations in an interview with New York Magazine (via Vulture), suggesting Gadot might have misunderstood his comments due to language barriers. Gadot countered in an email, asserting that nothing was lost in translation and that she understood perfectly.
#13. Is Gal Gadot returning as Wonder Woman?
As of August 2023, Gal Gadot has won acclaim for her roles in Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984.
During a chat with Comicbook.com, she hinted at the potential for a third film, expressing her love for the character and sharing that James Gunn and Peter Safran might be developing Wonder Woman 3. Gadot also confirmed this possibility to Flaunt Magazine.
However, Variety reported that there are no concrete plans for a third installment. Sources indicated that the film isn’t currently in pre-production, and Gunn and Safran have not guaranteed its development. Thus, the future of Wonder Woman in the DCEU remains uncertain.
#14. Gal Gadot filmed Heart of Stone all over the globe
In August 2023, Gal Gadot captivated audiences as Rachel Stone, a tech guru and MI6 agent, in Netflix‘s Heart of Stone.
Although the film received mixed reviews, Gadot’s performance earned praise from Rotten Tomatoes. Speaking to Collider, she highlighted her character’s humanity, open-mindedness, and “loose cannon” vibe as particularly appealing.
To bring the film to life, Gadot traveled extensively, with scenes shot in Portugal, Iceland, Morocco, the U.S., London, Italy, and Austria.
The production embraced authentic filmmaking, with Gadot noting that all the action and stunts were performed by real people, adding a gritty, realistic touch to the film.
