Gal Gadot

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20 Feb 2024

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot Varsano, born on 30 April 1985, is an Israeli artist, model, and holder of beauty pageant titles. Back in 2004, she earned the title of Miss Israel and went on to represent her nation in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant. Following her service in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat fitness instructor for two years, she embarked on her journey of education at IDC Herzliya while concurrently nurturing her modeling and acting careers.

Her debut on the international film stage occurred with her role as Gisele Yashar in Fast & Furious, a character she revisited in subsequent sequels. Gadot gained worldwide acclaim for her depiction of Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films, such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Wonder Woman . Subsequently, she graced the screen in the Netflix action-comedy film Red Notice and the enigmatic Death on the Nile.

In 2018, Time recognized Gadot's influence by including her in the list of the 100 most influential people globally. Moreover, she has secured positions twice in the annual rankings of the world's highest-paid actresses.

Born on 30 April 1985 in Petah Tikva, where she initially resided, Gal Gadot later grew up in Rosh HaAyin. Her given name in Hebrew, which means "wave," complements her surname, which signifies "riverbanks." Before her birth, her parents Hebraized their surname from "Greenstein" to "Gadot." Michael Gadot, an engineer, is her father, while Irit (née Weiss), a physical education teacher, is her mother. A younger sister named Dana completes the family. Gadot's father, a sixth-generation Sabra, has deep roots in Israel. Meanwhile, her maternal grandparents, survivors of 20th-century Europe, experienced the Holocaust and its horrors, with her grandfather enduring Auschwitz's brutality during Nazi Germany's occupation of Czechoslovakia.

In a "very Jewish, Israeli family environment," Gadot was raised, cultivating her early years in Israel. She spent 12 years learning and dancing jazz and hip-hop and worked at a local Burger King and as a babysitter in her initial jobs. Graduating from Begin High School in Rosh HaAyin with a major in biology, she embarked on a poignant journey to Poland as part of a high school trip to Holocaust memorial sites, including Auschwitz and Majdanek. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, "I stood there on top of a mountain of ashes. I, an entitled child, felt the suffering the Muselmann experienced back then.

At 20, Gadot underwent a mandatory two-year military service with the Israel Defense Forces, serving as a combat fitness instructor. This military background proved beneficial, contributing to her landing the role of Gisele Yashar in the 2009 film Fast & Furious. She explained, "I think the main reason was that the director Justin Lin really liked that I was in the military, and he wanted to use my knowledge of weapons." Following her military service, Gadot pursued law studies at IDC Herzliya college in Israel (now Reichman University).

Embarking on her modeling and beauty pageant career, Gadot joined the Miss Israel national beauty pageant at the age of 18, initially viewing it as a "fun" experience with no expectation of winning. However, to her surprise, she emerged victorious and proceeded to represent Israel in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant held in Ecuador.

Beyond her pageant triumph, Gadot has graced international campaigns as a model for renowned brands. She has been the face of Miss Sixty, Huawei smartphones, Captain Morgan rum, Gucci fragrances, Vine Vera skincare, and Jaguar Cars. In 2015, she assumed the role of the ambassador for Gucci's Bamboo perfume brand. Her presence has adorned the covers of prestigious publications such as Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Bride Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, UMM, Cleo, Fashion, Lucire, and FHM. Notably, Gadot served as the primary model for the fashion brand Castro from 2008 to 2016.

In the realm of beauty and modeling, Gadot's combined annual salary from both modeling and acting pursuits was estimated at NIS 2.4 million in 2013. At the age of 21 in 2007, she participated in the Maxim photo shoot titled "Women of the Israel Defense Forces" and graced the cover of the New York Post.

Her allure and charisma were further recognized in 2017 when Gadot claimed the top spot on FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World" list. Continuing her journey, Gadot expanded her influence as a brand ambassador in 2018, representing both Revlon and Reebok. Her presence was felt in Revlon's "Live Boldly" campaign and Reebok's "Be More Human" campaign, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the world of fashion and beauty.

In 2017, Gadot took center stage in her solo film portraying the iconic character, Wonder Woman. She reprised this role in the ensemble film Justice League, part of the DC Extended Universe, marking her third appearance in the franchise. Simultaneously, Gadot received an invitation to join the esteemed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The year 2018 solidified Gadot's influence, as Time magazine recognized her among the 100 most influential people globally. Forbes, in the same year, ranked her as the tenth highest-paid actress, with annual earnings totaling $10 million. Gadot expanded her creative endeavors by lending her voice to the character Shank in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Ralph Breaks the Internet. Additionally, she made an appearance in Maroon 5's music video for the song "Girls Like You" alongside Cardi B.

By 2020, Gadot's star continued to rise, securing the third spot on Forbes' list of the highest-paid actresses, with earnings amounting to $31.5 million. In October 2020, she was confirmed to reunite with Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins for the epic film Cleopatra. However, Jenkins transitioned to a producer role, and Kari Skogland took over as the director.

The year 2021 saw Gadot starring alongside Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in the Netflix action comedy film Red Notice, a commercial success but met with critical disapproval. She also co-starred in the 2022 mystery film Death on the Nile, with critics expressing mixed opinions about her performance.

In 2023, Gadot made uncredited cameo appearances as Wonder Woman in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. She also returned to the Fast & Furious franchise with a cameo in Fast X. Later in the same year, she played the lead role in Netflix's action film Heart of Stone, which received mostly negative reviews.

Gadot's future projects include portraying the Evil Queen in a live-action adaptation of Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as producing and starring in a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief. Her diverse roles showcase her versatility and continued prominence in the entertainment industry.