It’s official: Israeli actress Gal Gadot is the perfect woman to play Wonder Woman, one of the most beloved feminist icons of our time
Whether or not you’re a fan of the DC Comics universe, there’s no denying we all wish we could be Wonder Woman. With her muscled bod, fearsome fighting skills and awesome outfits, she’s more than a comic book character: She’s a powerful feminist icon.
It makes sense, then, that the Amazon princess is played by the powerful and beautiful Gal Gadot, a 32-year-old Israeli actress. Gal stars in Wonder Woman, which is directed by Patty Jenkins and opens here on May 31.
Here’s why Gal is absolutely Wonder Woman in real life, and why we’re completely in love with her.
Text: Meher Tatna, The New Paper, and Lisa Twang/ Photo: Warner Bros, Instagram @gal_gadot
1. She’s Athletic
1/10Credit: Photo: Warner Bros
Gal knows what it means to train hard: She was in the Israeli army as an enlisted soldier for two years after high school. Still, she says her intensive training in swordsmanship, horse riding, gongfu and kickboxing for Wonder Woman, was harder than the Israeli army training. The actress put on 7.7kg of muscle for the role.
2. She’s A Tough Cookie
Gal was five months pregnant with her second daughter Maya when doing re-shoots for Wonder Woman, but gamely went through her scenes, running and performing some fight choreography. Her scenes were later digitally altered to remove her baby bump.
“On close-up I looked very much like Wonder Woman,” Gal says. “On wide shots I looked very funny, like Wonder Woman pregnant with Kermit the Frog.” Although Wonder Woman never gets pregnant in the movie, we imagine the Amazon princess wouldn’t let a baby get in her way, either!
3. She Embraces Her Natural Beauty
The Amazons certainly don’t have access to makeup, and don’t need it to look good. They have more important things to do, like training for war.
While Gal can be glamorous when the occasion calls, the former Miss Israel is also very comfortable in her own skin, posting pictures of herself makeup-free on Instagram. Of course, she still looks fab!
4. She’s A Fan Of Flats
Gal made headlines when she attended Wonder Woman’s LA red carpet premiere in flats. “I want to create this trend of doing red carpets in flats,” she said. “I love wearing high heels — it’s beautiful, it’s sexy, whatever. But at the same time, especially stilettos, it puts us out of balance. We can fall any minute. It’s not good for our backs. Why do we do it? I can wear high heels (despite having a sprained back). But I was like, ‘Let’s wear flats!’ I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
Indeed, Wonder Woman is a boots-and-sandals kind of female, so we’re sure she would approve. Such practical footwear is all the better to run and fight in!
5. She’s A Feminist
Much like how Wonder Woman stands up for the rights of her fellow women, Gal is doing the same by using her fame for good. The character Wonder Woman was named a UN Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls last year, in a ceremony attended by Gal and Wonder Woman TV actress Lynda Carter. Gal is a strong advocate of equal work for equal pay, and has said, “All I really want is quality education for every girl and every boy.”
6. Men Are In Love With Her
Like Wonder Woman, men the world over are smitten by Gal. In real life, she’s married to Israeli real estate developer Yaron Versano, but even her Wonder Woman co-star Chris Pine admits he was charmed by her.
Chris joked that his job in Wonder Woman is mainly to “fall in love with Gal, crack some jokes, and take my shirt off in one scene… I don’t have to act at all; I just have to go on set and make this beautiful woman laugh. And there was no superhero burden of having to wear a cape or anything… I could let the beautiful Gal do that,” he said, laughing.
7. She Cares Deeply About Her Family
Gal is very devoted to her husband and two daughters, much like Wonder Woman is fiercely loyal to her mother, Queen Hippolyta. She says motherhood is a lot easier with her second child: “I feel like with my first one, (six-year-old) Alma, I was a lot more nervous. With Maya, I am at ease. It is just different, you have the experience now.
“It is always hard to be away from your babies, especially when they are that small. Maya doesn’t know anything, she just needs affection and warmth. Alma is the one who needs more attention, and she is an amazing big sister.
“I am really lucky that I have this island of sanity that is my own, my family.”
8. … And Also For Her Female Friends
The island of the Amazons, Paradise Island, is a man-free zone (until pilot Steve Trevor shows up), and the female friendships there are tight. Just like Wonder Woman, Gal has a posse of close girlfriends, including actress Isla Fisher, and her childhood friends she says she has been close to for 20 years.
9. Her Outfits Are Incredible
From her iconic red, white and blue outfit and and gold accessories to her gorgeous blue gown she wore in Batman V Superman, Wonder Woman is a fashionista through and through.
Similarly, Gal always wows on the red carpet and her fashion shoots, showing off her beautifully toned body and gorgeous smile.
10. She’s Fighting For Representation of Real Women In Media
Fans of Wonder Woman will know that the heroine isn’t flawless; Gal wanted her Wonder Woman character feel like a real person. “It was important that we didn’t portray this character as a ball-buster or a cold woman, just because she is so strong. We show her flaws, and we show that she is not perfect.
“I think that it’s so important that we have also strong female figures to look up to, and Wonder Woman is an amazing one,” she says. “It’s great that after 75…years that this character had been around, finally she gets her own movie.”
