Fast facts about Gal Gadot, the star of ‘Wonder Woman’

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“Wonder Woman” is winning rave reviews across the country. The film (which currently has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) earned $11 million on its Thursday night preview alone, making it best preview night ever at the box office for a female-directed film.

The film then went on to earn an estimated $100.5 million during its opening weekend in the U.S., which would put it ahead of the opening weekends for other DC Comics film such as “Iron Man” ($98.6 million) and “Thor” ($65.7 million).

The success of the film is thanks, in no small part, to its dynamic leading lady, Gal Gadot. The brunette beauty is not well-known in Hollywood, but “Wonder Woman” will change all of that. Here is what you need to know about Gal Gadot and her inspiring life:

1. You Are Saying Her Name Wrong

Well, probably. Her first name isn’t pronounced “Gal” like the Western slang for “girl.” Instead, it rhymes with “doll.” So “goll.” It’s a Hebrew name that means wave. It is generally used for boys, but it is growing in popularity for girls. Something tells me we are going to be seeing a lot more “Gal” baby names in the near future!

As for her last name, it’s pronounced “ga-dote” not “ga-doh” with a soft “t” as the French may say it. You can hear her say it herself in the video below:

2. She Served In The Israeli Army

Gadot was born in Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel. Not only did she win the title of Miss Israel in 2004, but she also served in the Israel Defense Forces for 2 years, as part of Israel’s mandatory service requirement. The women in IDF serve right alongside men, including on the front-lines of combat. While serving in the IDF, Gadot had extensive weapons and combat training.

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3. She Has Beyoncé To Thank For Her Role In “Wonder Woman”

Gadot had to jump through a lot of hoops to earn the starring role of “Wonder Woman.” It was a highly-coveted gig, and Gadot had plenty of competition. But she turned to a powerful source of inspiration to keep her confidence high. She says, “They were looking at six or seven girls, and we were all in separate trailers and were told to stay inside until they called us. Waiting is my enemy Number One, and I was losing my mind. So, I decided to put on Beyoncé Knowles. Who runs the world? Girls! I just started to dance, and I let my anxiety go. Thank you, Beyoncé!”

4. She Is Married With Two Kids

Gadot has been married Israeli real estate developer Yaron Varsano since 2010. They have two daughters: Alma, 5, and Maya, who was born in March 2017.

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5. In Fact, She Was Pregnant During Filming

Gadot was five months pregnant with Maya during reshoots for the film in November 2016. She had to wear a special costume with a green screen on her belly so that her baby belly could be manipulated in post-production.

“On close-up I looked very much like Wonder Woman,” Gadot told Entertainment Weekly. “On wide shots I looked very funny, like Wonder Woman pregnant with Kermit the Frog.”

6. She Loves Portraying A Strong Woman

Wonder Woman is a feminist icon thanks to her strength and power. Gal Gadot loves that side of her character and recently told TIME, “I think people take it the wrong way when I say I’m a feminist. Feminism is not about burning bras and hating men. It’s about gender equality. Whoever is not a feminist is a chauvinist.”

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Are you going to go see “Wonder Woman”? Do you think Gadot nailed the role?

h/t: Business Insider

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About the Author
Bridget Sharkey
Bridget Sharkey is a freelance writer covering pop culture, beauty, food, health and nature.

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