Gal Gadot spent two years serving in the military which ultimately helped shape her into the versatile actress she is today. Prior to her breakout role in “Wonder Woman,” Gadot dabbled in television and film appearances, as well as modeling and martial arts. Despite her fame, Gadot remains a woman of mystery, keeping her personal life out of the spotlight. But behind her stunning beauty, she holds many intriguing and unique qualities.
When Gal Gadot first got into modeling and beauty pageants, she did so in a laid-back manner. At the age of 18 in 2004, she was crowned Miss Israel. In a 2017 interview with W magazine, Gadot mentioned that entering the pageant was a casual decision and she had no real ambitions of winning any prizes.
“At 18, fresh out of high school and with some time before joining the military, my mom suggested I send in photos for the competition since it was a serious one,” Gadot shared. Following her mom’s advice, she joined without any expectations of winning: “I joined never believing I would actually win, and when I did, I started to feel nervous. It was surreal to be Miss Israel and have duties to fulfill.”
Being a contestant in the Miss Universe pageant, the Israeli beauty queen brought a unique twist to her approach in order to avoid winning. Gal Gadot confessed to Glamour magazine that she purposely exhibited a lack of discipline by arriving late and not wearing the required gown as instructed. Her unconventional strategy was driven by the fear of winning the competition again. Instead of following the rules like the other contestants, Gadot opted to march to the beat of her own drum, ultimately ensuring that victory eluded her.
Prior to pursuing a career in acting, Gadot’s original plan was to study law.
“I could have ended up as a lawyer if it weren’t for some unexpected turns in my life. Acting was never in my dreams,” Gadot disclosed to Glamour magazine.
One time, Gal Gadot experienced disappointment after auditioning for a role in the movie “Quantum of Solace” (2008). However, this rejection ultimately led to her scoring a part in the popular “The Fast and the Furious” series.
Once upon a time, there was a director who thought about casting Gal Gadot as Camille in the film “Quantum of Solace.” However, the role ended up going to Olga Kurylenko instead. This inspired Gadot to explore the world of acting, leading her to snag the role of Gisele Yashar in the “The Fast and the Furious” franchise, which interestingly was also cast by the same director.
Gadot spent a couple of years serving in the military of Israel, where she led workout sessions for women soldiers in martial arts. She credited her military background for helping her secure a major role in “The Fast and the Furious” movie franchise. Director Justin Lin was particularly impressed by her military service and decided to cast her in the film after recognizing the unique qualities she could bring to the role and the production.
At one point, Gal Gadot tried her hand at acting in her homeland of Israel. Although she appeared in a few films, she didn’t quite hit the big time.
Prior to her big break in the movie “Wonder Woman,” Gadot appeared in lesser roles where she was often cast as the attractive but non-substantive character. Her undeniable beauty made it effortless for her to land these visually appealing roles. Throughout her career, she has shared the screen with notable names in Hollywood such as Mark Wahlberg, Tom Cruise, and Cameron Diaz.
Gal Gadot was on the verge of leaving acting behind before landing her role as Wonder Woman. She shared with People magazine that she had considered returning to law school to pursue a legal career due to the many closed doors and rejections she faced in the industry. However, just when she was about to give up, the opportunity to audition for the iconic superhero role came knocking on her door. “I had faced so many rejections that I started to doubt if this was the right path for me. I considered going back to law school so my family wouldn’t have to see me struggle anymore,” Gadot reflected.
Gadot underwent a significant body transformation for her role as Wonder Woman, packing on almost 8kg of muscle. During an interview with Glamour, she highlighted how much stronger and fitter she felt while filming “Wonder Woman.” Gadot mentioned that not even military training could match the physical demands of preparing for the role.
“I dedicated six months to training before filming, spending six hours a day working out. This routine included two hours in the gym, two hours perfecting fight choreography, and two hours learning how to ride a horse… It was definitely a grueling experience,” Gadot revealed.
Gadot was a fan of riding big motorcycles before she became a mother, but she decided to give up this hobby. In 2008, she tied the knot with Dutch businessman Yaron Varsano, and they now have two daughters. Despite enjoying doing her own stunts and wanting to stay active and healthy, Gadot revealed to Elle that she had to let go of her love for dancing and riding big motorcycles after becoming a mom.