Gal Gadot: a fighter on screen and at home
In addition to embodying the comic book icon Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot (born in 1985 in Petah Tikva, Israel) shares the heroine’s taste for pushing physical limits. At 18, she completed her mandatory military service in the Israeli army, becoming a combat trainer for recruits until age 20. From this intensive experience, she recalls running more than ten kilometers daily. Gadot drew discipline and adrenaline, which helped sculpt her athletic figure and led to her role as Gisele Harabo in Fast & Furious 4 (2013).
Following in Tom Cruise’s footsteps, Gadot performed most of her own stunts in the film, including jumping from a moving motorcycle onto a car. Her ironclad physique and spirit led directly to her iconic role as Wonder Woman in 2017, which skyrocketed her career. To prepare, she trained in kung fu, kickboxing, fencing, and jiu-jitsu. While her military background gave her an edge for the role, it also sparked controversy, leading to the film’s ban in Lebanon despite its global success ($821.8 million in revenue).
Gal Gadot in the film Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) by Patty Jenkins © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. / Clay Enos / ™ & DC Comics.
What if Gal Gadot had played Barbie?
Today, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Margot Robbie as Barbie, but the Australian actress originally considered offering the role to Gal Gadot. When her production company LuckyChap, joined the Mattel-led project and brought in Greta Gerwig as director in 2018, they spent time carefully choosing who would play the title role. Gadot, who had become a symbol of female empowerment through Wonder Woman, was seriously considered by Robbie, who praised her “incredible beauty and sincerely authentic presence” (as she told Vogue US
The idea seemed fitting, especially since Gadot had been crowned Miss Israel in 2004 and had competed in Miss Universe at her mother’s urging. She reportedly sabotaged her chances by claiming not to speak English, arriving late, and often showing up makeup-free. Her rebellious streak impressed Robbie, but Gerwig ultimately insisted the role go to the Australian actress. Gadot was offered a secondary role, which she turned down due to scheduling conflicts—though she remains open to appearing in a future sequel.
Gal Gadot in the film Death on the Nile (2022) by Kenneth Branagh © 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Blockbusters and franchises: the controversies around Gal Gadot’s roles
Lately, Gal Gadot has been a hot topic and not just for her roles. In the new Snow White adaptation, she stars opposite rising talent Rachel Zegler. According to People, tensions ran high between the two, reportedly due to clashing personalities and opposing political views. Gal Gadot has repeatedly expressed support for Israel following the October 7, 2023 attack, while Zegler has shared posts with the “Free Palestine” hashtag.
Gal Gadot in the film Death on the Nile (2022) by Kenneth Branagh © Walt Disney Germany.
Before this, several of Gal Gadot’s casting choices had already stirred controversy. Most notably, the announcement of her as the lead in a new film about Cleopatra sparked heated debate. Some believe the role should have gone to an Arab or Black actress, given Cleopatra’s Macedonian Greek roots and potential African ancestry, as highlighted in a BBC documentary.
Even her return to the Fast & Furious franchise (despite her character’s presumed death in 2013) has been criticized. Some accuse her of sticking to repetitive roles, especially with rumors of a third Wonder Woman film, rumors she hinted at in an interview, though DC has denied them for now. One thing’s certain: Gadot’s passion for action thrillers is undeniable and lucrative. From Red Notice (2021) to Heart of Stone, which topped Netflix’s charts upon release, her success is ongoing. Whether Snow White will match that success at the box office remains to be seen.
Snow White (2025) by Marc Webb, now in theaters. Wonder Woman (2017) by Patty Jenkins, airing on TFX on March 24th, 2025.
Gal Gadot in the film Red Notice (2021) by Rawson Marshall Thurber © Frank Masi/Netflix.
