Celebrating Israeli icons: Gal Gadot

 

Wonder Woman may be an American icon, but the actress that portrays her is pure Israeli. Raised in the relatively small town of Rosh HaAyin, Gal Gadot has found success bringing not only her unique looks to the screen, but her distinctly Israeli personality and values.

Gal Gadot started her career as a model became a quick success in the field. Over the course of her modeling career, Gadot has represented brands such as Gucci fragrances, Jaguar, and the fashion brand Castro. She's appeared on the cover of numerous publications such as Glamour and Entertainment Weekly. All of that however pales in comparison with her victory in the 2004 Miss Israel beauty pageant.

Winning such an honour would help propel any young model to stardom, but Gadot's career needed to take a little detour first. Winning the Miss Israel prize at the age of 18, Gadot, like every other Israeli citizen, was soon scheduled to complete her mandatory two year military service.

She could have tried to get out of it. She certainly wouldn't have been the first high-profile model of celebrity to try and avoid service in the interest of furthering their career. But Gadot had no intention of shirking her duty. She performed her two year service with distinction and poise.

Ironically, this decision may have helped her career in ways that she never would have guessed. Gadot's time in the military provided her with the sense of duty and discipline that helped her prepare for the rigors of producing a blockbuster film.

"You’ve got to give back to the state. You give two or three years, and it’s not about you. You give your freedom away. You learn discipline and respect.”

On top of that, it also gave Gadot a real working knowledge of military hardware and tactics, and a bit of a thrill-seeking side. Gadot found a love for motorcycles during her time in the IDF and that need for speed combined with her extensive experience as a combat instructor made her a perfect fit for her breakout role as the hard-as-nails Gisele in The Fast & The Furious series. 

Gadot's star continued to rise, culminating in her lead role as Wonder Woman in the 2017 film. Wonder Woman, a film that tells the story of a strong, independently willed woman thrust into the middle of a seemingly intractable conflict with no easy answer in sight, seems like the perfect fit given Gadot and her nation's history. 

Despite rising to the level of international stardom and emerging as an icon for little girls across the globe with their own super hero to look up to, Gadot has never forgotten her roots. In social media and press appearances, Gadot makes her national pride known.

"I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens, especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children...We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom!”