Gal Gadot, the star of the blockbuster hit Wonder Woman, will be appearing at this year’s Oscars as a presenter. Although her film did not receive any nominations, Gadot has gained recognition for her portrayal of the feminist superhero and has won several awards, including the National Board of Review’s Spotlight Award and a nomination for a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award. Prior to her successful acting career, Gadot served in the Israeli army for two years.
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The celebrity, hailing from Petah Tikva, Israel, began serving in the military at the age of 20, as per the country’s compulsory military service for all men and women above 18 years of age.
In 2015, while being interviewed by Fashion magazine, Gadot claimed that serving in the army was not a challenging experience for her. In fact, she stated that her time in the military provided her with valuable training that would later help her in Hollywood. Prior to joining the army, she had been crowned Miss Israel in 2004 at the young age of 18 and even competed in the Miss Universe pageant in Ecuador. Following her reign as a beauty queen, Gadot enlisted in the military and served as a combat instructor.
Upon completing two years of service in the military, the actress enrolled in IDC Herzliya college to pursue her studies in law and international relations. During her time as a law student, a casting director approached Gadot to audition for the role of a Bond girl in the movie “Quantum of Solace”. Initially, she rejected the offer, stating that she was too serious and intelligent to become an actress and that the English language used in the script made her feel uncomfortable.
Although she didn’t get the role she initially auditioned for, her love for acting grew and she landed a part in an Israeli TV show. She decided to drop out of school after her first year and eventually got her big break as Gisele in the popular film, “Fast and Furious,” thanks to the same Bond casting director who previously rejected her. With her sights set on a full-time acting career, she moved to America and the rest is now part of her personal history.
Gal Gadot, the actress who portrayed Wonder Woman, now calls Los Angeles her home. She lives there with her spouse, Yaron Versano, and their two lovely daughters, Maya and Alma.