How One Actress Truly Became Wonder Woman

With Wonder Woman: 1984 beginning production, our heads are once again turning to superstar Israeli actress Gal Gadot. Her breakout role as Wonder Woman inspired girls and women all around the world, and the first film quickly became the fastest grossing female-directed movie thanks to Patty Jenkins directorial genius.

Rest assured, it was no easy feat for Gadot to transform into the bracelet-donning beauty. As an Amazonian princess, Wonder Woman needed to be fierce, fast, and fit. Gadot endured rigorous training, fighting through martial arts, intense workouts, and things she never believed she’d be able to accomplish. Over her six months of training, she cut out cookies for celery, kicked butt with cardio, and never lost the Wonder Woman mindset.

But it wasn’t enough for Gadot to just “look” the part of the DC hero, she had to get fully into the character’s mental state as well. This meant being independent, strong-willed, and sometimes even defiant in order to fight for what she believed in. During the movie, Wonder Woman was thrust into an unfamiliar world and made it her own, saving countries from eminent destruction. And in real life, Gadot did almost the same.

In a Hollywood industry filled with male superheroes, she became an icon that broke boundaries, defied her haters, and inspired boys and girls around the world that they could be super too.