Miss Universe Israel 2004 Gal Gadot has come a long way from her pageant days. From Fast and Furious to Wonder Woman, she has taken the world by storm. She is the epitome of inspiration whether we talk about her two-year stint as a soldier in the Israeli military, crowning of Miss Universe Israel 2004, being the top model or starring in movies like Fast and Furious franchise, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice or latest sensation ‘Wonder Woman’.
Recently, she received the second annual #SeeHer Award at the 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards and her speech is the best thing you’ll listen to today. This is the second time that anyone is given #SeeHer award (a statuette given to boundary-pushing actresses).
She discussed how the character of Wonder Woman embodied everything she wanted to be as a woman on and off screen. Gal began by pointing out that the top three films of 2017—The Last Jedi, Wonder Woman, and Beauty and the Beast—were all carried by women.
“It was clear to me that I wanted to portray a strong and independent woman…later I was cast as Wonder Woman, and all of those qualities I looked for I found in her,” Gadot said. “She’s full of heart, strength, compassion and forgiveness. She sees wrong that must be made right; she takes action when everyone around her is idle.”
“Although this is progress, there is still a long way to go,” she said, later pivoting the speech to the shift in the industry as a result of the #MeToo movement. “We’ve been witnessing a movement in our industry and society and I want to share this award with all the women and men who stand for what’s right.
Gadot continued, saying, “My promise and commitment to all of you is that I will never be silenced, and we will continue to band together to make strides, uniting for equality.”
Seems like Gal is no mood to stop the ‘Time’s Up’ movement which is an initiative against inequality and sexual harassment of women actresses started by the Golden Globes Award.
Gal had to memorize a script in a foreign language (her native tongue is Hebrew) and deliver her lines flawlessly and she also did her own stunts in the movie. While that's impressive on its own, what really sets her apart is that she went back to the studio for reshoots of Wonder Woman while she was five months pregnant!
It feels like everything in Gal Gadot's life has been leading up to this groundbreaking moment. While many questioned the allure of a standalone female superhero movie, Wonder Woman delivered big time at the box-office. It can be easily said that Gal Gadot deserves every bit of success and respect that she receives for her awesomeness. We wish our heartiest congratulations to her for this euphoric win.