Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot Varsano, born April 30, 1985, in Petah Tikva, Israel, is an Israeli actress, producer, and former model who became a global superstar through her portrayal of Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe, a role that made her not only one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood but also a symbol of female empowerment in popular culture at a moment when the need for strong female superhero icons was keenly felt by audiences worldwide. Raised in Rosh HaAyin, a city in central Israel, Gadot completed her mandatory two-year service in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat trainer before winning the Miss Israel beauty pageant in 2004, representing Israel at the Miss Universe competition. She studied law and international relations at IDC Herzliya and worked as a model for international brands including Castro, Huawei, and Gucci before her acting career launched with a recurring role as Gisele Yashar in the Fast and Furious franchise beginning with Fast and Furious (2009), a role she played with physical athleticism and charismatic ease in four subsequent franchise entries. Her casting as Wonder Woman / Diana Prince was announced in 2013, and her portrayal in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) was widely cited as one of the film's few highlights. Wonder Woman (2017), directed by Patty Jenkins, became a massive commercial and cultural success, grossing over 820 million dollars globally and becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a female director at the time of its release. She reprised the role in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). Beyond the DCEU she starred in Red Notice (2021) and Heart of Stone (2023) for Netflix.