Gadot grew up in Rosh HaAyin and first gained attention locally after winning Miss Israel 2004, followed by two years of mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a combat trainer. During this time, she participated in a Maxim photo shoot that boosted her public profile, leading her to begin modeling and endorsing various brands.
Shortly after, she made her television debut in the Israeli drama Bubot in 2008, followed by her film debut in a supporting role as Gisele Yashar in Fast & Furious (2009), reprising it in multiple sequels (2011–2023). She also appeared on Israeli television in the second season of Asfur (2010–2012) and later in Kathmandu (2012).
Gadot first portrayed Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). The success of the film led to her starring in Wonder Woman (2017), which became a major box office hit. She reprised the role again in Justice League (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), the latter of which she co-produced.
Since then, she has starred in Red Notice (2021), Death on the Nile (2022), and Heart of Stone (2023), which she co-produced. In 2025 she portrayed the Evil Queen in Snow White and Gemma Donati in In the Hand of Dante.
Beyond acting, Gadot and her husband have co-founded a film production company, launched a food brand, and invested in Israeli startups. Gadot is widely celebrated in Israel as a national icon and ambassador and has been honored by various Jewish and Zionist organizations for her effect on Israel's image, including the Israeli-American Council (IAC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Jerusalem Film Festival, and Hadassah.
She has also been awarded a Genesis Prize. Her support for the Israeli military and for hostages held in the Gaza Strip has drawn criticism from Palestinian nationalists, as well as from some pro-Israeli nationalists who argue she has not shown strong support.
Early life
Gadot was born on 30 April 1985 in Petah Tikva, where she initially lived at Stampfer street. She was born to Jewish parents of Ashkenazi descent; her mother's roots are Czech and Polish, while her father's are Austrian, Russian, and German. Her parents, Michael, an engineer, and Irit, a physical education teacher, Hebraized their surname from "Greenstein" to "Gadot" before her birth.
In Hebrew, her first name means "wave", and her Hebrew surname 'Gadot' translates to "riverbanks". She has a younger sister, Dana.
Her father was the sixth-generation of the Land of Israel/Palestine region and is an Israeli-born citizen, and one of his ancestors was the first chemist at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, while her mother is a first-generation Israeli-born citizen and the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Her maternal grandfather, Abraham Weiss, was born as Adolf Weiss, in the village of Munkács, Czechoslovakia in 1928.
At thirteen, when Nazi Germany invaded, his father (her great-grandfather) died in the army and Abraham, his mother, and his brother were sent to Auschwitz, where the latter two perished in the gas chamber. Gadot's maternal grandmother, however, managed to escape Europe before World War II. Abraham immigrated alone to Jaffa, where he built a life.
He later served in the Golani Brigade; in his later years, Abraham joined Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expeditions to give first-hand testimony about his experiences in Auschwitz.
In 1993, at age eight, Gadot and her family moved to the Givat Tal neighborhood of Rosh HaAyin, where she grew up, in what she described as a "very Jewish, Israeli family environment". As a child, she struggled with a weak voice and attended speech therapy, where she learned proper breathing techniques. Encouraged by her mother to be active from a young age, Gadot took up swimming at four and later played tennis.
She joined the local volleyball and basketball teams, soccer-team cheerleader, and trained in ballet, hip-hop, and jazz for twelve years; at one point, she considered a career as a choreographer.
At eleven, Gadot visited Holocaust memorial sites in Poland to learn about Auschwitz and Majdanek. Reflecting on the experience, she recalled: "I, an entitled child, felt the suffering the Muselmann experienced back then." At twelve, she was invited to enter the Girl of the Year (Hebrew: נערת השנה) competition but declined, initially dismissed modeling as a career, but later realized it is a fun job that makes great money and offers exciting experiences.
Although Gadot's native language is Hebrew, she began taking English lessons in third grade; she became fluent after starting to watch the sitcoms Seinfeld and Friends. She later attended Begin High School, where she majored in biology. After graduating, she had a few months before beginning her mandatory two-year service in the IDF.
During this time, she received modeling offers but instead chose to work at Burger King, saying, "I was like, posing for money? Ugh, it's not for me." Meanwhile, her mother and a friend submitted an application on her behalf for the Miss Israel pageant. Before enlisting, she also worked as a caregiver for eight-month-old twins.
Career
2004–2009: Miss Israel, IDF service and early work
In 2004, Gadot's army enlistment was postponed six months, so her mother encouraged her to enter a beauty pageant. Gadot saw it as a fun opportunity before beginning her service. To her surprise, she won the 54th Miss Israel beauty pageant, which was held at the Haifa Congress Center. She was crowned Miss Israel and received a Citroën C3 supermini car.
Following her win, Gadot represented Israel in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant in Ecuador but admitted she intentionally "rebelled" to avoid winning, arriving late to events and refusing to wear an evening gown. During an interview with Ynet, and before giving up her pageant title, Gadot highlighted the value of military service, viewing it as both a duty and a chance for personal growth.
In 2005, a week after passing on the crown, Gadot was conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces. After excelling in a three-month boot camp, she went on to serve as a combat trainer, teaching soldiers gymnastics and calisthenics. Reporting daily at 5 a.m., she led soldiers through a form of boot camp. She became so passionate about the techniques she learned that she eventually trained sergeants and high-ranking commanders.
Gadot also trained in Krav Maga, and gained proficiency in handling weapons and preparing for combat. She completed her mandatory two-year service, of which only 20 days were in uniform. Reflecting on her military experience in a 2016 interview with Fashion, Gadot said, "It was demanding because you give up your freedom for two years, but there is something special in giving back to your community."
In 2007, while still serving, Gadot appeared in Maxim's "Women of the Israel Defense Forces" photo shoot, which was later featured on the cover of the New York Post. The shoot was part of a campaign by Israel's consulate in New York, Maxim, and the Ministry of Tourism to "promote Israel, attract young American men, and reshape its public image".
The campaign faced criticism, particularly from Knesset members, over the portrayal of female soldiers in bikinis. Following the criticism, Gadot defended the images, stating that she did not consider them pornographic and dismissed the political criticism, saying she was "not involved in politics". After the photo was featured on the July 2007 cover of the New York Post, the shoot significantly boosted Gadot's public profile; as a result, she landed an international campaign for "Prada Ellis" perfume.
That same year, she began pursuing law and international studies at IDC Herzliya (now Reichman University). She attributed this decision to being "so deep", and because she "loved" the legal comedy-drama television series Ally McBeal. She eventually dropped out three times—the first time because of her first acting role.
After her first year at university, a casting director from London contacted Gadot's agent after seeing her modeling card on the agency's wall, which led to an unsuccessful audition for the role of Camille Montes in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. In a 2017 interview with W Magazine, Gadot said she initially felt "too serious and smart to be an actress" due to her studies and was "uncomfortable" speaking English.
Her agent urged her to go "out of respect", and the casting director supported her through several callbacks. Although she lost the Bond role to Olga Kurylenko, Gadot found the experience "interesting" and told her agents to let her know if any other opportunities came up that might be a better fit for her, and two months later, made her acting debut in the Israeli drama Bubot.
She recalled that on the first day of university classes, she received a call informing her that she had landed the lead role of Miriam. She later performed in Festigal Underwater, an annual Israeli musical show for kids during Hanukkah, where she performed as a mermaid, acting, singing, and dancing.
Three months after her unsuccessful audition for Quantum of Solace, the same casting director recommended Gadot to Universal Studios and contacted her about a role in Fast & Furious franchise. She was asked to "urgently" send a filmed audition to Los Angeles, which was well received. As a result, the studio flew Gadot and her agent, the CEO of the Look Agency, to LA for a personal meeting with Vin Diesel, who would decide if she got the role.
Gadot was ultimately chosen over six other actresses for the supporting role of Gisele Yashar in the fourth film of the franchise.
Reflecting on the audition process, Gadot shared that she worked closely with Israeli coach Orit Shar, preparing thoroughly and building a backstory that impressed director Justin Lin. Filming took about a month. After filming wrapped in 2008, Gadot signed with Endeavor, becoming the only Israeli represented by the agency.
Later that year, she signed with ICM agency and One management. After Fast & Furious was released in 2009, Gadot reflected on her success saying, "I can't believe this happened to me..I have more luck than intelligence." The role is considered her big break, earning rave reviews and cementing her status as a "Hollywood mainstay." That same year, she made a brief appearance in the TV series Entourage in the episode titled "Amongst Friends", portraying Lisa, a date of the main character, Vincent Chase.
She left due to unwanted and "inappropriate behavior." She later appeared on the American teen drama, The Beautiful Life: TBL.
2010–2016: Breakthrough as Wonder Woman
In 2010, Gadot had small roles in the action-adventure comedy Knight and Day, playing Naomi, the date of Tom Cruise’s character, in which she also speaks Hebrew. This was followed by the action comedy Date Night, where she appears briefly as Natanya, the Israeli bedfellow of Mark Wahlberg’s character, Holbrooke; her scenes with Wahlberg were filmed over five days.
In 2011, Gadot reprised her role as Gisele in Fast Five. Gadot explained that giving Gisele a Mossad background allowed for character development across multiple films. She believes director Lin valued her Israeli military experience and aimed to use her weapons knowledge in the role. Later that year, she appeared in the second season of the Israeli series Asfur, playing Kiki, a coffee shop owner in Amsterdam.
In 2012, she starred the Israeli drama, Kathmandu. Sources in the industry estimate that Gadot earned over NIS3,000 (approximately US$800) per day of filming. In 2013, she returned to the Fast & Furious franchise, reprising her character in Fast & Furious 6, where she performed some of her own stunt work in the film.
In November 2013, Variety reported that Gadot, along with other actresses, had tested for the role of Wonder Woman. In December 2013, Gadot was confirmed for the role in the untitled Batman v Superman movie alongside Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck, directed by Zack Snyder. The contract for her portrayal of Wonder Woman was managed by her then-agent, ADD agency, which represented Gadot both in Israel and internationally.
She left the agency in 2019 on good terms. Reflecting on her audition for the role in a 2016 Variety interview, Gadot described the process as "super intensive, nerve-racking, a long roller coaster". While in Los Angeles, Warner Bros. invited her to audition for a then undisclosed role with Snyder. Her agent later informed her that she would screen-test opposite Affleck, and she ultimately secured the role, which was revealed to be in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Before landing the role, Gadot shared that she had almost quit acting due to frustration with the constant rejection she faced while auditioning in Los Angeles. After several Fast & Furious films and coming close to major parts, including Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which ultimately went to Charlize Theron, she considered leaving the profession.
She also noted that acting was not a childhood dream but a field she grew curious about and eventually fell in love with. In June 2014, she signed a three-picture deal with Warner Bros. to appear as Wonder Woman, reportedly earning $300,000 per film.
In July 2014, Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman was unveiled at Comic-Con during the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice panel. Some critics argued Gadot's Israeli background and slim frame made her unfit to play the part. Gadot dismissed the backlash. Despite prior criticism of her physique, she stated that she had trained to build muscle for the role, moving beyond her previous Fast & Furious image.
To prepare, she took lessons in swordsmanship, Kung Fu, kickboxing, capoeira and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, gaining 17 pounds of muscle. She also explained that she "trained six hours a day for six months—two hours of gym work, two hours of fight choreography, and up to two hours of horseback riding. It was much more intense than the army." That same year, Gadot landed her first Israeli film role in the comedy Kicking Out Shoshana, playing lead character Mirit Ben-Harush.
Later, in 2016, she was offered the lead role in the Hollywood remake of Ben-Hur (2016) but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts with Batman v Superman.
Prior to her debut as Wonder Woman, Gadot revealed she had previously been offered the role of Faora-Ul in Man of Steel (2013). Gadot turned it down due to her pregnancy; this led to Antje Traue being cast for the role instead. In 2016, Gadot officially debuted as Wonder Woman in the superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Gadot's performance as the superhero, the character's first film appearance, was singled out by The Guardian as one of the film's best parts. Her portrayal of Wonder Woman quickly became a defining role in her career, with critics praising her for bringing strength, grace, and a refreshing depth to the character.
Critics particularly noted how she brought a strong sense of empowerment and integrity to the role, setting a new standard for female superheroes in mainstream cinema.
She then had a small role in John Hillcoat's crime-thriller Triple 9, where she starred along with Kate Winslet and Aaron Paul. Later that year, she co-starred in the action crime thriller film Criminal, as the wife of Ryan Reynolds' character, alongside Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, and Tommy Lee Jones. She described the film as the most challenging project she had done to date.
Her final film of the year was the action comedy Keeping Up with the Joneses, in which she played a secret agent, alongside Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, and Isla Fisher. Critic Alex Welch wrote on IGN about Gadot's performance: "the script unfortunately banks mostly on her looks and deadly skills as a spy for her jokes, but Gadot manages to make it work."
2017–2020: Wonder Woman films
In 2017, Gadot starred in a solo film for her character, Wonder Woman, which was paid $300,000. This figure sparked some controversy, as it was significantly lower than the salaries commanded by many male action stars in Hollywood. However, the film received a positive response from critics, with some calling it the best installment in the DC Extended Universe.
Praise was directed at Patty Jenkins's direction, the chemistry between Gadot and Chris Pine, the musical score, and the thrilling action sequences. Due to her former service in the IDF, the film has been banned in Lebanon, Kuwait, and Jordan. She then reprised the role in the ensemble film Justice League, which was released in November 2017, and which was her third DC Extended Universe installment.
During the film's production under director Joss Whedon, she alleged that Whedon verbally abused her and "threatened" her career. She stated in an interview that she took the matter to the heads of Warner Bros., who "took care of it".
That same year, Gadot was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Gadot then voiced the character Shank, who was modeled after her, in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). The film's co-director, Phil Johnston, praised Gadot's performance. She then appeared in the music video for Maroon 5's song "Girls Like You" featuring Cardi B.
In January 2020, National Geographic announced Impact with Gal Gadot. The six-part documentary series, executive produced by Gadot and her husband, highlights young women overcoming poverty, violence, and discrimination to create positive change in their communities, premiered in April 2021 across National Geographic's digital and social platforms.
Gadot returned as Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), for which she reportedly earned $10 million. The sequel to her 2017 solo film was released on 25 December 2020. It was also released on the HBO Max streaming platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Washington Post reported that the response changed from "early praise to precipitous decline".
The film received praise for Gadot's performance and the visual effects; however, it garnered mixed reviews from critics, with some finding the plot overly complex and less impactful than the first film. Although a third Wonder Woman film was greenlit on 27 December 2020, it was ultimately cancelled in December 2022, despite Gadot teasing development plans through 2023.
2021–present: Streaming projects
In November 2021, Gadot starred alongside Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in the Netflix action comedy film Red Notice, written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. The Guardian, in its review, opined that Gadot was "sleepwalking through the motions" and was "adept only when fighting". The film became Netflix’s most-watched title ever at the time, according to Bloomberg.
The film has over 328 million hours streamed in its first three weeks. This equates to 164 million accounts watching it in full, making it the most-watched new movie of 2021.
