10 Interesting Things About Gal Gadot That You (Probably) Didn't Know

She was born in the small town of Rosh Haayin in Israel and grew up in a Jewish family. Despite the fact that she first came under the spotlight thanks to modelling, today, we know her mostly for her acting success. But not just any acting. Gal Gadot always portrays strong and independent women on the silver screen.

She appeared in the successful series Fast and Furious, and later in comic film from the DC studio, where she became famous as the fearless Wonder Woman. Today, she holds the status of a brave action heroine, but do not be fooled, she is not afraid to show her fragility in films. The proof is her performance in the film Death on the Nile, which was based on a novel by Agatha Christie and shot by Kenneth Branagh.

Her charm and beauty immediately captures the attention of all men, her sense of humor and intellect will win them over forever. Here are some interesting facts about the Israeli actress who conquered Hollywood.

1. Talented sportswoman 

Since her mother was a high school teacher and taught physical education, she tried to bring the discipline into the home environment. As the actress revealed in an interview with ESPN, her mother brought her to sports, putting her in a good physical shape from an early age. According to Gadot, there was no time to watch television. Physical activities took precedence.

"My mother is amazing. She taught me to swim when I was only 4 years old," she revealed. When she didn't have time to teach her new things, she solved it easily. "She always told me to take the ball and go play with the neighbors," she added. The actress also said in an interview that in addition to dancing, which she has been doing all her life, she played competitive basketball, volleyball and tennis. Height of 178 centimeters was undoubtedly an advantage in these disciplines.

2. Instead of modelling, part-time in Burger King

Before becoming famous, several successful actors and actresses underwent demanding trials and various jobs in their youth. According to Far Out magazine, Harrison Ford was a carpenter, Steve Buscemi a firefighter, and Hugh Jackman worked as a clown at a children's birthday parties in his early twenties.

The beginnings are not easy, not even for Gal Gadot. To earn some money during high school, she started her first job at a fast food chain. According to Rolling Stone magazine, despite receiving various offers to do modeling at the time, she said she would choose the harder path and go to Burger King instead. “Posing for money? Uh, that's not for me," the actress said modestly.

3. She won the Miss beauty competition and was afraid, that she would win again

According to Rolling Stone, her mother signed her up for the Miss Israel competition when she was only 18 years old. Gal Gadot agreed to try, but had no expectations. In the end, she won. This moved her further, now competing for the title of Miss Universe. However, the actress admitted to the prestigious magazine that she definitely did not want to win another competition.

She was startled by her first win, and since the whole thing was, in her words, "nothing for her," she rebelled. She deliberately sabotaged her work in the competition. She pretended not to speak English, she was late everywhere, always without make-up and without the clothes they were told to wear. When she was told she hadn't made it into the top twenty, she exhaled. "It would be too much responsibility for my age," Gal Gadot said in response.

4. Two years in the army and new opportunities

Wondering how it is possible that all of Gal Gadot's fight scenes are so authentic?  According to Factinate, the actress entered compulsory military service in the Israeli army at the age of 20.

During her two years, Gadot served as a combat trainer, spending most of her time teaching calisthenics and gymnastics. In her downtime, she also managed to pose for men's lifestyle magazine Maxim, in which the authors asked readers whether women from the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) are the sexiest soldiers in the world.

According to Factinate, as a result of the publicity, as well as the previous title of Miss Israel, she caught attention of several modelling agencies and casting directors. She did not refuse to pose for money again, on the contrary, she took the opportunity. Before long, she began working with the Israeli clothing company Castro. Later, she also became the face of several prestigious brands, including Gucci.

5. She could have been "Bond girl" or a lawyer  

Gal Gadot told Glamor that after her time in the military, she went to study law at university. She stayed one year. Opportunities that you can't refuse came up. "During my college years, the casting director for Quantum of Solace saw my modeling card on the wall of my agency, so I went to a Bond girl audition," the actress said.

However, she revealed to W magazine that she had no intention of pursuing acting. "I thought I was studying law and international relations. I'm too serious and intelligent to be an actress. In addition, the script was entirely in English. I knew English, but I wasn't comfortable," said Gadot. Actress Olga Kurylenko eventually won the role, and starred in Quantum of Solace alongside Daniel Craig.

6. From television straight to the elite

But the beauty of Israel said she would not give up. She also revealed to Glamor that after the failure of the role Bond girl she started going to an acting coach and soon got her first role in the Israeli television series Bubot. It was thanks to this project that she finally quit university. And as it turned out, she made the right choice. 

It didn't take long for the same casting director to cast her in Fast & Furious (2009). It was the fourth part of a successful series, where she appeared alongside Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. She portrayed the role of the tough Gisele. This was her first film ever. Due to the scale of production and popularity of the series, it shot her practically from zero to the absolute top. 

7. She likes adrenaline 

She showed her better-known colleagues in Hollywood that she is not afraid of challenges. According to Pop Sugar, during the filming of the sixth part of the Fast & Furious franchise, Gal Gadot did the challenging and sometimes extremely dangerous stunts herself.

"Filming the action scenes of Fast 6 got quite crazy. The adrenaline was incredible. However, I enjoyed being able to do things that I could not do in my daily life," said the brave Gadot. It was in this role that the actress had to regularly jump from motorcycles to oncoming cars, which definitely doesn't sound like a cake walk.

8. The fateful encounter

This Israeli woman thrives not only in front of the cameras, but also in private life. She has a beautiful relationship with her husband Yaron Varsan. They married in 2008 and have three daughters together, Alma, Maya and Daniella. As Gadot told Vogue, she met the charismatic real estate developer at a party in the Israeli desert with a slightly esoteric focus. According to the actress, chakras and yoga were discussed.

"Something has happened the first moment we started talking. When I got home, I asked myself if it wasn't early for me to call him, but I wanted to go on a date. So we went out and on the second date he told me - I'll marry you. I'll wait two years, but we'll get married. I said - Fine," Gal Gadot told the fashion magazine details of their relationship.

Her husband Yaron explained the fateful meeting in more detail for Vogue. "We were both in the phase of our lives when we thought about what love is and what a relationship is. We started talking at ten o'clock in the evening, later we kissed at sunrise. On the way back to Tel Aviv, we held hands and could not get away from each other. It was beautiful," he said.

9. Roots in Czechoslovakia

"Grandpa ... I miss you, my hero. You left us 3 years ago, but your legacy lives with us forever. My grandfather was born in 1928 in the small village of Mukachevo in Czechoslovakia. His entire family was brutally murdered during World War II. Just because someone has decided what is the right religion and what is the wrong religion," Gad Gadot wrote in a Facebook post.

10. She knows when to speak up

Gal Gadot has activism in her blood. As a feminist she fights for women's independence and equality. In December 2018, she supported Israeli women who rebelled against violence in the country.

"I show my solidarity with my sisters in Israel, who are protesting against domestic violence against women. Today's protest is in Israel, but it is a global struggle. Domestic violence does not discriminate against gender, race, religion, origin or age," the actress wrote on Instagram.

"I urge all people to stand up to violence. It has to stop. Men, women, let us unite and stand for a better future. Everyone out there who is suffering, please seek help or refuge and know that I am here and I stand by you," she added.