As a former soldier, law graduate and beauty queen, Gal Gadot’s backstory already reads a little like that of a comic book character. So perhaps it is fitting that this one-time Miss Israel was given her break on the big screen as one of the DC Universe’s most iconic creations: Wonder Woman. And while the character’s initial appearance was in Zack Snyder’s less than fantastically received Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice , Gadot’s first solo outing as the Amazonian protagonist in 2017’s Wonder Woman was nothing less than an enormous, box office-shattering success. How you can get Gal Gadot’s toned Wonder Woman body Every woman should be a feminist – he heart of this term signifies freedom of choice, equality and freedom, and Wonder Woman represents all of that “People were waiting for a female-driven story [told] in such an authentic way,” the 35-year-old Gadot says. “It’s funny to say the word ‘authentic’, because she’s a superhero, but we were telling the story from a female perspective and we made sure the story was universal. For men, women, boys, girls, everyone. “She wasn’t this tough, bad-ass woman who had it all figured out. She had fears and worries, and we enjoyed exploring her imperfections and vulnerabilities. Those are the things that are truthful in humankind. We were able to make the character grounded this way and be accessible and approachable.” Now she’s about to take Diana Prince and her crimson-and-gold-clad alter ego to the next level in the highly anticipated sequel Wonder Woman 1984 , the release of which was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and is tentatively scheduled for December 2020. Meet Renée Zellweger, the Oscar-winning star of Judy “In the first movie, she really is a fish out of water,” she acknowledges. “It was the coming-of-age story of Diana and how she became Wonder Woman. Now, in Wonder Woman 1984 she’s been around for six decades, helping make the world a better place. She’s wiser. She’s more mature. She’s guarded, but she’s also struggled. “She’s very lonely and doesn’t want to engage with people because she doesn’t want to be hurt by losing them again. Even though she lost all of her friends throughout the years she’s still doing the right thing. But she is different than when we last saw her.” Amid the recent global upheaval, it’s refreshing to see Gadot returning – after all, superhero cinema has been nothing less than a constant over the past decade in which Marvel’s Avengers franchise has broken nearly every record going . Chris Evans wanted to play Spider-Man, not Captain America, all along And although Gadot has led the way for stars such as Brie Larson and Scarlett Johansson to be given their own projects – as Captain Marvel and Black Widow respectively – there’s still a sense that the spandex-covered world of comic book adaptations is a man’s world. For a long time in Hollywood, I felt like the scripts that I got were all the same … For me it wasn’t real. I was looking for more, because I know what it means to be a woman and I know our stories are worth telling So how does Gadot feel about playing a goddess at a time when the #MeToo movement, of which she is a vocal supporter, continues to gain momentum across the world in all walks of life? “Every woman should be a feminist, and I owe a lot to the work and struggle of many women who have contributed to this movement of liberation,” Gadot says. “The heart of this term signifies freedom of choice, equality and freedom, and Wonder Woman represents all of that.” Obama’s ‘vote’ necklace, and 3 more times women’s jewellery made a statement “I feel very honoured to have been chosen to play one of the most iconic roles an actress might want. She’s a very positive character and a great representative for women everywhere. I’m very happy that people were so enthusiastic about the first film and that they appreciated what I brought to this heroic kind of role.” It’s not only on-screen that Gadot is breaking new ground. Though the original project drew praise for its female lead and director (in Patty Jenkins), Wonder Woman 1984 sees its star actress take on the role of producer behind the camera, too. “On this one I was involved from the get-go,” she says with a smile. “So the experience was so much more richer and interesting and thrilling. And coming back and working with the people that I love so much like Patty Jenkins and Chris Pine and the director of photography and all the key people that we kept from the first movie was an amazing experience for me. Keanu Reeves is a happy loner, and why he’s scared of death “It’s so much more fulfilling to be involved in the early stages and to be involved in the vision of a project before you go in as an actress and shoot it. For me, it’s really important as a storyteller and actress to tell stories that matter and have an impact on me.” And now she has started, there’s no stopping her: Gadot is balancing her film career alongside becoming the brand ambassador for Smartwater (taking over from fellow silver screen star Jennifer Aniston ), being mother to her two daughters, born in 2011 and 2017, and beginning her own production company with husband of 12 years, Yaron Varsano. “For a long time in Hollywood, I felt like the scripts that I got were all the same,” she notes. “The woman was strong and tough, but she was distant because she’s so bad-ass. For me it wasn’t real. I was looking for more, because I know what it means to be a woman and I know our stories are worth telling. “The more opportunities we give female writers and female filmmakers to tell those female-driven stories, the better it would be.” The Korean celebrities making a stand against misogynists 10 stars who are actually from Canada – and not the US Fans will be relieved, however, that even for a beauty queen and law graduate turned cinematic superstar, keeping everything going can be quite a challenge. “It’s just about finding balance, being a mother who works,” she says. “It’s like an endless struggle of trying, between the children’s schedules to your schedule, to your husband’s schedule, to [the rest of] life. I really, really try to make time for family, make time for myself and really be mindful of that, of balancing all the different aspects of life. “And it is a constant thing because it always changes. It’s also understanding that as long as we’re doing our best, that’s all we can do, but it’s great. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but I always aspire to find this balance.” And even if you’re a caped crusader, you can always count on your kids to keep you grounded. “My younger one is excited, whenever I leave the house she’ll ask me if it’s for Wonder Woman and then she’ll burst out and say, “I’m Wonder Woman!” and she’ll run around the house and she’ll do kicks and box!” she laughs. “My oldest one, though, she’s too cool for school. She’s very proud at times but at the end of the day I’m her mother.” The Batman’s Robert Pattinson on first trying on the Batsuit Milestones 2004 Won the Miss Israel beauty pageant and competed in Miss Universe in Ecuador 2009 Introduced the character Gisele Yashar in the film Fast & Furious 2011 Played Gisele again in the Fast & Furious franchise’s Fast Five 2013 Appeared in a third film in the franchise, Fast & Furious 6 2015 Became the face of Gucci’s Bamboo perfume brand 7 style lessons from ‘Captain Marvel’ actress Brie Larson 2016 Portrayed Wonder Woman in the superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice , winning Best Actress in an Action Movie at the Critics’ Choice Awards 2017 Won multiple gongs at the Teen Choice Awards for her roles in Wonder Woman and Keeping Up with the Joneses 2018 Appeared in Maroon 5’s music video Girls Like You with Cardi B 2020 Plays the lead in Wonder Woman 1984 Want more stories like this? Sign up here . 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