History of Gal Gadot in Timeline
Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress globally recognized for her portrayal of Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe. She initially rose to prominence after winning Miss Israel in 2004 and served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces. Her acting career began with the Israeli TV series Bubot in 2007. Gadot gained further recognition through a Maxim photo shoot and secured a significant role as Gisele Yashar in the Fast & Furious franchise starting in 2009, solidifying her position in Hollywood before her breakthrough as Wonder Woman.
1928: Birth of Abraham Weiss
In 1928, Gal Gadot's maternal grandfather, Abraham Weiss, was born in the village of Munkács, Czechoslovakia.
2004: Miss Israel Pageant
In 2004, Gal Gadot participated in the Miss Israel beauty pageant, which she won.
2005: Enlistment into the Israel Defense Forces
In 2005, a week after passing on the crown, Gal Gadot was conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces.
2006: Meeting Jaron Varsano
In 2006, Gadot met her future husband, Jaron Varsano, at a "chakra/yoga retreat type of party" in the Israeli desert.
July 2007: Maxim Photo Shoot
In July 2007, Gal 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.
December 2007: Spokesmodel for Castro
In December 2007, Gal Gadot began working as a spokesmodel for the Israeli clothing brand Castro.
2007: Role in 'Bubot'
In 2007, Gadot began her acting career with a role in the Israeli television series 'Bubot'.
2008: Fast & Furious Audition
In 2008, Gadot prepared for the audition for Fast & Furious and signed with Endeavor.
2008: Ynet Interview
In a 2008 interview with Ynet, Gadot reflected on her decision to enter the Miss Israel pageant.
2009: Entourage Appearance
After the film's release in 2009, Gal Gadot made a brief appearance in the TV series Entourage.
2009: Fast & Furious Franchise
In 2009, Gal Gadot achieved wider fame with her supporting role as Gisele Yashar in the Fast & Furious franchise.
2010: Cosmopolitan Covergirl and Film Roles
In 2010, Gal Gadot was featured as the covergirl on Cosmopolitan and had small roles in Knight and Day and Date Night.
2011: Fast Five and Asfur Appearance
In 2011, Gal Gadot reprised her role as Gisele in Fast Five and appeared on an episode of Asfur.
2012: Israeli Drama Kathmandu
In 2012, Gal Gadot starred in the Israeli drama Kathmandu, set in Nepal.
November 2013: Wonder Woman Audition
In November 2013, Gal Gadot tested for the role of Wonder Woman.
December 2013: Carline Spokesmodel Contract
In December 2013, Gadot signed a two-year contract with the Israeli skincare company Carline.
December 2013: Wonder Woman Casting
In December 2013, Gal Gadot was confirmed for the role of Wonder Woman in the Batman v Superman movie.
2013: Maxim Photo Shoot Reflection
In 2013, Gadot reflected on her Maxim photo shoot experience and defended her role as a model.
2013: Fast & Furious 6
In 2013, Gadot returned to the Fast & Furious franchise, reprising her character in Fast & Furious 6, where she performed some of her own stunt work.
2013: Castro CEO Statement
In 2013, the CEO of Castro stated that Gal Gadot was the perfect fit to represent Israeli beauty.
June 2014: Warner Bros. Deal
In June 2014, Gadot signed a three-picture deal with Warner Bros. to appear as Wonder Woman.
2015: Cleo Appearance and Gucci Deal
In 2015, Gal Gadot appeared on Cleo and became the face of Gucci's Bamboo perfume brand.
July 2016: Joins "Israel Creates Wonder Women" Campaign
In July 2016, Gal Gadot joined "Israel Creates Wonder Women", a campaign by Israeli female master’s students in communications to rebrand Israel by highlighting its strong women.
October 2016: Wonder Woman as Honorary Ambassador at the UN
On 21 October 2016, Gal Gadot, along with fellow Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter and others, attended the United Nations to mark Wonder Woman's designation as the "Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls". This initiative, intended to promote UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 5, faced protests and was discontinued on 16 December.
2016: Ben-Hur Scheduling Conflicts
In 2016, Gadot was offered the lead role in the Hollywood remake of Ben-Hur, but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts with Batman v Superman.
2016: Breakout Role
In 2016, Gadot's breakout role came when she portrayed Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman.
2016: Wonder Woman Debut
In 2016, Gal Gadot began portraying Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films.
2016: Variety Interview on Wonder Woman Audition
In a 2016 Variety interview, Gadot described the audition process for Wonder Woman.
2016: Military Experience Reflection
In a 2016 interview with Fashion, Gadot reflected on her military experience and its impact.
June 2017: Azrieli Center Tribute
In June 2017, the Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv was illuminated with a message of pride for Gal Gadot ahead of the Israeli premiere of Wonder Woman.
November 2017: Justice League Release
In November 2017, Gal Gadot reprised her role as Wonder Woman in the ensemble film "Justice League", marking her third appearance in the DC Extended Universe.
2017: Wonder Woman Film
In 2017, Gadot starred in Wonder Woman, which became a major box office hit, she also reprised the role in Justice League.
2017: Highest-Grossing Actress
In 2017, Gal Gadot was the third-highest-grossing actress, with $1.4 billion in worldwide box office revenue.
2017: W Magazine Interview
In a 2017 interview with W Magazine, Gadot discussed her initial reaction to the role of Camille Montes in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.
January 2018: Advocating for Gender Equality in Hollywood
In January 2018, Gal Gadot spoke about Hollywood's cultural shift towards gender equality, deeming it necessary and overdue. She also wore black at the Golden Globes to support the Time's Up movement, emphasizing the event's powerful and inspiring impact.
January 2018: Revlon Global Brand Ambassador
In January 2018, Gal Gadot was named the global brand ambassador for Revlon’s "Live Boldly" campaign, encouraging women to embrace passion, strength, and optimism.
January 2018: Critique in The Forward
In January 2018, Jenny Singer critiqued how Gadot is portrayed in the media, particularly on the cover of Vanity Fair, arguing that she is often reduced to a sex object.
June 2018: Gal Cinema Named in Her Honor
In June 2018, a cinema in Nazareth Illit, Israel, was named "Gal Cinema" in honor of Gal Gadot, aiming to inspire young people.
July 2018: Visiting Children's Hospital as Wonder Woman
In July 2018, Gadot visited Inova Children's Hospital in Annandale, Virginia, dressed as Wonder Woman, bringing joy and surprise to the children.
2018: Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2018, Gal Gadot was named one of Time's 100 most influential people.
May 2019: Supporting Ill Children in Los Angeles
In May 2019, Gadot supported a "Reach Out Association" initiative, joining 25 ill children on a trip to Los Angeles. She had breakfast with them at their hotel and answered their questions.
October 2019: Pilot Wave Production Company Formed
In October 2019, Gal Gadot and her husband, Jaron Varsano, formed a film and television production company called Pilot Wave, giving Gadot more control over her career.
2019: Clash with Netanyahu over Arab Minority Rights
In 2019, Gadot defended actress Rotem Sela's call for equality for all citizens, after Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that Israel is a "nation-state" for Jews only. Gadot's emphasis on "peace, equality, and tolerance" led to mixed reactions.
January 2020: Impact with Gal Gadot Announced
On 17 January 2020, National Geographic announced "Impact with Gal Gadot," a six-part documentary series executive produced by Gadot and her husband.
March 2020: Celebrity 'Imagine' Video Backlash
In March 2020, Gadot and other celebrities performed an online version of John Lennon's "Imagine" to raise morale during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video received backlash and was described as an ineffective response.
December 2020: Wonder Woman 1984 Release
In December 2020, Gal Gadot returned as Wonder Woman in "Wonder Woman 1984", which was released both in theaters and on HBO Max, earning her a reported $10 million.
2020: Forbes Ranking
In 2020, Forbes ranked Gal Gadot as the third highest-paid actress in the world, with annual earnings of $31.5 million.
April 2021: Impact with Gal Gadot Premieres
In April 2021, "Impact with Gal Gadot", a six-part documentary series executive produced by Gadot and her husband, premiered across National Geographic's digital and social platforms.
November 2021: Goodles Launch and Red Notice Release
In November 2021, Gal Gadot and her husband launched Goodles, a mac and cheese brand. That same month, she also starred in the Netflix film "Red Notice" alongside Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds.
2021: Backlash During the Israel-Palestine Crisis
In 2021, during the Israel–Palestine crisis, Gadot called for peace in a statement that sparked backlash for its perceived neutrality and downplaying of Palestinian suffering. She was criticized for not taking a stronger stance in support of Israel.
August 2022: Visiting Netiv HaAsara and Seeking Shelter in Tel Aviv
In August 2022, Gadot visited Netiv HaAsara, a town near Gaza. She was also photographed in a missile shelter in Tel Aviv with her children during a rocket alert.
April 2023: Hosting Holocaust Remembrance Day Event
In April 2023, Gadot hosted a special Holocaust Remembrance Day event at her Hollywood home, as part of the "Zikaron BaSalon" tradition. She welcomed Holocaust survivors and Hollywood guests, reflecting on the power of people to do good.
April 2023: Tiffany & Co. Ambassador
In April 2023, Gal Gadot became the new ambassador of Tiffany & Co., and cut the ribbon at the brand's new Fifth Avenue store in New York.
May 2023: Award for Extraordinary Achievements
In May 2023, Gal Gadot received an award for "extraordinary achievements" at an event celebrating Israel’s 75th Independence Day in Los Angeles.
October 2023: Criticism During the Israel-Hamas War
In October 2023, during the Israel-Hamas war, Gadot's Instagram post condemning the killing of both innocent Palestinians and Israelis led to criticism from Israeli figures who accused her of equating the two and not understanding the gravity of the situation.
November 2023: Organizing Screening of 'Bearing Witness'
In November 2023, Gadot organized a screening of the Israeli film "Bearing Witness," which shows the violence of Hamas. The event, to which 120 people were invited, faced criticism for overlooking the situation in Palestine and serving those promoting war.
2023: Wonder Woman Films
In 2016–2023, Gal Gadot portrayed Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films.
2023: LifeSaver Award by ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel
In 2023, Gal Gadot was awarded the LifeSaver Award by ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel.
August 2024: Snow White Boycott Calls
In August 2024, calls from pro-Palestinian activists to boycott Disney's Snow White remake emerged due to Gal Gadot's support for Israel.
September 2024: Launching 'Voice of the People' Initiative
In September 2024, Gadot joined Israeli President Isaac Herzog in launching the "Voice of the People" initiative. The initiative is aimed at fostering global Jewish unity amidst rising antisemitism and the "ongoing hostage crisis."
December 2024: Recovery Announcement from Cerebral Venous Thrombosis
In December 2024, Gadot shared that she had fully recovered from cerebral venous thrombosis, a rare type of stroke she experienced during her pregnancy. She shared her experience to raise awareness about the condition.
January 2025: Praised as Ambassador for Israel at Golden Globes
In January 2025, Dudi Caspi, Israel's representative to the Golden Globes Association, praised Gal Gadot as "a good ambassador for Israel" on 103FM radio.
January 2025: Participation in '#BringOnTheLight' Campaign and Golden Globes Controversy
In January 2025, Gadot participated in Noa Tishby’s '#BringOnTheLight' campaign, celebrating Jewish resilience during Hanukkah. She later faced backlash for not wearing a yellow ribbon pin at the Golden Globes, a symbol of support for hostages held by Hamas, clarifying she was never told not to wear it and instead wore a yellow ring.
