Gal Gadot Reflects on Her Pageant Past and the Unlikely Journey to Stardom: “Becoming Miss Universe wasn’t in the cards for me”

Gal Gadot, known for her role as Wonder Woman, revealed in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that she wasn’t a fan of her time as a beauty queen. Back in 2004, the 35-year-old actress won the title of Miss Israel but purposely avoided winning Miss Universe that same year. Gadot recalled a funny moment during the pageant where she pretended not to speak English when asked a question by judge Paula Abdul. She joked, “Me no speak English, so sorry,” in an attempt to sabotage her chances of winning.

Gal Gadot, the 35-year-old actress known for her role as Wonder Woman, revealed in a recent Vanity Fair interview that being a beauty queen was not her cup of tea. In a VF video, she opened up about her experience in the pageant world.

It wasn’t her priority: Back in 2004, she was crowned Miss Israel but didn’t have her sights set on winning Miss Universe that year. At the pageant, she had a different mindset. Fast forward to 2017 when she shared with Rolling Stone that she never even thought she would win the title of Miss Israel, saying, “I thought I was just going to do it for the experience of going to Europe and have a story to tell my grandkids.” Little did she know she would come out on top.

Discussing her upcoming film Wonder Woman 1984 in a Vanity Fair interview, she mentioned that the first movie was about the hero’s journey, and this sequel aims to delve deeper into themes of greed and danger, which she believes are highly relevant to our current times. She also revealed that she was paid $300,000 for her role in the first Wonder Woman movie and a substantial $10 million for the second installment. The much-anticipated Wonder Woman 1984 is set to hit theaters on December 25, 2020.

Uninterested: The 5ft10in celebrity shared, “I can’t believe it – Paula Abdul was sitting on the panel of judges, and she asked me a question. I quickly responded with a heavy accent, ‘Sorry, I don’t speak English,’ trying everything in my power to prevent that moment from happening.”

Engaging in a dance: In this scene, the actress is positioned on the far right next to Miss Canada. She reflects on the constant pursuit of more in life, questioning the never-ending cycle of setting new goals and the sacrifices we make along the way. Gal admits that the opening scene of 1984, featuring young actress Lilly Aspell as a young Wonder Woman, brings tears to her eyes as it showcases the power of visualization in achieving one’s dreams. She laments the lack of strong female role models in movies, noting how boys have long been portrayed as heroes and saviors, shaping their aspirations from an early age.

Inspiring Figure: Gal shared her emotional reaction to watching a young Lilly Aspell portray a spirited Wonder Woman in the opening scene of the movie 1984. She believes that seeing someone on screen can ignite dreams and aspirations within oneself. The Israeli actress also discussed the impact of playing Wonder Woman on her own daughter. Gal, a mother of two, revealed that her eldest daughter was both thrilled and apprehensive watching her battle the villains on screen. Despite skipping the scary scenes, her daughter was proud of her mother’s performance. Additionally, Gal addressed the criticism she faced for singing John Lennon’s Imagine during self-isolation, acknowledging the backlash from the internet for the perceived lack of relatability.

Gal Gadot discussed the impact of her role as Wonder Woman, particularly on her own daughter. As a mother to Alma, 8, and Maya, 3, with her husband Jaron Varsano, she shared how she showed the film to her eldest daughter. Her daughter was thrilled but also found it hard to separate seeing her mother battling villains on screen. Despite her intention to do something good and pure, Gadot admitted that it didn’t quite translate as she had hoped.

In a video released in March, at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, Gadot was joined by Natalie Portman, Zoe Kravitz, Amy Adams, and others. The video was criticized as “cringe-worthy,” with many on Twitter questioning the celebrities’ disconnect from reality. It all began with good intentions, as Gadot explained in the original video.

Her mentor: Posing with director Patty Jenkins at the Global Debut of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Wonder Woman in 2017. She started her message by saying, “Hello everyone. Day six of self-isolation. These past few days have really made me think about things in a new light.” She emphasized how the current global situation has united people from all walks of life. Inspired by a video of an Italian man playing the trumpet for his community during lockdown, she found the act to be both powerful and heartwarming. The video then showed snippets of other celebrities like Kristen Wiig, Jamie Dornan, Labrinth, James Marsden, and Sarah Silverman.

In March, Gal Gadot and her famous pals received criticism for their performance of John Lennon’s Imagine while in quarantine. Many online users felt they were disconnected from reality, as they sang about ‘no possessions’ from the comfort of their luxurious homes.

In a feature for Vanity Fair in November 2020, Gal discussed the viral video of her singing ‘Imagine’ with her celebrity friends. She shared that although her intentions were good and she wanted to spread positivity, things didn’t turn out as she had hoped. The idea started with a small group of friends before Kristen Wiig got involved and brought more people on board. Despite her genuine intention to bring light and love to the world, the well-meaning project didn’t quite hit the mark.

Nancy Jo Sales, a writer for Vanity Fair, contacted Gal Gadot on Monday for her comments after facing criticism for her role as Cleopatra in an upcoming film directed by the Wonder Woman director. The controversy arose due to misconceptions about Cleopatra’s heritage, with some social media users incorrectly assuming she was African and black, when in fact, she was of Greek or Persian descent. In response to her critics, Gal emphasized her straightforward nature, acknowledging that it may sometimes lead to trouble. She noted how she has learned to navigate disagreements by stating, “I don’t disagree with you, but,” effectively expressing her opinions without confrontation. Gal concluded by emphasizing the importance of staying true to herself and speaking her truth, even if it means not being liked by everyone.

Could it be another box office success? Armie Hammer is set to star as Simon Doyle and Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway in the upcoming movie Death On The Nile by 20th Century Studios. Fans can mark their calendars for December 18, the official release date of this highly-anticipated film.