A Wonder Woman in Charge
TFK talks to Gal Gadot, the actress bringing Wonder Woman to the big screen
May, 8 - 2017 By Glenn Greenberg
She may have turned 75 last year, but Wonder Woman shows no signs of slowing down. Her long-running series of comic-book adventures continues to be published, and she is set to star in not one but two major movies this year. The first, Wonder Woman, hits theaters on June 2. It tells the story of how the Amazon warrior, Princess Diana of Themiscyra, leaves her island paradise home to become Wonder Woman, a force for peace and understanding. Then, on November 17, Diana returns in Justice League, to save the world alongside other superheroes, including Batman, the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.
The actress Gal Gadot first appeared as Wonder Woman in 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. She is the first actress to play the character in live action since Lynda Carter, who portrayed Wonder Woman on television from 1975 to 1979. Batman v. Superman only dropped hints about Diana and her history. Now, in Wonder Woman, audiences will get a chance to learn who she is, and how she came to be.
Gadot spoke to TFK about the movie and how it feels to play a powerful woman superhero who has entertained millions of people for several generations.
TIME FOR KIDS:
What made you want to play Diana?
GAL GADOT:
I always felt there was a lack of female-driven stories in the movies, and I always said that I wanted to show the real side of women—how strong and independent they are, how fierce and loving and warm and kind and tough they can be, all at the same time. Little did I know that I would land this part.
So I guess I wanted to portray this character because I love and believe in everything about her and everything that she stands for.
TFK:
You grew up in Israel. What did you and your friends there think of American comic books and superheroes?
GADOT:
Superheroes, especially movies, are a big thing in Israel. Everyone went to see the Batman series, Superman, and Spider-Man. They're all household names.
The thing about Wonder Woman was that I was not really exposed to her at all. I really didn't know who she was. So it feels amazing, bringing her back to life—especially for the first time to the big screen.
TFK:
You’re the first person to play Wonder Woman in live action since Lynda Carter—we’re talking nearly 40 years. Do you feel like you’ve taken on a big responsibility?
GADOT:
It's exciting! Lynda Carter is amazing and she portrayed Wonder Woman in such a brilliant way. And especially after meeting with her, I completely understood why they cast her to be Wonder Woman. She's a bigger-than-life woman. She's funny and smart and she has all the right elements to play Wonder Woman and she did a magnificent job. I do feel like I'm stepping into big shoes, but I feel like I'm establishing something new. We're coming with our own story, with our own take. It is a different Wonder Woman, who has the same values, but is different.
TFK:
Aside from the fact that she’s a woman, what do you think sets Diana apart from someone like Superman, who also has incredible strength and abilities and symbolizes goodness?
GADOT:
They have a lot in common, but they're very different, as well. For example, Wonder Woman has been [alive] for over 3,000 years.
Diana has so much compassion and love in her heart. She's doing what she's doing because this is her calling. Being an Amazon, as the princess of all the Amazons, her calling is to protect mankind and bring peace to the world, and this is something that she will always try to do. She has an amazing tolerance for people with different opinions.
I think the fact that she is a woman, and she has all of these qualities in her—and at the same time, she is the most powerful warrior—makes her different from any other superhero.
TFK:
We're going to see you again as Wonder Woman in Justice League. Which do you prefer—making a team movie or making a solo film?
GADOT:
There's something very interesting and exciting shooting a solo movie, when all the attention goes to my character, and there is something that is great about sharing the responsibilities and sharing the story with a few more characters. The experience [on Justice League] was quite different from shooting my own movie, which was, obviously, more about my character. It's just two different experiences, and honestly, I enjoyed both.
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