I’m actually not expecting much from Gal Gadot in Batman vs. Superman, also known as 2 Fast 2 Batfleck. What I mean is that I sort of doubt that Gal’s Wonder Woman will have a major storyline in the film, and that this part is just meant to be an introduction before her stand-alone Wonder Woman film is released in June 2017. But Gal is still being sent out to promote BvS, so she covers the new issue of Glamour. I read the full piece, and I was charmed. She’s like a breath of fresh air, honestly. She comes across as sweet, funny and without a lot of affectations that we see with LA, NYC and London-based actors. Some highlights:
Her original life plan: “If things had gone according to my plans, I’d be a lawyer. I never dreamt of being an actress. My mother was a teacher; my dad is an engineer. But at 18 I was approached to compete in Miss Israel. I thought, That would be a nice experience. I never thought I would win! I was shocked when they crowned me; when I went to Miss Universe, I rebelled. I was afraid I might get picked again. I showed up late. I came without gowns. They tell you to come to breakfast in a gown. I was like, “No way am I having breakfast in a gown!” Who needs to wear an evening gown at 10:30 A.M.?”
She served two years in the IDF: “Let me start by saying, I wish no country had the need for an army. But in Israel serving is part of being an Israeli. You’ve got to give back to the state. You give two or three years, and it’s not about you. You give your freedom away. You learn discipline and respect. [After the army] I started studying law at university. While I was there, a casting director for Quantum of Solace saw my modeling card on my agency’s wall, and I auditioned to be a Bond Girl.”
Wonder Woman isn’t here for the dudes: “For BvS it was important for me that we show how independent she is. She is not relying on a man, and she’s not there because of a love story. She’s not there to serve someone else… She has so many strengths and powers, but at the end of the day she’s a woman with a lot of emotional intelligence. She’s loving. And it’s all her heart—that’s her strength. I think women are amazing for being able to show what they feel. I admire women who do. I think it’s a mistake when women cover their emotions to look tough. I say let’s own who we are and use it as a strength.”
How her body has changed for Wonder Woman: “A lot. Since I’ve started, I’ve gained about 17 pounds, and it’s all muscle. I feel so much better now. When you feel strong, it changes everything—your posture, the way you walk. I look at photos from five years ago and think, Whoa, I was too skinny. It’s not cool.”
Feminism: “There are such misconceptions as to what a feminist is. Feminism is about equality. I want all people to have the same opportunities and to get the same salaries for the same jobs. I realize I’m doing what I want to do because of the women before me who laid the groundwork. Without them I wouldn’t be an educated working mother who is following her dreams; I wouldn’t be here.
I understand completely what she’s saying about Wonder Woman’s emotional intelligence, but I do have to ask… why don’t we prioritize emotional intelligence in male superheroes too? The Batfleck could use some emotional intelligence. So could IronMan. And Captain America. One of Black Widow’s strengths is emotional intelligence too, and her ability to manipulate people and gather information through non-violent means. Why do we expect that of the women? I mean, that’s not on Gal – she’s obviously thrilled to be playing Wonder Woman and she seems like a great fit. I like what she said about feminism too. But the structure of these superhero films still defaults to women = emotional caretakers.
Photos courtesy of Glamour.
Let me put on my nerd goggles here for a sec but to answer your question Kaiser at least amongst most fans these movies have been disastrous in terms of accurately portraying their superheroes. Yeah a lot of fans are happy Bruce/Batman got a film that didn’t bomb, but ultimately weren’t happy that it was a shadow of the depth the character actually has. More than any other Batman is full of emotional intelligence. His whole thing is having no weapons but being able to go toe to toe with every other superhero because he’s thought through to everyone of their weaknesses. He often sympathizes with villains and has a more cautious approach than what’s been portrayed.
Okay, enough of that. *tosses glasse*
Damn. I kind of wanted to dislike her since she’s so thoroughly wrong for the part of Wonder Woman but she does sound like an intelligent breath of fresh air.
I just wish she wasn’t a twig hired to play an Amazon.
But hey #ThanksHollywoodCasting. One reason to love Deadpool, when they had a female mutant who was supposed to take down one of the most physically imposing heroes she was built for it. Wonder Woman has never been portrayed as small.
I agree with you.
She seems like a lovely and smart woman and she has some great things to say.
But I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her ‘I gained 17 pounds of muscle’ comment. What the hell did she look like before then? Because what I have seen from the trailer still did not come close to the shape Wonder Woman supposedly has. She seems generically Hollywood shaped. Which is to be expected I guess, but still very disappointing.
A missed opportunity to feature a woman with a different body type in a prominent role.
She was runway thin before.
Well, I did read an article lately about the particular, focused work out program that Snyder puts all of his actors through, so I understand what she’s saying.
Can’t remember if it was in the Wash. Post, NY Times or Entertainment Weekly that I read it though.
Putting on 17 lbs of muscle is pretty much impossible without the use of steroids or eating like the Rock (combined with steroids) so I’m a little curious about where that number comes from….
I think we see some emotional intelligence from Bruce Banner, and post-Thor1 Thor, comes across as more aware of others than the average superhero bear. Hawkeye’s story in Avengers 2 was entirely about how his life as a husband and father impacts how he superheroes. Certainly Vision has a great deal of emotional intelligence, which I think we’ll see more of soon. And Sam Wilson is an actual counselor, who see talking to Steve Rogers about emotions and life balance. Male superheroes with emotional intelligence are pretty common, at least in the Marvel movies (which I am most familiar with. I gave up on the X-Men movies for a while and am just now getting back into them).
The issue for me is not that there aren’t male superheroes with some emotional acuity, it’s that that is never considered a selling feature of their character. This is not the first time Gal Gadot has used this line about Wonder Woman, it’s clearly how she’s been instructed to sell the character. But Mark Ruffalo doesn’t have to talk about Bruce Banner’s inner life in order to sell the Hulk. That’s the difference that bugs me.
I agree, Algernon, and I’d add that Marvels other female Avenger, Scarlet Witch, does not have a great degree of emotional intelligence, at least in my view.
I do get the point, that female superheroes are often portrayed as more emotional than men, but I’m not sure it holds up entirely. And while I do think that Natasha has emotional intelligence, I don’t think that necessarily makes her very empathetic. She’s still a pretty cool customer who gets the job done, y’know?
Gina Carano…the actress who played Angel should have been cast as Wonder Woman. But of course she wasn’t what Hollywood wanted. I’m glad that the people who made Deadpool actually gave her chance and for the most part stuck true to all the characters. That’s why Deadpool was so good. Gal Gadot says some important things in regards to female super heroes but she’s not Wonder Woman.
Gina Carano definitely has the physique but I find but I don’t think her acting is up to par.
Isn’t her connection to Quantum of Solace interesting? Olga Kurleyekno was in that. Another Affleck connection.
If you read the full interview she says that she and Amy Adams became true friends on set and were bonded by both being mothers to young daughters. You have to wonder what Gal and Amy think in private about both Affleck and Cavill’s immature behavior with teens and nannies…..
Her pro-IDF stance really irked me during the whole Israel Palestine incident in 2014 but she seems like a nice person otherwise.
+1
I really really want to support the WW movie, even though I’m Marvel all the way, just because some things transcend character loyalty–like a female superhero movie.
But I’m just not taken with her casting. As someone else put it, she added 17 lbs of muscle and she’s STILL a twig?
No, just no.
Even though she says lots of great things, I just don’t see WW. And the BS trailers didn’t further the case at ALL.
Not going to see BS, in theatre or elsewhere, but I will add to the opening day #s of WW. May not stay for the whole thing, and no guarantees re multiple viewings, sequels, or DVD.
At first, I was skeptical of her turn as WWE but seeing the stills and clips of her in BvS made reservations realize how much strong Gal could (and most likely will be) in this role. Most male superheroes have the depth, complexity, and emotional intelligence as female superheroes – it’s more or less just not empathized on screen because of the preconceived notions of what a male hero is.