Athlete Brooke Ence on being in Wonder Woman:  ‘It’s super empowering’

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If you read my Twitter at all, you know that I was pretty excited about the Wonder Woman film – to the extent of exclamation point abuse. I saw it on Friday and enjoyed the hell out of it. I could list issues I had with the film but overall I am thrilled with it and will watch it again. One of my favorite parts about the film was the portrayal of the citizens of Themyscira, especially the warriors. CrossFit pro Brooke Ence was hand-picked by Zack Snyder to portray an Amazon and she was eventually cast as Penthiselea. The cool thing is Brooke always wanted to do theater and trained for years in dance but her muscular frame cost her roles. Now, years after forging a career with her strong physique, her childhood wish is coming true and she’s got not one but two superhero films under her belt.

Brooke Ence was preparing for the 2015 Reebok CrossFit Games when she got a call asking if she wanted to portray an Amazon warrior in the upcoming Justice League film.

“[Director] Zack Snyder had come across a picture of me online and asked Warner Bros. to reach out,” Ence, 27, tells PEOPLE. “It took me a little while to accept [the role] because I wasn’t sure it was going to be worth disrupting my career. I was training for the World Finals of the CrossFit Games, but I ended up accepting it. It was a natural thing for me to do Wonder Woman as well after doing Justice League.”

Ence is best known as a competitive CrossFit athlete, but she actually has a background in musical theater and grew up singing and dancing.

“I always thought I would be on Broadway,” she said, but felt she ended up taking a different path because of her physique. “My whole life I’ve been a very muscular girl. I knew all of the dance companies I could never dance for because of the way that I looked.”

Which is why she knew she wanted to be a part of Wonder Woman, portraying the Amazon warrior Penthiselea.

“It couldn’t have been more perfect to be a part of a film where being a powerful, strong woman is not frowned upon,” she says. “It’s super empowering to all ages and sexes. It could not have been a better role for me.”

Ence says getting to work alongside Gal Gadot and the other strong women in the film was “a fantastic experience.”

“The best thing is knowing that I was part of something that will mean a lot and will send a very positive message for boys and girls and men and women for years to come,” says Ence. “I got to play a role that means so much to me as a woman, and as a strong woman. It [shows that] strong is beautiful, strong is powerful, but it’s not just strong in the physical sense — it’s strong in your attitude, it’s strong in your mental game, in your compassion. That’s what I think is portrayed really well by Gal in this movie.”

[From People]

So I kind of love this whole story. I love that she always wanted to be on Broadway and I love that after being unfairly alienated due to her frame, she ends up living out her fantasy solely because of her frame. It’s a nice bit of symmetry. Brooke said the fight sequences were a mixed bag for her. She grew up riding horses and is a trained dancer so the choreography was no problem. But she was not trained in fighting or weapons so that she had to learn and, she said, those swords are heavy. If you scroll through Brooke’s Instagram, you’ll see she’s dedicated to prompting positive role models for young women. I can see how doing a film like this would be quite empowering and a reinforcement of everything she works for. I know director Patty Jenkins was floored by all the girls dressing up as WW to see the film, I imagine Brooke shares her emotions. Huge dollar signs are marvelous for a career but I think when it comes to Wonder Woman, the cast and crew got an emotional affirmation that will never leave them. And from what Brooke said, it sounds like that feeling started on set.

I am curious about this Justice League development. The article said she decided to do Wonder Woman after Justice League so who is she in JL? Is she Penthiselea? Are the Amazons coming back (I say, crossing my fingers)? Or was she hired for another role and Zack asked that she be cast in WW? Nah, the Amazons are back. That’s my hope and I’m sticking to it. Seriously, I loved the fight scenes in WW. All of them – every one. Women rock.

⚔️ my tribe #itmakesence #amazons #wonderwoman

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Photo credit: WENN Photos and Instagram

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20 Responses to “Athlete Brooke Ence on being in Wonder Woman:  ‘It’s super empowering’”

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  1. Lolo86lf says:

    I saw WW on opening night as well and it was wonderful (pun intended). Brooke Ence is really beautiful. What a pair of killer legs she’s got! I would wear miniskirts all the time if I had her legs. I wish her luck on her career. By the way, I heard that Fox News were complaining that WW did not take place in America but in Europe, and that her outfit did not look like the star-spangled banner. At Fox News they believe the universe should spin around the US.

  2. V4Real says:

    I had no issues with the film except I wanted more. I loved the diverse cast of The Amazons. Did anyone see Florence Kasumba as Senator Acantha? She’s one of my girl crushes and I can’t wait to see her in Black Panther. “Move or be moved” one of the best lines she uttered in Captain America Civil War.

  3. detritus says:

    Yaaaaaaas. These ladies are badass, Brooke is badass. Even lil sweetie in her tshirt is badass. Seeing it this weekend and am getting more and more excited.

  4. Shambles says:

    I saw WW last night, and it gave me actual life. So many strong, badass, real-looking women. So much perfection from Gal Gadot. That woman is STUNNING, and her portrayal of WW was SO badass and so hot without being overly-sexualized at all.

    I was bothered by some of the gas stuff, only because I’m really sensitive to things that remind me of the holocaust. But still, a truly amazing film.

    “I am the men who can.” I’m misquoting, but it’s just because my mind is blown.

  5. Rapunzel says:

    The amazons will definitely be back in JL. They have one of the motherboxes (the thing that created Cyborg in Batman v Superman). The Atlanteans (Aquaman’s people) have another, and the humans do too (hence Cyborg). The JL plot is supposed to revolve around these boxes.

    • MissAmanda says:

      Agreed, IMDB lists a few actresses that played amazons as being in JL, so that’ll be fun!

      I’m not ‘upset’ but confused as to why they got all these boxers, trainers, stunt women as Amazons then threw Doutzen in there…is she athletic and I just didn’t realize? IDK.

      • Vizia says:

        Her parents were both competitive skaters and she grew up skating, certainly. She certainly looks to have a strong body, less gaunt than some other VS girls.

  6. laur says:

    Ugh, not a Crossfit fan esp after seeing the documentaries on the steroid use rife in the Games…

    • D says:

      Same, I also don’t understand how crossfit can be called a sport, so you’re the best at working out? And don’t get me started on the stupid kipping pull ups…Nothing against Brooke Ence though, I just don’t like crossfit.

  7. the_blonde_one says:

    I am almost never envious or inspired by photos of celebrity women (not in a snarky way, it’s just not my nature) but DAMN I got hit with both feelings looking at her legs. I love that strength is beginning to become part of the ‘beauty’ ideal.

  8. Amy Tennant says:

    OK, in the header picture, she looks SO MUCH like someone– someone else famous. Who is it? That smile? So cute!

    And yes, she is awesome– all the Amazons were!

    • senna says:

      I think she looks like Kirsten Dunst!

      Her quads are to die for! Damn, she’s ripped.

  9. TQB says:

    What an awesome story. She’s so inspiring and intelligent. I hope that we get more women kicking ass films. They can’t say there isn’t a market for them!

  10. Harla Jodet says:

    I saw WW this past weekend and came away feeling like I really need to get back to the gym!! Lol! Seriously though I loved seeing physically strong women and those same women standing up for others even when the men look the other way.

  11. Miss M says:

    The Amazons were fantastic. She has killing legs.

  12. PamelaJudy says:

    I just saw WW yesterday. Did anyone else get teary in the No Man’s Land bit or was that just me? it was unexpectedly emotional. Great movie!!

    • DesertReal says:

      I got a little misty too- didn’t see that one coming. Usually my dude is good about grabbing some extra napkins for the flicks they might be needed, but alas, there were no napkins to be had lol