Neal Engstrom

From Miss Israel to Wonder Woman

a Message from NEAL

Epic adventures often begin without a plan. Gal Gadot didn’t set out to become a movie star—she set out to have experiences, learn about herself, and say yes to opportunities that sounded interesting. Adventures, pursued for fun and out of curiosity, are important in our new adulthood because they can subtly nudge our entire lives in serendipitous directions. Gadot’s trajectory from an aspiring law student to one of Hollywood’s brightest stars is a brilliant example of the transformative power epic adventures can have upon us.

Her willingness to embrace opportunities—whether it was entering the Miss Israel contest for fun or honing her skills and fulfilling her service obligations in the Israel Defense Forces—demonstrates that life’s most fulfilling paths often emerge from unexpected places. Let’s explore how Gadot’s diverse experiences have shaped her remarkable journey, inspired millions, and led to her legendary role as Wonder Woman.

Wishing you fulfillment,

From Combat Training to the Big Screen

Actress and former Miss Israel, Gal Gadot was offered a part in the 2009 action movie Fast & Furious when director Justin Lin found out she had real-life experience with military weapons. Additionally, according to Marie Claire, Gadot’s stint in the Israel Defense Forces made a significant impact on her capabilities as an actor: “I did most of my own stunts—like jumping from a moving motorcycle onto a Jeep.”

Gadot’s experiences after finishing high school serve as an excellent example of how pursuing fun and self-knowledge through adventures can lead us to extraordinarily fulfilling opportunities and our life mission. Born in 1985 in Israel, Gadot finished high school in 2004 and had a few months before beginning her mandatory two-year service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On a lark, she decided to enter the Miss Israel 2004 contest.

As Gadot told People magazine: “I went for the experience and so I could tell my grandkids that grandma [participated in the Miss Israel pageant]… I never meant to win, I came for fun, and all of a sudden—it’s funny, you’re 18, you’re not taking things very seriously. The only part I enjoyed was the opening sequence with the dance.”

After her Miss Israel 2004 win, Gadot represented Israel in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant in Ecuador, and then served two years in the Israel Defense Forces. After excelling in boot camp, she served as a combat trainer, teaching soldiers gymnastics and calisthenics. Gadot also appeared in Maxim’s “Women of the Israel Defense Forces” photo shoot in 2007. This led to an audition for a role in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. Although she lost the role to Olga Kurylenko, the same casting director recommended Gadot to Universal Studios for a role in Fast & Furious.

Today Gadot is best known for portraying Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films (2016-2023). In 2025 she became the first Israeli actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “If things had gone according to my plans, I’d be a lawyer. I never dreamt of being an actress,” said Gadot. As she told Glamour: “Because of Miss Israel, I started modeling and traveling. It opened my mind to different possibilities.”

“I did most of my own stunts—like jumping from a moving motorcycle onto a Jeep.”
— Gal Gadot, via Marie Claire

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