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11 surprising things you didn't know about Gal Gadot

Lara Walsh 
May 13, 2019, 8:35 AM
gal gadot
Gal Gadot has been acting for years. 
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
  • Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress who is known for her role in 2017's "Wonder Woman."
  • The actress became Miss Israel in 2004 and she competed in Miss Universe that same year.
  • Gadot served for two years in the Israel Defense Force as a combat trainer and she's said her military background helped her land some acting roles.
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Best known for her role in 2017's "Wonder Woman," Gal Gadot has been on TV shows and in movies for years. She's also a model, a pageant winner, and a martial artist.

Gadot tends to live her life out of the spotlight and there are a lot of fascinating things you might not know about her and her past. 

Here are some things you might not have known about Gal Gadot. 

The actress got her start in modeling as a reluctant pageant contestant.

gal godot miss israel
She was crowned Miss Israel when she was 18 years old. 
MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images

Back in 2004, the then-18-year-old Gadot was crowned Miss Israel.

In a 2017 interview with W magazine, the actress said the decision to compete was a reluctant one.

"I was 18, I just graduated high school and I had some time in between going to the army," she told the publication. "My mom figured, 'Hey, why don't I send your photo, you finished school and this like a proper pageant,' whatever."

She also said she didn't actually want to win the pageant.

"I got in and I never thought I would win and then I won and then it scared me," she continued. "I was like, 'What? Miss Israel? All the responsibility of being Miss Israel?'"

 

She said she was scared she'd win when she ran for Miss Universe that same year.

miss universe 2004 gal godot
She didn't want to be Miss Universe. 
MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty

While representing Israel at the Miss Universe competition, Gadot said she rebelled to make sure she wouldn't win.

"When I went to Miss Universe, I rebelled. I was afraid I might get picked again," she said in an interview with Glamour. "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.?'"

Read More: 25 celebrities that you didn't realize competed in beauty pageants