Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman Focused on Independence as Strength

Gal Gadot has the beauty and grace needed to play Wonder Woman, who she’ll debut on the big screen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and follow-up in a Wonder Woman solo film next year. But more than anything else, one attribute stood out to her as important: her independence.

“It was important for me that we show how independent she is,” Gadot told Glamour for a cover story on the Israeli actress. “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…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.”

She loves that Wonder Woman is a feminist icon, something that Gadot says has been confused in recent years.

“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,” she said.

While she brings her own past strengths, both emotional and physical (as a former fitness instructor and member of the Israeli Defense Force) to the character of Diana, princess of the Amazons, getting the role of Wonder Woman still took her by surprise.

“My jaw dropped. I tried to sound nonchalant, like, ‘Oh yeah. Wonder Woman, sure,’” the actress said.

Wonder Woman debuts in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on March 25, 2016.