Who was Gal Gadot’s parents? Actress highlights Israel roots while receiving Hollywood walk of fame

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot recently achieved a major milestone in her career, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. While accepting this honor, she took the opportunity to reflect on her journey, her family, and her long-standing connection to Israel.

Gadot, who was born and raised in Rosh HaAyin, Israel, credits a great deal of her success to her upbringing and the values her parents, Irit and Michael Gadot, instilled in her.

Her mother, Irit, was a physical education teacher while her father, Michael, was an engineer. Gal Gadot's mother supposedly encouraged her to have an active lifestyle, which would later help her land roles in action films. In an interview with ESPN, Gadot stated:

"There was no TV time. There was, ‘take the ball and go outside and play with the neighbors.’ She always instructed us to be physical, and I think that’s why I am still so connected to my body."

She has one younger sister, Dana Gadot, who is currently studying psychology. Her grandfather, Abraham Weiss, was a Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia who lost his entire family in Auschwitz. Gal Gadot has talked about his strength and the values he transferred to her.

More about Gal Gadot's early career and her voicing for humanitarian issues

Gal Gadot’s career trajectory changed course with an unexpected incident when she was spotted for a James Bond audition while studying law.

According to Variety, though she didn’t get the role in Quantum of Solace, the experience sparked her desire to pursue acting. It was her casting as Gisele Yashar in Fast & Furious that opened the doors for her to play the iconic role of Wonder Woman.

During her Hollywood Walk of Fame star acceptance speech, Gal Gadot reflected on her deep ties to Israel and her roots. She described herself as an eighth-generation Israeli. While Gadot is better known for her work in film, she has also used her platform to be outspoken about humanitarian issues.

Following the attacks of October 7, 2023, in Israel, she was vocal in her advocacy for the hostages that were captured in the course of this conflict. Addressing the issue, she said,

"But on October 7th, when people were abducted from their homes, from their beds, men, women, children, elderly, Holocaust survivors, were going through the horrors of what happened that day, I could not be silent."

She has also faced the challenge of being an Israeli public figure, especially in times of conflict. Yet her convictions remain strong, and she claims to be guided by a clear sense of moral compass. She said,

"when your compass is clear, your conscience is clean. I know what I’m advocating for, and I know what I wish for the world."