Gal Gadot’s rise to fame has been extraordinary, starting in 2004 when she won the Miss Israel Competition at just 18 years old. Her success launched a prolific career beginning with modeling, but eventually transitioning to acting. Her enthralling beauty, immense talent, remarkable presence, and proficient acting abilities have garnered a massive fan following worldwide.
Despite Gal Gadot’s diverse film preferences, her announcement of playing Cleopatra in an upcoming movie has stirred up controversy over whitewashing. The Israeli actress, however, defends her portrayal of the Egyptian Queen and argues that Cleopatra’s character is more than just a seductress who saves her kingdom. She also reveals that this project holds a personal significance for her. Despite critics’ claims that the casting is a step back in Hollywood representation, Gadot remains firm in her decision to take on the role. Nevertheless, many historians argue that Cleopatra was of mixed ethnicity with darker skin, whereas Gadot’s Ashkenazi Jewish heritage makes her more of a white Middle Eastern woman.
Despite some controversy surrounding the casting, the upcoming film about Cleopatra will move forward with its original cast. In an exclusive interview with Vogue Hong Kong, Gal Gadot expressed her admiration for the historical figure and how she grew up hearing stories about her. She even drew a comparison between Cleopatra and her iconic superhero character, Wonder Woman. Gadot believes that Cleopatra is a powerful female leader who deserves to have her story told on the big screen. She became fascinated with the historical figure after reading various books about her and felt compelled to share her story with the world.
According to her, the Egyptian Queen was known for being a temptress who engaged in romantic relationships to form alliances for the benefit of her kingdom. However, during the production of the movie, she came to the realization that Cleopatra’s reputation as a seductive woman was based on stories and individual interpretations.
In her words, “All I ever saw in movies about Cleopatra was that she was this alluring woman who had affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. But the reality is, there is much more to her.”
In a recent statement, Gal Gadot expressed her enthusiasm for portraying Queen Cleopatra and emphasized the importance of accurately representing this historical figure. Gadot described Cleopatra as being ahead of her time and noted that ancient Egypt was incredibly advanced for its era. While she couldn’t reveal much about the upcoming film, the actress conveyed her passion for telling Cleopatra’s story, celebrating her legacy, and dispelling the notion that she was merely a seductive figure. Gadot also revealed that the movie has a beautiful script and she can’t wait to share it with audiences worldwide.
In 2020, Gal Gadot expressed in an interview with BBC Arabic that she was passionate about the role of Cleopatra and that they were originally searching for a Macedonian actress to play the part. However, as they could not find anyone suitable, Gadot decided to take on the role herself. She admires Cleopatra and wants to celebrate her legacy with people from all walks of life. Gadot acknowledges that anyone could have played the role, but she is excited to make it her own. Similarly, Scarlett Johansson received criticism for her portrayal in the 2017 film Ghost in the Shell as the role was meant for a Japanese actress. The live adaptation of the anime and manga was met with disapproval from fans and was accused of “whitewashing” due to the lead role being played by a Caucasian actress.
The movie Ghost in the Shell, despite having Asian actors like Takeshi Kitano and Chin Han in supporting roles, failed to capture its essence due to its casting of Scarlett Johansson in the lead role. When questioned about this decision, director Rupert Sanders defended it by citing Johansson’s global popularity, which he believed would attract an international audience. However, this statement was met with criticism as the film only earned $167.9 million worldwide, a disappointingly low figure given the popularity of anime and manga.