Israel’s Homegrown Wonder Woman

Film fans across the globe have been packing movie theatres to watch this summer’s blockbuster, Wonder Woman. But the people of Israel are even bigger fans of the real-life heroine portraying the DC Comics superhero – actress, model, and IDF veteran, Gal Gadot. The Associated Press’ Aron Heller tells us of the Jewish state’s love affair with the Israeli turned international superstar:

For a country that takes pride in even the smallest successes of its international celebrities, the debut of Wonder Woman has sparked an Israeli lovefest for homegrown hero Gal Gadot.

A huge billboard overlooking Tel Aviv’s main highway is tagged with a provincial “we love you” greeting, her Hebrew-accented appearances in the international media are reported upon daily and throngs of fans cheer wildly upon seeing her on the big screen.

“It’s so cool that someone from here is succeeding and is famous overseas. Everyone in the theatre was so excited,” said 20-year-old Ela Hofshi of Jerusalem, who watched the movie on opening night. “I think all the enthusiasm here is very supportive and encourages her to keep growing in the world and representing us.”

Gadot’s ascendance to stardom has entered a whole new stratosphere as she has assumed the identity of Wonder Woman in a box-office smash that raked in more than $100 million in its first weekend in theatres…

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