Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman, Justice League) made a rare East Coast appearance this weekend at Rhode Island Comic Con in Providence, RI. Fans young and old lined up through the length of the RI Convention Center to get a glimpse of the star, who had a short but power-packed panel in Ballroom A. Ms. Gadot shared stories of her recent visit to the U.N., where Wonder Woman became an ambassador this year, albeit to some controversy. She gushed over meeting Lynda Carter, the star of the original 1970s Wonder Woman television show. “I saw Lynda, so I couldn’t keep my coolness…I was like, ‘Lynda, oh my God, I’m so happy to see you, to meet you, finally’…my English got completely broken for a second there…I’m not surprised, you know, it’s very clear to me why she was the very first Wonder Woman to be cast, because she is such an inspiring, beautiful, happy, funny, strong confident woman who immediately makes you, you know she makes you feel comfortable around her, and she’s eye level, she’s great.”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer star and unabashed geek girl moderator Claire Kramer had informed the audience that there would be no question and answer session due to the nature of Ms. Gadot’s packed schedule, but assured fans that they would know everything they could want to know—and more—by the panel. Fans got a surprise when Cyborg actor Ray Fisher (Justice League) made an unannounced appearance onstage with Gadot.
Kramer asked Fisher about his knowledge of Vic Stone before he was cast. Fisher seemed to put on his fan hat for a moment, reminiscing about the 90s Teen Titans cartoons. “I was like, man, this is a show that speaks to me, because you know there were all these characters who were going through these very real teen issues but also trying to save the world. So the extent of my knowledge was just about that. Once I was cast, you know they send you a whole library of stuff about the character, so I ended up being able to fall in love with the comic book version, which a lot of people know, it can be very different than that interpretation. So I feel like I know him like the back of my hand, but I feel like there’s always someone who knows a little bit more than me about these things.”
Just as Gadot and Fisher were settling in, a young female voice rang out on the microphone, saying she had a question. The guests appeared confused and asked how someone had gotten a microphone, until they turned and saw Millie Bobbie Brown (Stranger Things) in the audience. The young star asked Gadot what her favorite television show was—stipulating that it could not be her own Brown’s own show. Gadot asked, “Do The Simpsons count?” At Brown’s nod, Gadot answered definitively, “Then The Simpsons.” Brown left directly after the question was answered, but not before she endeared fans and stars alike in Ballroom A.
Kramer asked Gadot about her reaction to being chosen to be Wonder Woman, and the star’s response was everything a fangirl could hope for: “First.. It’s about time. And I’m very, very grateful to be the one who got this amazing opportunity to portray this bigger than life character. We’ve been working hard, and non-stop in order to make the best movie we can. It’s been such an amazing ride, I can’t share much unfortunately, but I can only say this is one of the most special projects I’ve ever worked on, and I can’t wait to share it with you!”
Kramer asked Gadot about the training, and the actress said she was so happy to be done with it because she is pregnant with her second child. She went on to explain that after shooting Wonder Woman she flew a day later to shoot Justice League. When she got pregnant she got migraine headaches, and was shooting green screen, which caused her to vomit. She began to wear sunglasses to the set, which some of her male co-stars teased her about, asking if she had “gone Hollywood.” Fisher clarified, “To be fair, we didn’t know she was pregnant!”
Gadot clearly displayed a sense of “wonder” for the magnitude of playing this iconic character, who turned 75 this year. When asked about how she felt now that the shooting schedule was behind her, her response was endearing, as she lay back in her chair and flashed a bright smile and a sigh of relief.
Kramer turned the attention to Fisher for a moment, asking him how he would describe Victor Stone—reminding the audience that we don’t know too much about Victor Stone yet. “I would describe Victor Stone, I think his greatest trait is his resilience. The guy has gone through a lot in terms of his physical and mental state. Imagine waking up one day and finding out most of your body is metal. I think, he represents…the ability to take the negative situations in your life and turn them into something positive to help other people. I feel like he epitomizes that.”
Kramer asked Gadot what it was like filming “Keeping Up With The Joneses,” a comedy she shot directly after Batman vs. Superman. Gadot’s short answer: “Fun!” She went on to say that she liked being goofy, and that she, unlike her Wonder Woman/Diana alter ego, is goofy and a klutz. She enjoyed the cast and Greg Mottola, and she was “in.”
Wonder Woman debuts in theatres on June 2, 2017.
photo credit- Sandy Roffey / Warner Bros.
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