Despite her successful Hollywood career with hit films like Fast & Furious, Wonder Woman, and Red Notice, 38-year-old actress Gal Gadot still struggles with feeling like she doesn’t quite belong in the industry. She recently opened up about her feelings of Imposter Syndrome, where despite her achievements, she often feels anxious about her performance.
In a recent interview with L’Officiel magazine while posing for glamorous photos in New York City, the Israeli star shared her insecurities. Gadot expressed how she always feels like she is just lucky to do what she loves and hopes that others will appreciate her work. She admitted, “I always feel like, ‘I hope they’re gonna like it.’ There’s never a moment when I’m like, ‘They’re gonna love this.'”
The talented actress Gal Gadot has made a name for herself in Hollywood starring in blockbuster movies like Fast & Furious, Wonder Woman, and Red Notice. Despite her success, the 38-year-old still struggles with feeling like she doesn’t quite belong in the industry, confessing that she experiences Imposter Syndrome, a feeling of anxiety despite achieving great success.
This week, the Israeli actress opened up about her insecurities during a photo shoot for L’Officiel magazine, where she also revealed that a conversation with legendary director Francis Ford Coppola helped put her at ease.
Recalling her chat with Coppola, known for The Godfather trilogy, she shared, “I remember asking him about being considered a national treasure, and he responded by saying he has his doubts and fears too. He just follows his heart and stays humble. It was a valuable lesson for me.”
Discussing her upcoming movie, Heart Of Stone, which she stars in and co-produces with her husband Jaron Versano, she emphasized the importance of telling universal stories. She expressed her desire for a female-led action film that was gritty, raw, and grounded, in contrast to the usual polished superhero movies.
Reflecting on her conversation with Coppola, she mused, “Sitting with a legend like Francis Ford Coppola, hearing about his insecurities, made me feel okay about being insecure myself.”
Humorous observation: “It’s quite amusing, really. I often find myself battling with impostor syndrome because I genuinely feel incredibly fortunate and ecstatic to be doing something I absolutely adore,” the dark-haired stunner commented.
The other side of the coin: The renowned movie star confessed, “I always have this feeling of hoping that they will enjoy it.”
Typically, as an actor, you receive the script and discuss it with the filmmaker, and that’s pretty much it. It’s quite simple in a way; you don’t have to stress about anything. However, there’s something truly invigorating and thrilling about creating something completely original.
She appreciates that her character is imperfect.
“I had already tackled and enjoyed the superhero aspect, and I wanted to portray a real person.”
“I aspired to develop a character who has learned to be self-sufficient. She can’t be an open book, and she can never fully trust anyone.”
“That was also one of the reasons I admired Tom Harper, our director, because I had watched Wild Rose with Jessie Buckley. It’s a small-scale story, but he managed to shape it in a way that focuses on the characters. For me, it was more crucial to collaborate with a director who values emotional performances and the narrative rather than just the visual spectacle.”
And she enjoys collaborating with her partner.
“Jaron and I were always on the same wavelength. He comes from a business background, and we had a wonderful opportunity when he sold his entire real estate portfolio in Tel Aviv.”
“He had to choose between continuing in real estate or working with me, and I thought, ‘Let’s work together,’ since he was the missing piece. Jaron has a business savvy mind, and who else could look after my best interests better than my life partner?
“Do you think they’ll enjoy it?” A successful actress admitted, “I never have that moment where I think, ‘They’re going to love this.'”
Coppola reassured her: A Hollywood legend played a pivotal role in calming her jitters. ‘I recall asking Francis Ford Coppola, “How does it feel to be considered a national treasure?”’ she shared with writer Hannah Jackson. She is eager for audiences to be thrilled by the film. ‘Our goal was to make it gripping and exhilarating, to keep people on the edge of their seats, rather than just another predictable story,’ Gal said. ‘It’s a challenging question for me to answer in terms of inspiration because we made a conscious effort not to draw too heavily from other sources. Although we did draw some inspiration from big, action-packed movies like Mission Impossible and the Bond series, we strived to create something original, and I hope viewers experience it that way.’ The film was shot in five different locations: Iceland, Morocco, Lisbon, London, and the Italian Alps. ‘Each location was unique. Personally, I particularly enjoyed filming in Lisbon because it was a first for me. I loved everything about it – the people, the cuisine, the culture. It was a fantastic filming experience with such positive vibes.’
He made a significant impact: Coppola is primarily recognized for his work on The Godfather trilogy. Reflecting on his process, he mentioned, “You know, I constantly have doubts. I always worry that they won’t appreciate it. I simply trust my instincts and approach it with humility.” I believe this was a valuable lesson learned.
The famous director of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola, was humbly discussing his insecurities in a conversation with her. She found it relatable and comforting, realizing that even someone as legendary as him could have doubts. In 2022, she had the opportunity to take on the role of the villain in Snow White, a significant shift from her usual roles. Portraying the Evil Queen allowed her to explore her dark, theatrical side, which was a thrilling experience for her. Immersing herself in the character was so intense that she found it challenging to disconnect from it even when off set, likening it to the experience of doing theater where everything is larger than life and more dramatic. The photo shoot was beautifully captured by Celeste Sloman, with styling by Cristina Ehrlich.