Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot defends Cleopatra casting after 'whitewashing' controversy

Critics say an Arab or African actress should play the ancient Egyptian queen.

"First of all if you want to be true to the facts then Cleopatra was Macedonian," the Wonder Woman actress told BBC Arabic's Sam Asi.

"We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn't there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra."

Wonder Woman sequel falters at international box office

Around half that tally came from China, where Wonder Woman 1984 made $18.8m (£14.2m) in its opening weekend.

That sum was less than half the amount its predecessor made in China when it opened three years ago.

The sequel's takings were inevitably affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has shut cinemas in many places.

In the UK for example, only around a quarter of cinemas were open and in a position to screen it to their customers.

The film also did not open in the US, where its distributor Warner Bros plans to release it in cinemas on 25 December.

Gal Gadot's Cleopatra film sparks 'whitewashing' claims

The role of the famed ancient Egyptian ruler is to be played by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, best known for her Hollywood depictions of Wonder Woman.

The announcement has led to a row on social media with some alleging "cultural whitewashing", where white actors portray people of colour.

Some have said the role should instead go to an Arab or African actress.

Cleopatra was descended from an Ancient Greek family of rulers - the Ptolemy dynasty. She was born in Egypt in 69BC and ruled the Nile kingdom when it was a client state of Rome.

Gal Gadot, Natalie Portman and Amy Adams in star-studded Imagine cover

Gadot enlisted fellow superheroes Natalie Portman (Thor) and Mark Ruffalo (Hulk) for the cover, with more than 20 others each singing a line of the song.

Will Ferrell, Amy Adams, Kristen Wiig, Sia and Cara Delevingne also took part.

The star said she had chosen the song for its "powerful and pure" message of unity during the coronavirus pandemic.

She had been inspired by a clip of an Italian man playing the song on his trumpet on his balcony to his neighbours who were self-isolating.

Wonder Woman Gal Gadot dress trouble for Lebanese designer

Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since 1948, and Lebanon boycotts its southern neighbour.

"I love and respect Elie Saab, but is he really happy an Israeli actress wore a dress he designed?" asked Lebanon journalist Heba Bitar on Twitter.

The picture of Gadot has since been removed from Saab's Instagram account.

The image of the Wonder Woman star in a blue sash dress by Saab and was accompanied by a description of the former Israel Defense Forces combat trainer as "flawless".

Vin Diesel named 2017's biggest box office draw

Forbes has put Diesel and The Rock top of its list of the year's top-grossing actors, largely thanks to the success of The Fate of the Furious.

Gadot is in third place after appearing in Wonder Woman and Justice League.

And Emma Watson is fourth - her version of Beauty and the Beast was the year's biggest earner at global box offices.

Johnny Depp is in the top five, one place ahead of his Murder on the Orient Express co-star Daisy Ridley, who has Star Wars: The Last Jedi counting towards her total.

The top five top-grossing actors:

Gal Gadot may quit Wonder Woman if Brett Ratner doesn't

The 32-year-old action star is taking a stance against sexual harassment - producer Ratner has been accused of multiple instances of misconduct.

Gadot is said to be refusing to let a series celebrating women's empowerment benefit a man accused of harassing women.

"She's tough, stands by her principles [and] knows the best way to hit people like Brett Ratner is in the wallet," a source told Page Six.

Gadot backs bullied Wonder Woman cosplayers

The two had become the target of a wave of online memes, body-shaming and harassment.

Both Gadot, who played the character in the recent blockbuster movie, and its director Patty Jenkins tweeted support and encouragement.

The case triggered a fresh debate about online bullying.

When Amaya Suriyapperuma and fellow cosplayer Seshani Cooray decided to dress up as Wonder Woman at the Comic Con 2017 event in Colombo, they were not expecting it to send them on a rollercoaster ride of demeaning online memes.

'Wonder Woman' women-only screenings cause uproar

The controversy began when the famous Alamo Drafthouse cinema in Austin, Texas, announced it would be hosting a screening of the new movie, which stars Gal Gadot as the superhero.