Gal Gadot: Too fast too furious?
Israeli beauty queen, model and actress set to star in fourth installment of 'Fast and Furious' series alongside star Vin Diesel
Gal Gadot is ready to set Hollywood ablaze. The 22-year old actress, star of local TV show Dolls and a leading model for fashion company Castro, landed the leading role in the fourth installment of the “Fast and Furious” movie series opposite mega-star Vin Diesel.
On Thursday a chief producer at Universal Studios in Hollywood called Yaron Lichtenstein, Chairman of the Look Modeling Agency which represents Gadot, and in perfect Hebrew asked him to wish Gadot ‘Mazal Tov’. She also informed Lichtenstein that Gadot beat out six other actresses for the coveted role.
This is a proud moment indeed for the Israeli television and film industry. Very few Israeli actors have landed a leading role in a big-budget Hollywood production. Notable exceptions are Mili Avital, who starred in the science fiction film Stargate, and Ayelet Zurer who starred in the movies Munich and Vantage Point.
“We are all very excited for Gal,” said Lichtenstein. “This is a tremendous accomplishment. Gal just finished her military service a few months ago and now she is set to take over Hollywood. Everyone who was at Gal’s audition plainly saw how impressed the crew was with her acting, and there was no doubt in my mind that she would get the part.”
Gadot, who was named Miss Israel 2004, auditioned for the latest James Bond film a few months ago. Although she did not land the role, the international casting director was impressed enough with her to recommend her to “Fast and Furious 4” producers, who contacted the Look Modeling Agency and asked that Gadot be flown in immediately for an on-camera audition. Two weeks ago Gadot was called back to audition opposite Vin Diesel.
Gadot and her representatives met with the producers of “Fast and Furious”, and the Israeli actress filmed six different scenes opposite leading man Diesel. After that it was nothing but nerve-wrecking waiting for Gadot, who finally received the welcome news that she won the part Thursday.
Filming of “Fast and Furious” will begin on March 13th, and will be held on location in Los Angeles and Mexico for over a month.
