Gal Gadot on what it means to be a woman leading the action genre in ‘Heart of Stone’

Gal Gadot plays international intelligence operative Rachel Stone in “Heart of Stone,” which is slated to go up against the big-budget action blockbusters like “James Bond.” Here, the actress talks about the process of making the movie and shares her thoughts on what it means to be a female action star.

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This interview took place prior to the SAG-AFTRA walkout.

Gal Gadot says, “I’ve never done more action in a movie than in Heart of Stone.” Given the reputation she has established for herself in the genre, that says a lot. After making her Hollywood debut in the Fast & Furious franchise as Gisele Yashar, Gal Gadot shot to fame in the DC Extended Universe as Wonder Woman.

She plays international intelligence operative Rachel Stone in the film Heart of Stone. She goes on a risky assignment while working for the covert peacekeeping organization Charter to keep its most important data-tracking weapon out of the hands of an enemy hacker. With the intention of launching a series, Heart of Stone aims to be the female-driven counterpart of high-profile action franchises such as James Bond and Mission: Impossible.Gal Gadot plays international intelligence operative Rachel Stone in “Heart of Stone,” which is slated to go up against the big-budget action blockbusters like “James Bond.” Here, the actress talks about the process of making the movie and shares her thoughts on what it means to be a female action star.

WhatsApp, Twitter, FacebookFacebook Telegram Messender

This interview took place prior to the SAG-AFTRA walkout.

Gal Gadot says, “I’ve never done more action in a movie than in Heart of Stone.” Given the reputation she has established for herself in the genre, that says a lot. After making her Hollywood debut in the Fast & Furious franchise as Gisele Yashar, Gal Gadot shot to fame in the DC Extended Universe as Wonder Woman.

She plays international intelligence operative Rachel Stone in the film Heart of Stone. She goes on a risky assignment while working for the covert peacekeeping organization Charter to keep its most important data-tracking weapon out of the hands of an enemy hacker. With the intention of launching a series, Heart of Stone aims to be the female-driven counterpart of high-profile action franchises such as James Bond and Mission: Impossible.

In Heart of Stone, Gal Gadot portrays an operative of international intelligence.Thanks to Netflix

“I love these big action movies so much: Die Hard, James Bond, Mission: Impossible, and Bourne Identity. I’ve always enjoyed seeing these films, and I’ve always wanted to be in one. I felt confident enough to start making a movie like that for myself after Wonder Woman’s popularity,” says Gadot.

The actress tells us what she loves best about action movies and what it means to her as a woman leading a historically male-dominated field while taking us through the process of making Heart of Stone.

gal gadot heart of stone

Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone.Courtesy of Netflix

What about Rachel Stone’s persona caught your attention?There are a lot of inconsistencies in Rachel. She is an amazing secret spy who loves the rush and the excitement, on the one hand. She also struggles to follow regulations, which makes her perform poorly within the system. She has an extremely strong sense of justice and is like a loose cannon. I really wanted to capture her because I adore how many colors and layers there are in her.

How did things go on the set?It was a terrific time. This video was shot in a variety of locales across the globe, including Iceland, Italy, the UK, LA, Morocco, and Portugal. We had a great sense of family while traveling together. Each of us comes from a distinct region of the globe. I’m from Israel, Alia Bhatt is from India, Matthias Schweighöfer is from Germany, Sophie Okonedo is from the UK, and Jamie Dornan is from Ireland. A diverse group of individuals from many cultures collaborated remarkably well on the set. There was a lot of laughing and it was very enjoyable.

You’ve established a reputation for yourself in the action industry. Why are you drawn to this particular genre?the action, of course, but also the excitement and suspense. I plan to keep producing films in a variety of genres, but this is the one in which I’m most at ease. I enjoy how these films provide the ideal kind of escape. I can go for two hours on an emotional roller coaster and feel as though I’ve traveled the entire world.

Sophie Okonedo as Nomad and Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone.Courtesy of Netflix

You’ve done your fair share of action sequences over the years. Has your preparation process changed? Does it get easier as you pick up tips and tricks along the way?In a way, it does get easier. Action scenes are much more familiar now. I know what I’m doing, because I’ve been through all these extreme training programmes before. But it doesn’t matter how used you get to these things. It’s always a lot of work. It’s never easy.

With action franchises often still being led by men, what does it mean to you to be a woman who’s leading the genre?I’m a mother of three girls, and it’s important for me that they’re able to see themselves on the big screen, and see how strong and how independent they can be. It’s so essential that we show that women are strong as well—and that doesn’t go against the strength that men have, it just means that women can have it too. I’m very happy to be at the forefront of it, and I hope to continue doing what I love doing so much.

gal gadot heart of stone

Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone and Jamie Dornan as Parker.Courtesy of Netflix

How do your daughters react to your films?They’re very proud, and very sweet. With the films that I’m making, most of the time, I have to shoot the movie for six to eight months. We all travel together as a family, and my daughters become part of the film. They’ll come to set, they’ll know the director, they’ll hand out sides. They are a part of everything that I do, and they feel valued for it.

Are you also a thrill seeker in real life?I think I have enough of that in my work. In my personal life, I enjoy the peacefulness and quietness of just being with family and doing normal things.

What are you most excited for viewers to see with this movie?I’m excited because I think Heart of Stone has all the right elements for a good movie. It contains the action, the twists and turns, the suspense, the characters and relationships, the drama and the humour. There are so many fun moments in the film that I hope everyone will enjoy.