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Israeli actress Gal Gadot has shared new details about the terrifying health scare that led her to undergo emergency brain surgery while she was eight months pregnant with her daughter, Ori.
Speaking on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Monday, Gadot recalled the ordeal, which she described as a “huge scare” that made her realize what it meant to be “scared to death.”
The “Wonder Woman” star revealed that she had been experiencing excruciating headaches for three weeks, which were initially dismissed by doctors as hormonal changes or migraines. However, her mother insisted she undergo an MRI scan, a decision that ultimately saved her life.
“We did [the MRI], and they found out this horrible thing, and we were rushed to the hospital,” Gadot told Fallon. “They got the baby out immediately, and I went through a thrombectomy.”
Gadot explained that she had developed three brain clots, requiring urgent surgical intervention. The actress credited the medical team at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles for saving her life, expressing her gratitude by blowing kisses and saying, “Thank you so much for saving my life.”
The actress, who first disclosed the health scare in December, emphasized the importance of self-advocacy when it comes to health concerns.
“You’ve got to advocate for your health,” she said. “It’s better to over-check than not to check… just love yourself, check yourself, and be on top of your health.”
Gadot’s daughter Ori, now one year old, is the fourth child she shares with her husband, Israeli businessman Jaron Varsano. She reassured Fallon and viewers that her daughter is healthy and thriving.
“She’s a little caterpillar,” Gadot joked, mimicking the child’s voracious appetite.
Gadot appeared on Fallon’s show to promote her upcoming film, “Snow White,” in which she portrays the Evil Witch. The role marked a significant departure from her previous heroic characters, including her iconic role as Wonder Woman.
“It was refreshing to play an evil character,” she admitted, adding that her two elder daughters were excited about her involvement in a movie based on the classic fairy tale.
However, her eight-year-old daughter, Mia, was less thrilled upon learning her mother would be playing the villain. In contrast, her 13-year-old daughter, Alma, responded enthusiastically, exclaiming, “Ooh, Imma!”—using the Hebrew word for “mother.”
Beyond her acting career, Gadot has been increasingly vocal about her Jewish and Israeli identity. Speaking last week at an Anti-Defamation League conference, she acknowledged that she had previously avoided political discussions but felt compelled to speak out following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
“We need to confront the hatred against us, even if it’s extremely uncomfortable,” she urged, addressing rising antisemitism worldwide.
Gadot and her husband recently attended the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, marking one of her first major public appearances since revealing her health scare. Despite the challenges of the past year, the actress continues to balance her career, activism, and family life with resilience and determination.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members