7. Gal Gadot
The astronomical rise of Gal Gadot to the upper echelons of Hollywood’s A-list is undeniable. After being crowned Miss Israel in 2004, Gadot served as a combat fitness instructor for the Israel Defence Forces before turning her hand to acting. Her first major international role was as Gisele in Fast & Furious, and alongside her continued presence in the Fast Saga, Gadot has since found success in numerous other titles. Most notable is her role as Wonder Woman in the DCEU (she has so far appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984, and Justice League). She has since starred alongside Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson in the big-budget action heist caper Red Notice, with a franchise reportedly in the works.
Gadot’s huge successes have been incredibly high profile, and they have led to her being cast in numerous blockbusters. However, her talents are almost entirely action-based, with more dramatic roles seemingly beyond her capabilities. It may be partly because English isn’t her first language – one of the biggest issues with her acting is how unconvincing and wooden her dialogue often feels – but it essentially boils down to the fact that she simply can’t cut it in dramatic or emotional scenes.
Whatever the reason, it’s really not Gal Gadot’s fault. She has movie star looks, and her major roles in successful action franchises highlight her impressive physical talents, but nuanced acting seems to be largely out of her wheelhouse. She’s talented, but her acting ability hasn’t yet caught up to the opportunities she’s been afforded, and that earns her a spot on this list.