Gal Gadot is known for playing a superhero on the big screen, but the actress recently faced a real-life battle that left her “scared to death.”
During an emotional appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, March , the -year-old Snow White star opened up about a harrowing medical crisis she endured while pregnant with her fourth daughter, Ori.
What started as persistent pain quickly escalated into a life-threatening situation involving three brain clots and an emergency surgical procedure.
“I had a huge scare,” Gadot told Fallon, reflecting on the moment she realized her life was on the line. “All of a sudden, I realized what it means to be scared to death.”
The Red Notice actress, who was “very pregnant” at the time, explained that she suffered from “major headaches” for three weeks. Despite seeking help from various doctors and neurologists, her symptoms were initially dismissed as standard pregnancy migraines and fluctuating hormones.
However, Gadot’s mother sensed something was wrong and pushed for an MRI.
“We did, they found out this horrible thing and we were rushed to the hospital,” Gadot recalled. “And they got the baby out immediately. I went through a thrombectomy.”
A thrombectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove blood clots to prevent life-threatening strokes. In true “Wonder Woman” fashion, Gadot managed to find a silver lining even in the dark moments, joking of the diagnosis: “When I do something, I do it all the way.”
The actress was quick to praise the “amazing” medical team at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles for saving her life and the life of her daughter.
Fans on social media immediately rallied around the star, with many praising her for speaking out about the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare. “So glad she listened to her gut (and her mom!). This is a reminder to always push for answers,” one fan wrote on X.
On Instagram, Gadot shared a more reflective note about the experience, admitting the scare made her realize “how fragile life can be.”
“It was a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change,” she wrote. “In the midst of a difficult year, all I wanted was to hold on and live.”
The actress also revealed the beautiful meaning behind her youngest daughter’s name. Gadot and husband Jaron Varsano, , welcomed Ori in March , joining big sisters Alma, , Maya, , and Daniella, .
“Her name, meaning ‘my light,’ wasn’t chosen by chance,” Gadot shared. “Before the surgery, I told Jaron that when our daughter arrived, she would be the light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel.”
Today, Gadot describes little Ori as a “little caterpillar” who is in perfect health—a happy ending for a mom who truly proved her strength.
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