Actress Gal Gadot wins 2026 Genesis Prize
Gadot said in a statement that she was humbled to receive the prize.
(TIMES OF ISRAEL) Actress Gal Gadot will be awarded the 2026 Genesis Prize, the annual $US1 million award that honours Jewish contributions to humanity, the foundation announced on Tuesday.
The Genesis Prize Foundation calls the actress, famous for portraying Wonder Woman, “a hero on screen and an even greater hero in real life”.
Gadot said in a statement that she was humbled to receive the prize.
Like other past Genesis laureates, Gadot will donate her prize, giving it to organisations that will help Israelis heal, rebuild and recover after the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023.
“I am a proud Jew and a proud Israeli,” said Gadot. “I love my country and dedicate this award to the organisations that will help Israel heal and to those incredible people who serve on the front lines of compassion. Israel has endured unimaginable pain. Now we must begin to heal – to rebuild hearts, families and communities.”
Since October 7, Gadot has used her social media platform to speak out about the global silence surrounding sexual violence against women on that day and about the terror group’s atrocities.
She also posted regularly about the hostages taken captive on that day and hosted screenings of footage about Hamas atrocities carried out on October 7.
Gadot has said that in the past she generally avoided speaking about political issues but that changed after the massacre.
The actress has also been the subject of death threats and pro-Palestinian protests during the last two years, including during the March 2025 ceremony for her Hollywood star.
In August 2024, anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists called for a boycott of the live-action Snow White film with Gadot cast as the evil queen.
When Gadot’s Snow White co-star Rachel Zegler tweeted “free palestine” after sharing the trailer for her latest movie, Gadot then received death threats, leading Disney to hire additional security for her.
Dubbed the “Jewish Nobel” by Time magazine, previous Genesis laureates include Argentina’s President Javier Milei in 2025, as well as the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, human rights advocate and former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky; chairman and CEO of Pfizer Albert Bourla; singer, actor and activist Barbra Streisand; owner of New England Patriots Robert Kraft; and filmmaker Steven Spielberg, among others.
The date for the 2026 Genesis Prize ceremony has not yet been announced.
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