Gal Gadot: From playing an Amazonian superhero in Wonder Woman to portraying a mother racing through London to save her kidnapped son, Gal Gadot is taking on a very different kind of action role in The Runner.
The psychological thriller, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, puts Gadot in the role of Maia Marten, a successful attorney whose life changes dramatically when her son is abducted. Forced to follow a series of cryptic instructions from an anonymous caller, Maia has a limited amount of time to find her child.
For Gadot, the attraction was not simply another physically demanding action role. It was the opportunity to play a woman who has no superpowers and must rely on her intelligence, determination and instincts.
Gal Gadot on leaving superhero territory behind
Gadot has spent much of her career playing characters capable of extraordinary physical feats. Her portrayal of Diana Prince, better known as Wonder Woman, established her as one of Hollywood’s most recognisable action stars.
The Runner, however, offered something very different.
Speaking about Maia, Gadot explained that the character’s vulnerability was one of the aspects that attracted her to the project. Unlike a superhero who can seemingly overcome almost any opponent, Maia is an ordinary woman placed in an extraordinary situation.
The actress said the screenplay’s twists were another major reason she wanted to make the film. Rather than feeling that the ending was predictable, Gadot found the story’s turns surprising and satisfying.
That unpredictability, combined with Maia’s ability to think her way through dangerous situations, helped convince Gadot to take the role.
The role pushed Gadot physically
Although running may not be Gadot’s favourite form of exercise, it became central to The Runner.
The actress revealed that she underwent approximately nine months of training to prepare for the physically demanding production. She worked with Olympic trainer Malachi Davis to develop the stamina and running ability required for the character.
The preparation was intense enough to leave a lasting physical toll.
“I finished the film on crutches,” Gadot said, explaining that she broke both of her feet during the production.
Despite the injuries, Gadot approached the demanding sequences with the determination she associated with Tom Cruise’s famously committed approach to action filmmaking.
The experience also required her to develop a skill that had not previously been a major part of her action repertoire: sustained running.
Why Maia Marten felt personal to Gadot
The emotional side of The Runner was equally important to Gadot.
Maia’s motivation throughout the film is deeply connected to protecting her child. Gadot, who is a mother of four daughters, said her own experiences helped her understand the character’s fears and instincts.
For the actress, motherhood brought an emotional connection to the role that went beyond the physical requirements of the film.
She described the protective instinct shared by mothers as something powerful, particularly when their children are in danger.
That emotional foundation helped Gadot approach Maia not simply as an action heroine, but as a mother confronting a situation that could overwhelm anyone.
Gadot is choosing projects more carefully
Gadot also spoke about how motherhood has changed the way she approaches her career.
With her four children at different ages and attending different schools, spending extended periods away from them has become increasingly difficult.
As a result, the actress said she now wants to be selective about the projects she accepts, focusing on stories that genuinely interest her and in which she believes.
That approach appears to have influenced her choice of The Runner, a film that combines action and suspense with a strongly personal maternal motivation.
A female-led take on the race-against-time thriller
Another aspect of the project that appealed to Gadot was its decision to place a woman at the centre of a genre traditionally dominated by male protagonists.
Films built around a race against time and the rescue of a loved one have often relied on male action heroes. The Runner instead places a mother at the heart of the story.
Gadot believes such representation matters because audiences should see women portrayed as capable, intelligent and powerful protagonists.
For her, empowerment is not only about what happens behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. It is also about the stories and characters audiences see on screen.
Working with director Kevin Macdonald
The Runner also brought Gadot together with filmmaker Kevin Macdonald, whose filmography includes intense stories built around survival, pressure and human endurance.
Gadot appreciated Macdonald’s ability to create a sense of psychological pressure throughout the story.
The film’s use of a mobile phone as a source of both communication and fear was another element she found particularly effective. A device normally associated with safety and connection becomes an instrument through which Maia is manipulated and placed under constant pressure.
That combination of technology, suspense and psychological tension gives the film a different flavour from Gadot’s more conventional action projects.
Gal Gadot moves beyond Wonder Woman
Gadot’s performance in The Runner represents another step in her effort to explore characters beyond the superhero world.
Her previous action roles have included Fast & Furious, Red Notice, Heart of Stone and the Wonder Woman franchise. Those films established her as an actor comfortable with choreography, weapons and physically demanding sequences.
Maia Marten requires a different kind of strength.
She cannot rely on superpowers, extraordinary technology or an invincible persona. Her greatest weapons are her determination, intelligence and willingness to keep moving when the situation appears impossible.
That contrast is ultimately what made the role appealing to Gadot.
The Runner is now streaming
The Runner is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
