‘Wonder Woman’s’ Amazons are Extraordinary Real World Athletes
Everyone is buzzing about Gal Gadot’s awesome performance as Diana in Wonder Woman. However, it’s important to recognize that all of the Amazons of Themyscira are played by real life kickass women from around the world.
Supermodel Doutzen Kroes plays Venelia, Queen Hippolyta’s (Connie Nielsen) right hand woman. In addition to her work as a Victoria’s Secret angel, she is also an experienced horsewoman, so she jumped at the chance to become an Amazon.
Kroes, along with some of the film’s other remarkable women discussed their experience with Entertainment Weekly.
“The challenge was that I had to ride with one hand and have the sword in the other hand and kill a person at the same time,” she explains, laughing. “Which sounds horrible, but it was so fun to do!”
The Amazons ride into battle on Themyscira in a scene from Wonder Woman. Source: Collider
She was joined in battle by American crossfit champion Brooke Ence and Swedish professional fighter Madeleine Vall Beijner. They play Penthesilea and Egeria, warriors in General Antiope’s (Robin Wright) command.
They trained for months before shooting the movie, learning stunt choreography and swordplay.
“The trainers said they wanted us to look like the female version of 300,” said Beijner.
Even for accomplished women like these, it was inspiring to work on such a female driven project.
“It really is cool to see this whole training area, and there’s not one male figure in sight,” said Ence. “It’s just women wrestling other women, kickboxing, doing pull-ups and practicing with spears — just a lot of stuff that in the real world is very male-dominated.”
The Amazons defend Themyscira in a battle scene from Wonder Woman. Source: Entertainment Weekly
Once training was over and they hit the set, everything fell into place.
“The first day we were on-set with all of our swords and shields, it felt like a different type of power,” said Ence. “And we looked awesome.”
For Kroes the experience provided a bonding moment with her son that she will never forget. She discussed the day he visited the set and saw her in battle armor for the first time.
“If I could just have that face framed as a picture on my wall,” she said. “I think I melted because he has never looked at me like that ever. He was just in full admiration of his mommy as a warrior.”
Directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, Lucy Davis and David Thewlis, Wonder Woman finally hits theaters June 2.
Keep checking Geeks of Color for full geeked out coverage of the Amazon Princess’ first live action film.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
