Gal Gadot has opened up for the first time about the frightening health scare she faced while pregnant with her fourth child.
The 39-year-old actress revealed she suffered a rare blood clot in her brain, known as cerebral venous thrombosis, which accounts for only 3% of strokes worldwide.
While expecting her daughter Ori with husband Jaron Varsano last February, Gadot experienced severe headaches.
After further medical evaluation, doctors diagnosed the life-threatening condition.
In December, the Wonder Woman star briefly shared her ordeal on Instagram, but she delved deeper into the experience during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday.
Promoting her upcoming Snow White film, set for release on March 21, Gadot credited her mother for urging her to seek medical attention—advice that ultimately saved her life.
Gadot shared: “I had a huge scare. All of the sudden, I realised what it means to be scared to death.”
She added that she was speaking about her terrifying health scare in hopes of encouraging others to listen to their bodies and seek medical attention when needed.
The Hollywood star went on to detail just how serious the condition was, explaining, "I had a brain clot, and it was a huge one. Like three. I had three. When I do something, I do it all the way.”
The ordeal began when Gadot experienced persistent, intense headaches that lasted for three weeks.
Despite consulting multiple doctors and neurologists, she struggled to get answers.
“I had major headaches for three weeks and had seen doctors and different neurologists. You've got to advocate for your health,” she emphasised.
Gadot urged others to pay attention to their bodies, stating, “Our bodies are always communicating with us. We just need to listen and get checked.
“If anything, you're going to check, you're going to overcheck yourself, but it's better to overcheck than to not check.”
Initially, doctors dismissed her symptoms as migraines related to hormonal changes from pregnancy. But as the pain persisted, her mother stepped in with a firm warning.
“Then, three weeks later, like after having those crazy headaches, my mom is like, 'You need to check it now. Like, just go and get an MRI,'” Gadot recalled.
That decision ultimately led to the diagnosis that saved her life.
After getting an MRI, she shared: “They found out this horrible thing and we were rushed to the hospital, and they got the baby out immediately.
“I went through a a thrombectomy. I had the most amazing team. They cared for me in Cedars-Sinai.
“They saved my life. Mara and Dr. Song, and Michael Alexander. Thank you so much for saving my life.”
The actress is also mother to daughters Alma, 13, Maya, eight, and 3-year-old Daniella.
