Lynda Carter Confessed What It Was Really Like Being Wonder Woman
Long before there was Gal Gadot, brunette bombshell Lynda Carter was the one kicking ass in Wonder Woman’s thigh-high boots. The former beauty queen won hearts as the eponymous heroine in the hit ’70s TV show. And over 40 years later, the actress is still known and loved for the legendary role. But how Carter, who’s now almost 70, really feels about her turn as everyone’s favorite female superhero may well surprise you.
You’d think that Wonder Woman would hold a special place in Carter’s heart; it was the show that turned her into a star, after all. As Princess Diana – the superhero’s secret alter ego from an Amazonian civilization on Paradise Island – Carter became an international sex symbol. But it wasn’t just the character’s beauty that fans fell in love with.
Carter’s Princess Diana was totally badass, too. Picture this: it’s the midst of World War II, and Diana’s female society is suddenly disturbed when an army pilot crash-lands on the idyll. She soon falls in love with this visitor and vows to return him to his “man’s world.” In this new, dangerous realm, Diana turns her hand to fighting fascists and criminals – both in her day gig as a military secretary and as the suited-and-booted Wonder Woman.
While Wonder Woman would air for just three seasons before being canceled in 1979, its legacy would live on long after. The show was popular among both genders – despite some TV executives’ reservations about the appeal of a female-led series. With the help of Carter’s endearing portrayal, though, Wonder Woman became a feminist icon and remains so to this day.
And in true Princess Diana fashion, Carter has continued to fight the bad guys. Today she’s an activist, campaigning for causes like gender equality and women’s rights. Though Wonder Woman led to a number of TV, movie and theater roles – as well as the opportunity to indulge her love of music – the actress has clearly used her voice for good. With great power comes great responsibility, after all.
