Wonder Woman joins Hollywood's most elite club

Written by . Published: June 28 2017

Wonder Woman Gal Gadot has become a real Hollywood power player after signing up to join the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences (AMPAS).


The Israeli actress is part of the biggest group ever to join Tinseltown's most exclusive club - the organization behind the Oscars, taking membership up to past 8,000.

In total, 774 new recruits make up the class of 2017, with stars also including acting couple Anna Faris and Chris Pratt, Kristen Stewart, Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan, Italian actress Monica Bellucci, Australians Margot Robbie, Joel Edgerton, and Chris Hemsworth, Baywatch co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Priyanka Chopra, Star Wars actors Warwick Davis and Adam Driver, and Harry Potter stars Rupert Grint and Tom Felton.

The youngest new recruit is 19-year-old actress Elle Fanning, while the oldest is TV favorite Betty White, who is 95.

Women make up 39 per cent of the group and 30 per cent are people of color - a statistic that is sure to impress Academy critics, who have accused Oscars voters of not being diverse enough in recent years.

The organization's officials were ripped in 2016 when no actors of color were nominated for the main four awards.

In total, 57 countries are represented among the new Academy members.

Directors Guy Ritchie, Jordan Peele, Tom Ford, David Ayer, Derek Cianfrance, Garth Davis, Barry Jenkins and Anthony and Joseph Russo have been added, while musicians Justin Timberlake, who opened this year's (17) Oscars ceremony by performing his Trolls hit Can't Stop the Feeling, Angelo Badalamenti, Nick Cave, Lin-Manuel Miranda are also new Academy members, alongside the team behind the La La Land score, Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul.