Gal Gadot's Heart-Stopping Blood Clot Experience During Pregnancy

Gal Gadot Recalls Being ‘Scared to Death’ When Doctors Discovered Blood Clot in Her Brain While Pregnant

Gal Gadot is detailing how terrifying her major health scare was while pregnant with her fourth child.

The Wonder Woman star, 39, appeared on the March 18 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show and opened up about learning she had a blood clot in her brain during her pregnancy last year.

“I was 8 months pregnant and it was my 4th baby. This time around I had massive headaches that completely put me down,” she told host Drew Barrymore. “I was in bed and I couldn’t hear or see anything. I had a hot bottle on my head and was just like this [lays back] all day, 24 hours.

“And it just got worse and worse and worse and I saw different doctors and neurologists and they said, ‘It’s probably a nasty migraine,’” she continued.

Gadot said it was her mom who encouraged her to get an MRI.

“None of the doctors sent me to get an MRI, even if we asked for it before,” the actress said. “Always advocate for your health. Always. Listen to yourself, advocate for your heart. If anything, you just over-checked yourself, right? That’s okay. And in this case, went to get an MRI and we were rushed to the hospital. I had a major brain clot.”

Gal Gadot Reveals She Had a 'Massive Blood Clot' in Her Brain During Pregnancy: 'All I Wanted Was to Hold on and Live'

Gal Gadot Recalls Being ‘Scared to Death’ When Doctors Discovered Blood Clot in Her Brain While Pregnant

“If I had gone through a spontaneous delivery, I would not have been here,” she added. “It was all of this [touches head], 15 centimeters and 5 centimeters, 3 different ones. And it was the first time that I felt what it meant to be scared to death. And again, had I known better, they could have just put me on blood thinners and done.”

Gadot recalled being rushed to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery and gave birth to her daughter Ori “within two hours.”

The Snow White actress explained to Barrymore that she decided to open up about her health crisis because of a lack of awareness. As she approaches her 40th birthday, she realizes there’s so much about women’s health that she doesn’t know because it’s not discussed.

“Three out of 100,000 pregnant women will have a brain clot. But if you feel any symptoms just check yourself,” she stressed. “MRI is very easy and there’s no radiation or anything.”

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Gal Gadot Recalls Being ‘Scared to Death’ When Doctors Discovered Blood Clot in Her Brain While Pregnant

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Gadot initially announced the birth of her fourth child on Instagram in March 2024, though she made no mention of the harrowing medical situation at the time.

“My sweet girl, welcome,” Gadot captioned a photo of herself cradling Ori in a hospital bed at the time.

“The pregnancy was not easy and we made it through," she continued. "You have brought so much light into our lives, living up to your name, Ori, which means ‘my light’ in Hebrew. Our hearts are full of gratitude. Welcome to the house of girls.. 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️ daddy is pretty cool too 😉❤️."

Gadot, who is married to film producer Jaron Varsano, is also mom to Alma, 13, Maya, 7, and Daniella, 3.

Rachel Zegler's Tearful Speech: Love for 'Everybody' Amid Snow White Drama

Rachel Zegler Cries in Emotional Speech, Says She Loves 'Everybody' at Snow White Screening amid Controversies

Rachel Zegler is showing gratitude for her Snow White role.

Ahead of a recent early screening of the live-action Snow White remake, Zegler surprised fans when she appeared and gave an emotional speech about what playing the Disney princess has meant to her.

"This is a movie that is so close to my heart. I auditioned for this movie when I was 19 years old and I am about to turn 24," Zegler said, in video shared by Disney. "So it's a really big chunk of my life, and about five of the seven years of my career, which is crazy. I love everybody in this movie so dearly."

Zegler reflected on her journey playing the titular character, who first appeared in 1937's animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, sharing that seeing the movie come to life has been "emotional" for her.

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"Coming to the end of this road of this release feels really crazy because when you spend so much time with something, it becomes such a big part of you and a big part of your heart. Snow White has really been that way for me and to see this is really emotional for me. So I'm going to try not do that," Zegler said, her voice cracking a little.

"I love her and I am so glad to see that so many of you love her as well," Zegler continued. "Her superpower is her heart. It's nothing supernatural. It's something that all of us have. Deep within us, there is an inherit good and belief in the kindness of humanity."

"I hope that you walk away from this film understanding what the true meaning of fair is. I really hope that for the world as well. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your Snow White. It means the world to me."

Zegler's speech comes amid tensions plaguing Disney’s live-action remake ahead of its March 21 release, which has extended to both the West Side Story actress and her costar Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen.

Rachel Zegler Cries in Emotional Speech, Says She Loves 'Everybody' at Snow White Screening amid Controversies

A source told PEOPLE that Gadot and Zegler have "nothing in common" due to their age difference and “on top of that, their political views differ, adding to the tension."

Zegler and Gadot have appeared at multiple events in the past to promote their long-delayed film, including at Disney’s D23 Expo in 2022 and at the recent Academy Awards, where they presented the Best Visual Effects category together. They posed together at the film's Los Angeles premiere on Saturday, March 15.

Rachel Zegler Cries in Emotional Speech, Says She Loves 'Everybody' at Snow White Screening amid Controversies

After her casting announcement in 2021, Zegler faced racist backlash from social media users over her being of Latinx background and playing the Disney princess. (Zegler is of Colombian and Polish descent.) Zegler also made headlines when she said in interviews that the new movie would modernize Snow White and that the original was “dated.”

While speaking with Vogue Mexico, Zegler addressed negative reactions over her casting as well as past statements she's made about the original animation, saying audiences were being protective over the famous princess.

“I interpret people’s feelings about this film as their passion for her and what an honor to be a part of something that people are so passionate about,” Zegler said. “We are not always going to have the same feelings as everyone around us and all that we can do is do our best." (Zegler's interview was conducted in Spanish. Quotes were independently translated from Spanish to English by PEOPLE.)

Snow White is in theaters March 21.