When you think about it, nothing can be more contradictory to being a Hollywood star than serving in the military. As a soldier, you are driven by the love for your country and, sooner or later, your sacrifices and devotion will be compensated with a rewarding salary and all sorts of military and veteran benefits.

Celebrities, on the other hand, are often perceived to only care about themselves, driven by their desire for more and more wealth. Nonetheless, you would be surprised to find out how many of your favorite stars served in the armed forces before becoming famous. Check out the list of these 29 celebrities who fought for their country.

Gal Gadot – IDF Combat Trainer

No wonder this Israeli actress is getting fierce roles, such as Gisele Yashar in The Fast and the Furious film series and the title character in Wonder Woman. She served in the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) for two whole years as a combat trainer!

There’s more though! Amazingly, Gadot excelled in the three-month-long boot camp, which is considered to be especially grueling. In many of her interviews, she has admitted that her military expertise is responsible for her success as an actress in action movies nowadays, as her combat instincts definitely kick in while she is acting.