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Was Cleopatra Really Egyptian? A Look at History and the Gal Gadot Controversy
It’s not as straightforward as it seems
There is no doubt that Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, is one of the most famous rulers of all time; when you are one of the historical figures that Shakespeare chose to write a play about, you’re a big deal. Multiple films have been made about her as well, and a new film is what caused me to delve into one of the biggest myths about this legendary woman.
Cleopatra has been back in the news recently because of an upcoming film about her that reunites the Wonder Woman team of Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins, and not without some controversy. Gadot will be playing Cleopatra, reprising a role previously played by Vivian Leigh and (most famously) Elizabeth Taylor. The controversy (which like many things these days involves history, geopolitics, and artistic license) surrounds outrage in some quarters over the fact that Gadot, who is Israeli, is playing the role rather than an Egyptian actress. That outrage brings us to the myth I want to discuss.
For 2,000 years Cleopatra has been identified as an Egyptian, but was she? She was, and she wasn’t; it really depends on how you choose to define ethnicity and nationality. Here’s a personal example. My grandmother was born in Massachusetts, making her an…
