Birthday's to share this week : 24th-30th April 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Gal Gadot does on 30th April - check out my tribute to this Birthday Girl turning 31, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 24th April

• Richard Donner - Born 1930, turns 86 - Director | Producer | Actor  
• Djimon Hounsou - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer  
• Kelly Clarkson - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress | Singer
• Barbra Streisand - Born 1942, turns 74 - Actress | Producer | Director | Singer
• Shirley MacLaine - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer 

Monday 25th April

• Renee Zellweger - Born 1969, turns 47 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Talia Shire - Born 1946, turns 70 - Actress | Producer | Director  
• Hank Azaria - Born 1964, turns 52 - Actor | Producer | Singer
• Al Pacino - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer  

Tuesday 26th April

• Channing Tatum - Born 1980, turns 36 - Actor | Producer  
• Jet Li - Born 1963, turns 53 - Actor | Producer | Director | Writer  
• Kevin James - Born 1965, turns 51 - Actor | Producer | Writer
• Carol Burnett - Born 1933, turns 83 - Actress | Producer | Singer 

Wednesday 27th April

• Sally Hawkins - Born 1976, turns 40 - Actress  
• Kevin McNally - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actor | Writer  

Thursday 28th April

• Paul Guilfoyle - Born 1949, turns 67 - Actor
• Mary McDonnell - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actress  
• Bridget Moynahan - Born 1971, turns 45 - Actress
• Penelope Cruz - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actress | Producer | Writer
• Jessica Alba - Born 1981, turns 35 - Actress  

Friday 29th April

• Uma Thurman - Born 1970, turns 46 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer  
• Michelle Pfeiffer - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actress | Producer | Singer 
• Phillip Noyce - Born 1950, turns 66 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Daniel Day-Lewis - Born 1957, turns 59 - Actor  
• Jerry Seinfeld - Born 1954, turns 62 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Television Personality

Saturday 30th April

• Lars von Trier - Born 1956, turns 60 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Burt Young - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor | Writer 
• Gal Gadot - Born 1985, turns 31 - Actress 
• Kirsten Dunst - Born 1982, turns 34 - Actress
• Jane Campion - Born 1954, turns 62 - Director | Producer | Writer  

Gal Gadot was born and grew up in Rosh HaAyia in Israel to her mother, a teacher, and father, an engineer. Her name Gal, is translated to 'wave' and her surname which was Hebraized by her parents from Greenstein to Gadot, means 'shores' or 'riverbanks'. Raised in what she described as a 'very Jewish, Israeli family environment' she served for two years from age 18 in the Israeli Defence Force serving as a combat instructor. At about this same time, in 2004, Gadot won the 'Miss Israel' competition and subsequently travelled to Ecuador to take part and represent her country in the Miss Universe pageant. After this, and serving in the Army, she attended University to study law - having always intended to become s lawyer. In 2007, she appeared on the cover of the New York Post in a Maxim photo shoot 'Women of the Israeli Army'.

After her first year at University however, she was called to audition for the role in 'Quantum of Solace' - the role that would eventually go to Olga Kurylenko. Whilst unsuccessful, the Casting Director hired her for the role of Gisele Yashar in 'Fast and Furious' in 2009 - the fourth instalment of the hugely successful franchise. She followed up her debut film role in the Steve Carell and Tina Fey film Directed by Shaun Levy 'Date Night' in 2010, with the Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz actioner helmed by James Mangold 'Knight and Day' later that same year. Gadot returned to the 'Fast and Furious' franchise in 2011 and again in 2013 reprising her role as the former Mossad Agent, Gisele Yashar in 'Fast Five' and then 'Fast and Furious 6' where her character is killed off saving the life of her lover. She reappears in 'Furious 7' but in flashback archival footage only.

In the meantime, she starred in the Israeli film 'Kicking Out Shoshana' before this years 'Triple 9' with Casey Afleck, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kate Winslet as Directed by John Hillcoat.

Perhaps her breakout role however, was as 'Wonder Woman' in the recently released Zack Snyder Directed 'Batman v. Superman' in the second DC Extended Universe offering. So far this film has grossed US$835M but had divided audiences worldwide, although Gadot has been largely praised for her performance at Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. She has committed to the two upcoming 'Justice League' films due in November 2017 and in June 2019 also Directed by Snyder, and 'Wonder Woman' a stand alone origin film currently shooting, also due in mid-2017.

In the meantime 'Criminal' is due for imminent release with Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Ryan Reynolds. In post-production is 'Keeping Up With The Joneses' - a comedy caper starring Jon Hamm, Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher.

She also has a successful modelling career promoting brands such as Captain Morgan, Gucci and Jaguar. Gadot has also appeared on the cover of 'Glamour', 'Cosmopolitan', 'FHM' and 'Bride' magazine.

Gadot has twenty Acting credits to her name and has her work cut out for her already for the next three years or so at least playing the superhero type. In 2008 she married Israeli property developer Yaron Versano with whom she has a daughter Alma, born in late 2011. The family live in Tel Aviv.

Gal Gadot - beautiful, statuesque, sultry, mysterious, athletic and a star most definitely on the rise. Although only just starting out, you have already made your mark and have achieved much - Happy Birthday to you, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-