The TV star struck poses calling back to her television alter ego — planting her fists firmly on her hips and crossing her arms on her chest — and turned the ceremony into a celebration of her family, friends and fans of the comic book hero.
Carter, 66, notes the new fandom sparked by 2017’s blockbuster film Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot “gave birth to my career, and now we have come full circle and we have millions of new fans.”
“It seems impossible, but I have been in the entertainment industry for more than 50 years — do the math — and I have loved it all,” she adds.
Although at the height of her success, she retreated from the limelight to raise her children, the former beauty queen, who portrayed Amazonian princess Diana Prince on ABC and CBS series from 1975 to 1979, has also established a career as a singer while racking up film and TV credits.
As appeared in a list of Carter’s achievements, she made her TV debut at age 5, then made her professional singing debut at age 14. She became Miss World America in 1972 and was a spokesperson for Maybelline cosmetics.
Friends and family who were at the event also spoke in honour of Carter. Director Patty Jenkins, who helmed 2017’s film adaptation, and CBS honcho Les Moonves, a close friend of Carter and her husband, Robert A. Altman, says: “In my youth, no one was more rebellious. In my eyes, Lynda Carter is one of the greatest rebels then and now. Because while everyone else told me that I had to choose — serious or feminine, attractive or strong — only Lynda did whatever the hell she wanted to do. And she did both in everything she did.”
Jenkins also said Carter’s portrayal of Wonder Woman made her fall in love with her. She says: “Her Wonder Woman made me believe that I could have whatever I wanted, and even more importantly, it made me unashamed to want it.”
“She wasn’t afraid to love being a woman and celebrate her femininity all while kicking a-s and saving the world,” the director added, describing Carter as a sister, hero, friend and inspiration.
