Back in 1972, Lynda Carter took everyone’s breath away when she was crowned Miss USA and went on to represent the country at Miss World. This title opened many doors for the stunning Lynda Carter, the most important being the role of Wonder Woman.
Carter became a global icon, admired by both men and women for her flawless beauty and incredible talent. Reflecting on her beauty queen days, Carter once said, “I didn’t get any prizes.
They smack a little banner on you, they stick a crown on your head and call you a beauty queen,” describing the experience as both “bad” and “painful” due to the “built-in cruelty” of pageants.
Before landing the legendary role of Wonder Woman, Carter struggled with her film career. She managed to get a few roles but nearly ran out of money, so she decided to take a regular job. Then, her manager called with great news: Joanna Cassidy had been turned down, and Lynda had landed the role of Diana Prince and her alter ego, Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman, one of the first female superheroes, empowered many people. Just years before the series aired, thousands of women marched down Fifth Avenue in New York demanding equality.
In one episode, Wonder Woman warned, “Any civilization that does not recognize the female is doomed to destruction. Women are the wave of the future and sisterhood is…stronger than anything.”
Carter played the role to perfection, and her influence was immense, inspiring many female writers and producers. When told that women might be jealous of her, Carter told CBS News, “Well, I said, ‘Not a chance. They won’t be, because I am not playing her that way. I want women to want to be me, or be my best friend!
There is something about the character where in your creative mind for that time in your life where you pretended to be her, or whatever the situation was, that it felt like you could fly.”
In 1978, Carter was voted ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,’ and a poster of her in a crop top became the best-selling that year, which didn’t make her particularly happy. She said, “It’s uncomfortable because I just simply took a photograph. That’s all my participation was in my poster that sold over a million copies.
My husband said, ‘Oh, try this thing tied up here, it’ll look beautiful.’ And the photographer said, ‘The back-lighting is really terrific.’ So dealing with someone having that picture up in their bedroom or living room or whatever I think would be hard for anyone to deal with.”
Besides films and series like Partners in Crime and Dukes of Hazzard, she also tried theater, landing a role in the production of Chicago.
In 2016, Carter attended the United Nations’ 75th-anniversary celebration of Wonder Woman’s first appearance, where the female superhero was declared the “Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls.”
Lynda said, “The greatest honor and responsibility of playing Wonder Woman was serving as a role model for fans around the world, particularly girls. I’ve seen first-hand how a powerful yet compassionate superhero can inspire women to believe in themselves and men to support equality.”
Lynda Carter was married twice. She met her first husband, Ron Samuels, when he asked her to discuss business in his office. They were a famous couple but eventually split over issues like whether to have children. Lynda said, “I hope he forgives me and I have forgiven him because it was painful for both people. And I wish him – honestly and truly – wish him well.”
Two years later, Carter married Robert A. Altman, a Washington D.C. attorney. They met at a Maybelline event, and Robert only agreed to attend because he heard Wonder Woman would be there.
“I know that she was a good-looking actress who modeled for Maybelline, but I couldn’t quite place her,” Robert said. Once married, Carter stepped out of the spotlight to raise their two children. They stayed together until his passing in 2021. Diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, he died at 73.
On what would have been his 75th birthday, Carter shared a heartfelt message on social media. “Today would have been your 75th birthday. To me, you cannot be gone because the love you gave so freely endures. It lives on in me, our children, and the many people whose lives you touched.
You gave so much of yourself while you were here, and today we honor your love, your life, and your legacy. If I were up on a mountain today, I would sing to you through the mountain’s canyons. Instead, I woke to the dawn, over the ocean, and sang my heart and love to you.”
Speaking of her drinking addiction, the now 71-year-old actress said, “I’ve been in recovery for 23 years. And I didn’t even start drinking till I was in my mid-20s.
I would stop drinking for two or three years, then start again and it just felt terrible. That was a long time ago and now I’m very happy,” adding that her late husband was her knight in shining armor.
Lynda Carter remains one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. She defies age and continues to be as gorgeous as ever.
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