The accomplished Lynda Carter is perhaps best known for her unforgettable role as Wonder Woman. You may be surprised to discover that the actress is not only a gorgeous model but also a singer/songwriter. Furthermore, she holds the title as Miss World USA 1972! With such an impressive legacy, it is no wonder Lynda was voted "Most Talented" in college. Get ready to see some of the most breathtaking vintage photos of this gifted beauty.
She Landed The Role Of Wonder Woman in 1975
When many people think of Lynda Carter, this is the sort of image that comes to mind. Doting her Wonder Woman outfit, Lynda holds open her cape to reveal its America flag-like design.
The starlet was reportedly running out of savings when she landed the breakthrough role in 1975. Prior to, she had only appeared on an episode of Nakia as the character Helen Chase. Despite her limited experience, it was clear that Lynda was the perfect fit for the part.
She Pursued Music First
Before Lynda pursued acting, she was a singer in multiple bands growing up. The first was called Just Us, and consisted of merely Lynda and a female friend. She then formed a band named The Relatives with two of her cousins.
After dropping out of college, Lynda toured as a singer with The Garfin Gathering. She dropped out of the band in 1972 and returned to Arizona. It was there that Lynda discovered success in pageantry.
She Was Miss World USA
This image shows Lynda smiling in a casual but stylish outfit on her way to the Miss World pageant. After bidding adieu to music touring and returning to her home state of Arizona, Lynda entered the world of pageantry.
She won an Arizona beauty contest and became the state's representative for Miss USA and the age of 21. Lynda then represented the United States in the 1972 Miss World pageant, where she finished in the Top 15.
A Natural Model
After her success in pageantry, Lynda was able to get representation to pursue her acting career in Los Angeles. She was relying on savings from her days on tour to stay afloat but was not having much luck landing roles.
Lynda was getting ready to return to Arizona when her manager informed her that she had landed the role that would change her life: Wonder Woman. She even beat actress Joanna Cassidy for the part!
She Looked The Part
Lynda admitted years later that a large part of why she got the role of Wonder Woman was because she looked the part. Producers even warned her to brace herself for all the women that were going to be jealous of her.
The starlet classily responded, "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!" Indeed, there is something approachable and friendly about the way Lynda carries herself.
Forever Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman aired from 1975 until 1979, but the role has followed Lynda ever since. In 1985, Lynda was named one of DC Comics' Fifty Who Made DC Great. Additionally, DC Direct made a 13-inch statue of Lynda as Wonder Woman in 2007.
Regarding her timeless role, Lynda stated, "I knew very early on that this character is much more than me certainly, and to try to divorce myself from the experiences that other people have of the character is silly."
A Unique Heritage
Given her striking good looks, you may be wondering what ethnicity Lynda is. Given her fair skin, it may come as a surprise to hear that the heroine is of Mexican descent.
Lynda's father is English, Scottish, and Irish, while her mother is Mexican, Spanish, and French. The model's unique heritage helps to explain her distinctive good looks. Lynda's face is one you can easily recognize since it stands out among other attractive stars and heroes.
A Famous Maybelline Model
Between her effortless good looks and natural talent, it's no surprise that Lynda Carter became a successful model. After reaching worldwide fame for her role as Wonder Woman, Lynda was signed to Maybelline.
The contract began in 1977, in the middle of her time portraying Wonder Woman on the series. With her impeccable complexion, Lynda became the face of the cosmetics line. The same year, she also released a Wonder Woman promotional poster that sold over a million copies.
The Most Beautiful Woman In The World
From the start of her career, Lynda Carter has been recognized for her impeccable beauty. Perhaps one of the highest recognitions she received regarding her appearance was from the International Academy of Beauty and the British Press Organization.
They voted that Lynda was "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World" in 1977. Two years later, the actress appeared in a Diet 7Up commercial and landed a part in Apocalypse Now. Due to scheduling conflicts, her film role was ultimately handed off to Colleen Camp.
Continuing Her Singer/Songwriter Career
While still starring as Wonder Woman, Lynda continued to pursue her music career, this time as a solo artist. She landed a record deal with Epic and released her first album, Portrait, in 1978.
Though Lynda's talent as a vocalist was apparent on the album, the songs didn't stand out enough to garner mainstream attention. She co-wrote three of the songs on the collection and also did two covers of songs by Billy Joel and Doris Troy.
She Sang Two Tracks On Wonder Woman
Though Lynda's premiere album didn't go far, her vocal talent wasn't lost on the producers of Wonder Woman. In the 1979 episode "Amazon Hot Wax," Lynda sang two of the featured songs.
Throughout the early '80s, the leading lady created multiple musical TV specials, including Encore!, Celebration, and Street Life. Lynda didn't release her second album until 2009. It's named At Last and features jazz rather than the pop genre of her first solo release.
Remaining In The Limelight
Lynda won over America's hearts all the more when she guest-starred on The Muppet Show in 1980. This wasn't the first time the heroine had appeared on a popular television show. In 1976, Lynda played the character Vicky on an episode of Starsky & Hutch.
The superhero spent the next few years appearing in television movies, and she even scored the title role in a biographical film about Rita Hayworth. The movie highlighted real events in the actress' life during the '30s and '40s.
She Starred In Partners In Crime
Lynda's next major television series role came in 1984 when she landed the part of Loni Anderson in Partners In Crime. Though the show only lasted one season, it brought Lynda all the more exposure and a chance to ease away from her Wonder Woman image.
The crime drama series also showed a more serious side to Lynda's acting ability, enabling her to appeal to more adult audiences. The role may also have been a prerequisite for Lynda's 1993 part as the narrator of Sandra Brown's audiobook Where There's Smoke.
Deceiving Looks
Even in her everyday life, Lynda has a grace about her that you don't come by every day. Her glamorous looks made her role in Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All that much more sinister.
The 1989 CBS television film also stars Jim Carrey before he had risen to stardom. In 1994, Lynda landed a starring role in the adventure series Hawkeye. Like her last major show, it only lasted one season, but consisted of 22 episodes.
Breaking Into Comedy
After all of her serious roles, Lynda turned a new leaf with the new millennium. In 2000, she had a cameo in Super Troopers, appearing as Governor Jessman. A few years later, she starred in the comedy/ horror film The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park.
Lynda appeared in two blockbuster hits in 2005: Disney's Sky High and The Dukes of Hazzard film based on a series of the same name. In the former, she returned to her superhero ways as the role of Principle Powers.
She Appeared On Hit TV Shows
Lynda's continued fame scored her cameo appearances in various hit television shows throughout the 2000s. In 2005, Lynda played the part of Lorraine Dillion in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
She also played Moira Sullivan in an episode of Smallville and was herself in an appearance on Two and a Half Men. Lynda was even a guest judge on Skin Wars, a reality competition show wherein body painters go head-to-head for the chance to win $10,000.
Returning To DC Comics
In 2016, Lynda returned to the DC Comics universe, but this time she wasn't Wonder Woman. Rather, she had the recurring role of US President Olivia Marsdin on the show Supergirl.
Though Lynda's recurring role only lasted for five episodes, she was still a memorable part of the show. After all, her character was another powerful female reminiscent of Wonder Woman. With all the popularity Lynda garnered in the '70s, it's no wonder producers wanted to include her in another DC Comic.
Video Game Characters
Beginning in 2002, Lynda expanded her performance portfolio by doing video game voiceovers. Her husband, Robert Altman, is the CEO of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of game developer Bethesda Softworks.
Lynda's connections, combined with her impressive acting background, made her a shoo-in for multiple female roles in The Elder Scrolls video games. She also voiced the part of Magnolia in Fallout 4 and Phoenix in Rage 2, both of which are video games.
More Studio Albums And Theatre
Lynda didn't just utilize her talent on the big screen; she also made it big in theatre! In 2005, she landed the role of Mama Morton in West End London's production of Chicago. Two years later, the talented star put on a one-woman cabaret show that she took all around the US.
After Lynda's 2009 jazz album hit Billboard's Top 10, Lynda kept the momentum going with a third studio album, Crazy Little Things. She also released Red Rock N' Blues in 2018.
Honors And Awards
Throughout her successful career, Lynda Carter has received more than just the adoration of fans. In 2014, she was honored with a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs. Two years later, the Gracie Awards granted Lynda their Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2018, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce created Lynda's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Patty Jenkins, the director of the 2017 feature film Wonder Woman, was among the guest speakers at the ceremony.
A Radiant Stage Presence
Being that Lynda began performing in front of audiences at a young age, it's no wonder she has such a fantastic stage presence. When she was just five-years-old, she even made an appearance on Lew King's Talent Show.
Lynda's bright eyes and huge smile radiate so that even the people sitting in the back can feel her joyful energy. Though her early days on tour came long before the height of her success, today she's reached the level of fame she once only dreamed of.
The Original Social Media Model
This spontaneous photo of Lynda makes it clear that if she were 21 today, she would be a social media star. Her casual elegance and grace makes her a wonderful model, even before she signed with major companies like Maybelline.
In a word, Lynda is and has always been extremely photogenic, not just because of her looks but also due to her subtle confidence. We can tell why the casting director thought she would make a perfect Wonder Woman.
She Didn't Let Fame Go To Her Head
With very little acting experience, Lynda landed one of the most coveted parts a leading lady could garner. At the young age of 24, her entire career was launched as she became the face of an empowered female superhero.
That sort of abrupt fame could easily go to someone's head, but Lynda seems to have remained grounded through it all. She didn't have an extreme personal life or get greedy for the limelight. Through it all, she's kept it classy.
Catapulting To Fame
Though children may see a 24-year-old Lynda as the embodiment of a wonder woman, adults have the perspective to realize how young and early into her career the starlet was.
We would imagine it would be a challenge to emerge as a superhero-level woman while still navigating young adulthood. Furthermore, Lynda was nearly going to give up on acting and return to Arizona right before she landed the role! She certainly seized the moment to show what she was made of.
Look At That Hair!
Lynda has a timeless beauty that doesn't fade, so it's easy to forget that she went through the same fashion fads that everyone else did. This picture is a perfect example of her looking very specific to the time period.
That hairdo screams '80s, but you almost don't notice since Lynda has such a soft yet captivating gaze. Plus, she's wearing gorgeous diamond earrings and a matching necklace, both of which steal the attention from her hair.
Like A Disney Princess
Though it's Lynda's superhero look that landed her the part of Wonder Woman, she could have easily played a Disney princess. Her strength is met with a gentleness like that of Belle in The Beauty and the Beast.
Then there's the fact she was a pageant queen who represented the entire United States! If that isn't royalty-worthy, then we aren't sure what is. At the very least, she has the kind of welcoming smile that you'd expect when you meet a Disney princess.
Effortlessly Elegant
This photo was a complete candid, taken in a hallway while Lynda wasn't looking. The sponaneous moment reveals how truly talented she is in terms of modeling.
With many professions, a sign that someone is truly gifted is when they can make what they do seem effortless. This is certainly the case with Lynda, who doesn't seem to take a bad photo. Though we all have challenging days, she would have you thinking everyday is a piece of cake.
Charming And Grounded
This image does a great job of conveying Lynda's lighthearted personality. While some would be rigid and uptight if they had the world's eyes on them, she seems down to Earth and relaxed.
In this moment, Lynda is reaching down to fuss with the strap of her shoe. Someone must have said something funny because she's looking up and laughing at the camera. It's a natural moment that makes the star seem that much more charming.
Always On-Point
Even when she's just stepping out of a car, Lynda looks like she's at a photo shoot. As a model, actress, and singer, the star is used to having all eyes on her. Perhaps the only time she's using her talent in solitude is when she's writing songs.
In addition to starring in the Fallout 4, Lynda also wrote and recorded five of the video game's original songs. It must be invigorating being able to combine multiple talents into one project.
Passing On The Torch
Though Lynda Carter is still performing fabulously as ever, there's one person she has started to share her limelight with. Her daughter, Jessica Altman Carter, now joins the stage as a vocalist.
Lynda performs with her All-Star band in venues around the country, such as The Kennedy Center, Catalina Jazz Club, and Franklin Theater. Now that her daughter has original songs of her own, Lynda will sometimes hand off the microphone, as though she's passing the baton to the next generation.
