Who is Supergirl? Meet DC’s reluctant hero

Get up to speed with Kara Zor-El, flying onto a cinema screen near you

In partnership with Warner Bros. UK

This summer, there’s a new super in town. In cinemas from June 25, Supergirl stars Milly Alcock as DC Comics’ all-action hero. Yep, this is Kara Zor-El, to give her full name. Like her cousin, Superman, she has supersonic hearing, laser vision and, of course, the ability to fly. But after the destruction of her home planet Krypton, and with just faithful hound Krypto for company, she’s lost her way – until a chance encounter with a vengeful youngling sets her on a life-defining mission.

Supergirl – a brief history

Created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino at DC Comics, the modern incarnation of Supergirl made her debut in Action Comics #252 in May 1959. Blessed with the same otherworldly superpowers as her biological cousin Superman, Kara Zor-El was sent to Earth by her parents in early appearances, adopting the identity of an orphan, ‘Linda Lee’. Keeping her identity a secret, and helping Superman out, she also joined the Legion Of Super-Heroes.

Bringing Supergirl to the big screen

When DC Studios’ Peter Safan and James Gunn set out to launch DC’s beloved characters on the big screen anew, Supergirl was high on the list. Briefly introduced in 2025’s Superman, where star Milly Alcock made a glorious cameo opposite He-Of-The-Iconic-Red-Trunks David Corenswet, the producers were already planning her standalone feature. The source was the Tom King-penned Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, a fan-favourite inspired by the classic revenge western True Grit. “Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow is a comic book that James and I have always loved and wanted to adapt,” says Safan. “We thought it was a great story and that it would give us an exciting way to introduce Supergirl to audiences as they’ve never experienced the character before.”

It’s been over four decades since she fronted her own big-screen movie, when Helen Slater played her in 1984’s Supergirl. With Safran and Gunn seeking out screenwriter Ana Nogueira, they then brought in Craig Gillespie, the acclaimed director behind Oscar-nominated ice rink drama I, Tonya. He was immediately sold on this fresh new take on Supergirl. “She’s not sure what her role is in this universe,” he says. “She’s got these powers, she’s got the opportunity, but Superman has a very strong footprint on Earth. She wants to be her own person and figure out what her rules are, which aren’t necessarily in the line with how Superman sees things.”

Introducing Milly Alcock

With Supergirl, Milly Alcock’s career is about to fly faster than a speeding bullet. The Australian actress has already wowed fans as the headstrong Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House Of The Dragon – a magnetic performance that demonstrated her ability to command the screen. “In those first couple of episodes, you could not take your eyes off of her,” remarks Supergirl producer Peter Safan, who sensed that they had finally found their Kara.

Born in Sydney, Alcock was seven years old when she discovered her love of acting after appearing in Little Red Rocking Hood, a musical version of the fairytale. Studying at Newtown High School Of The Performing Arts, her auditions soon turned to roles – including the brilliant Tim Minchin-created hit Australian show Upright and the dark comedy Sirens, which paired her with Julianne Moore and Meghann Fahy.

While Alcock’s blossoming slate promises diversity – she’s just wrapped an as-yet-untitled Japanese horror with Charli XCX – it’ll be as Supergirl that the world best knows her. After acing the audition, and learning she’d won the role, she knew this was her time. “I looked at myself in the mirror, and I was like, ‘Who am I to turn down this opportunity?” she recently told Variety. “I knew that it was what I needed to do, because it scared me.”

DC shake it up

“Truth. Justice. Whatever.” As taglines go, it perfectly sums up exactly why Supergirl is going to stand out from the crowd. “I like to say, in the best way, she gives zero fucks,” says director Craig Gillespie. “She stands by what she believes and she’s unfazed and uncompromising.” While Supergirl may not be the first female to front her own standalone DC movie, she’s unique in that she’s something of a reluctant hero. “She’s a mess,” chuckles James Gunn. “She’s definitely not Clark Kent or Superman.”

The film also takes a different step in pairing Kara with an unexpected companion: the noble, sword-carrying warrior Ruthye. “Kara forms a relationship with this young girl, Ruthye, whose family was murdered and is out for revenge and she can understand that,” explains Gunn. Played by Eve Ridley, she’s the polar opposite to Supergirl. “Ruthye’s quite upright and very composed and put-together,” explains Ridley – making her and Kara the perfect odd couple as they go seeking space pirate Krem Of The Yellow Hills, the killer of Ruthye’s father.

Supergirl summer sounds

If Supergirl has her own theme tune, then it surely is ‘Call Me’. The loud and proud anthem by Blondie first hit the airwaves in 1980 – a Grammy-nominated UK and US Number One single that helped define an era. Composed by producer wizard Giorgio Moroder, it was sung unforgettably by Blondie’s iconic lead singer Debbie Harry – who might just be Kara’s spirit animal.

With Supergirl rocking up in a vintage Blondie t-shirt, along with desert boots and tan trench coat, it speaks volumes about the character’s rebellious, so-what attitude. Blondie aside, Supergirl is set for a memorable score thanks to Claudia Sarne, who comes with some serious indie cred. The Los Angeles-born musician began her career playing in the band 12 Rounds, which she founded with her husband Atticus Ross, the two-time Oscar-winning composer and Nine Inch Nails member. From there, Sarne started scoring shows such as Black Mirror and movies including Denzel Washington-starrer The Book Of Eli – before taking on her most epic assignment yet: Supergirl.

‘Supergirl’ is in cinemas from June 25