More than 40 years after soaring onto cinema screens as Hollywood’s very first Supergirl, Helen Slater is reflecting on the role that launched her career and embracing the next generation of superheroes.
The actress, now 62, played Kara Zor-El in the 1984 film when she was just 18 years old, becoming the first actress to portray Superman’s cousin on the big screen.
Her reflections come as the franchise returns to cinemas with Milly Alcock stepping into the famous cape in the 2026 reboot. Days before the film’s release, Helen delighted fans by sharing a rare selfie from outside Hollywood’s iconic TCL Chinese Theatre as she showed her support for the new movie.
Looking back on the experience, Helen admitted she had little idea just how extraordinary it was to be working alongside screen icons Faye Dunaway and Peter O’Toole.
“When you’re young and innocent, [you] literally don’t know what that… You should be terrified every second you’re in Faye Dunaway or Peter O’Toole’s presence,” she told People. “I didn’t have enough years to know to be super scared.”
© Getty ImagesHelen recalled how Faye, who played the villainous Selena, offered invaluable advice about working in front of the camera.
She encouraged the young actress to always be aware of how she was being filmed. “It is an image… film is image,” Helen remembered her telling her, explaining she learned to be mindful of her best angles on screen.
One of Helen’s happiest memories came courtesy of Peter O’Toole, who played her mentor Zaltar in the film.
© Getty ImagesKnowing she had recently performed Romeo & Juliet at school, the Oscar-nominated actor asked her to perform a scene before gently directing her through it.
“He demonstrated the different ways I could hold a rose to make the moment more poetic,” Helen recalled.
“It was such a transmission masterclass of Shakespeare. I felt the poetry in a way I hadn’t felt before. So, that’s a very long-lasting memory. Happy, happy memory.”
© DC ComicsWhile Helen has continued acting throughout her career, her passions have also evolved far beyond Hollywood.
She revealed that she now enjoys using her PhD in mythological studies to help writers and actors discover the timeless stories behind their work.
“Nothing is ever really brand new,” she explained. “There’s usually going to be a resource for that. And it’s my joy to do that kind of research… I love that very, very much.”
Since Helen first introduced Kara Zor-El to audiences, several actresses have taken on the beloved superhero.
Melissa Benoist starred in Supergirl across six seasons on The CW between 2015 and 2021, before Sasha Calle portrayed the character in 2023’s The Flash.
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