Helen Slater, who first brought Supergirl to the screen in the 1984 film, is reflecting on the acting lessons she received from her co-stars Faye Dunaway and Peter O'Toole. The 62-year-old actress shared these memories as a new iteration of the character is set to be released, starring Milly Alcock.
During filming in the United Kingdom over 40 years ago, Slater recalled how Dunaway, who played the sorceress Selena, advised her to be aware of the camera's perspective and how she was being filmed. "It is an image… film is image," Dunaway reportedly told Slater, emphasizing the importance of managing one's presentation on screen.
Peter O'Toole, who portrayed the mentor Zaltar, further honed Slater's acting abilities. He once asked the then-18-year-old actress to perform a scene from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet off-camera. O'Toole directed her, demonstrating various ways to hold a rose to enhance the poetic delivery of the lines. Slater described this as a "transmission masterclass of Shakespeare," a memory she cherishes.
Slater noted that her youth and relative inexperience prevented her from being intimidated by her seasoned co-stars. "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 mused. "I didn't have enough years to know to be super scared."
Slater was the first actress to portray Kara Zor-El on the big screen. Since her portrayal, the character has been played by Melissa Benoist in a CW series from 2015 to 2021, and Sasha Calle in the 2023 film The Flash.
Recently, Slater has channeled her expertise into mythological studies, where she uses her PhD to help actors and writers connect their work to ancient myths. "Nothing is ever really brand new," she said. "There's usually going to be a resource for that. And it's my joy to do that kind of research and put together, doing it in person or on Zoom, that kind of lane. So I love that very, very much."
Slater recently posted on Instagram to show her support for Milly Alcock, who is set to star as Supergirl in an upcoming film. Slater was pictured at the TCL Theatre in Hollywood ahead of a screening.
