Milly Alcock Has the Best Approach to Taking on a Superhero and Dealing with Trolls

We’re still a month away from seeing Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El / Supergirl back on the big screen, with her solo film arriving in theaters later this summer. After a scene-stealing cameo at the end of last year’s Superman, and confirmation that she will be reprising her role in next year’s Man of Tomorrow, there’s already a lot to unpack with her role.

But it’s how Alcock is navigating the role that continues to get a lot of attention. Earlier this year, Alcock went viral for comments she made in an interview with Vanity Fair. When speaking about the online misogyny she experienced while a part of the Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon, Alcock pointed out that “simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on. We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies.”

Alcock’s comments quickly caught a lot of attention on social media, with commentators in the manosphere and certain toxic corners of nerd fandom immediately taking offense with what she said. In a recent profile with Variety, she addressed the ordeal… and argued (correctly) that it only further proved her point.

“I didn’t even say ‘men’ — I said ‘people!’” Alcock explained. “And they got so angry. I was like, ‘You’re proving my point. You’re proving my point!’”

Milly Alcock gets frank

She went on to acknowledge that people turn “to online forums to find that guidance” in our current day and age, but that the culture inevitably “just creates an unhealthy relationship with a person” in the public eye.

“I guess women know that this is just how it’s always been, unfortunately,” Alcock continued. “And [the backlash] is from a lot of people whose profiles have no photo, who are burner accounts. Or someone’s name and then ‘Dad of four, Christian,’ which is hilarious to me. But I mean, whose opinion do you really care about? If you’re pissing the right kind of people off, you’re doing OK.”

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran also weighed in on the ordeal, revealing: “I called her and just said, ‘You’re doing great! You’re handling it beautifully. You’re never going to make everybody happy. Just be true to yourself.’ And I really do think she’s handling it well. I would also recommend, don’t wallow in it. It never makes you feel good.”

Alcock also acknowledged how difficult it can be to navigate that kind of online attention, especially as someone who has grown up on the Internet. “Because sometimes people reinforce beliefs that you have about yourself, and you’re like, ‘Now someone’s said it! It’s true!’ And you’ve got to remind yourself that it’s not… Sitting at a café and watching people and reading alone — just being a participant in real life — has been helpful.”

“It’s something I’m trying to get better at,” Alcock continued with a sigh. “I’m Gen Z! Yeah, I grew up online, so I’m actively trying not to engage — although how could you not?”

What Is the Supergirl Movie About?

Supergirl, DC Studios’ newest feature film to hit the big screen, will be in theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures, starring Milly Alcock in the dual role of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. Craig Gillespie directs the film from a screenplay by Ana Nogueira.

When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice. Alcock stars alongside Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of the Yellow Hills, Eve Ridley as Ruthye, David Krumholtz as Zor-El, Emily Beecham as Alura Zor-El, and Jason Momoa as Lobo.

DC Studios heads Peter Safran and James Gunn are producing the film, which is based on characters from OC, Supergirl based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film is executive produced by Nigel Gostelow, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars P. Winther. Behind the camera, Gillespie is joined by director of photography Rob Hardy, production designer Neil Lamont, editor Tatiana S. Riegel, costume designers Anna B. Sheppard and Michael Mooney, Visual Effects Supervisor Geoffrey Baumann, music supervisor Susan Jacobs and composer Claudia Sarne.

“What Kara was going through that I was going through is she’s someone who has been at war with themselves. And I think that’s a very universal feeling — especially for women,” Alcock says elsewhere in the interview. “So it’s been a really surprising journey. I never thought taking on a superhero film would do that. But it has! And what a beautiful thing.”

Supergirl will be released exclusively in theaters on Friday, June 26th.

(featured image: Warner Bros.)

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