Supergirl Star Milly Alcock Braces for Backlash Over Female-Led Superhero Role

Alcock is aware she'll face criticism for playing the iconic DC character, but says she can't stop people from commenting on her gender.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:30pm

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An extreme close-up of a shimmering, textured superhero costume material, such as metallic scales or a high-tech fabric, bathed in dramatic studio lighting to create a glamorous, high-fashion aesthetic that conceptually represents the power and resilience of a female superhero.The glitz and grandeur of a female superhero's costume evokes the strength and confidence of the character, despite the backlash the actress may face.Burbank Today

Milly Alcock, the 25-year-old actress set to star as Supergirl in the upcoming DC film, has expressed concerns about the backlash she expects to face simply for being a woman in a major superhero role. Alcock, who previously broke out as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in 'House of the Dragon,' told Vanity Fair that she's aware people will comment on her gender, saying 'we have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women's bodies.' However, the history of successful female-led superhero and action films suggests the backlash Alcock fears may not materialize.

Why it matters

While Alcock anticipates criticism for her gender in the Supergirl role, the track record of films with strong female leads, from 'The Hunger Games' to 'Wonder Woman,' suggests audiences are more interested in compelling stories and characters than the actor's sex. Alcock's comments highlight the ongoing challenges women in Hollywood face, but the data shows female-led superhero films can thrive when the storytelling is strong.

The details

Alcock, who is set to debut as Supergirl in an upcoming DC film, told Vanity Fair that she's aware she'll face backlash simply for being a woman in a major superhero role. The actress, who previously starred in 'House of the Dragon,' said 'we have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women's bodies' and that she 'can't really stop them' from commenting on her gender. However, the history of successful female-led action and superhero films, from 'Alien' to 'Captain Marvel,' suggests audiences care more about quality storytelling than the actor's sex.

  • Alcock is set to debut as Supergirl in an upcoming DC film.
  • She previously starred as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in 'House of the Dragon.'

The players

Milly Alcock

A 25-year-old actress set to star as Supergirl in an upcoming DC film, who previously broke out in 'House of the Dragon.'

Gal Gadot

An Israeli actress who starred as the title character in the successful 'Wonder Woman' film.

Jennifer Lawrence

An actress who starred in the highly successful 'The Hunger Games' film franchise.

Sigourney Weaver

An actress who had two successful turns as Ripley in the 'Alien' franchise, helping to define the female action hero archetype.

Linda Hamilton

An actress who starred as Sarah Connor in the 'Terminator' franchise, another property featuring a strong female lead.

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What they’re saying

“It definitely made me aware 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. I can't really stop them. I can only be myself.”

— Milly Alcock, Actress

The takeaway

While Alcock anticipates criticism for her gender in the Supergirl role, the history of successful female-led superhero and action films suggests audiences are more interested in compelling stories and characters than the actor's sex. Alcock's comments highlight the ongoing challenges women in Hollywood face, but the data shows female-led superhero films can thrive when the storytelling is strong.