‘Supergirl’ Star Milly Alcock Says ‘I Really Can’t Stop’ Backlash

Milly Alcock told Vanity Fair in a new interview that she’s aware she’ll face backlash over leading Warner Bros. “Supergirl” simply because she’s playing a female superhero. The 25-year-old actor is no stranger to dealing with intense fandoms having broke out as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in the first season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon.”

“It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on,” Alcock said. “We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies. I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself.”

Alcock debuted as Supergirl in a cameo in last year’s “Superman,” which launched James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe on the big screen. This summer’s “Supergirl” is the next movie up for the franchise. Alcock told Vanity Fair that she swore off doing a big franchise after completing work on “House of the Dragon.” She changed things up considerably starring opposite Julianne Moore in Netflix’s “Sirens” limited series, but then she couldn’t find work for an entire year.

“I was so shit-scared that my life was over at 22. And, of course, it wasn’t,” Alcock said about the career anxiety that settled in and made the chance to audition for “Supergirl” all the more favorable. “I kind of bullied myself into it.”

Vanity Fair also asked Alcock about legendary directors such as Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott speaking out against the superhero genre. Scorsese infamously compared comic book movies to theme park rides when talking about the worrisome state of film exhibition, while Scott said superhero movies are “boring as shit” and “they aren’t any fucking good.” Alcock does not seem to mind.

“I get it. They’ve been around for fucking ever making phenomenal films,” she said. “Not every film is for everyone. The beauty of art is that you can be selective.”

Warner Bros.’ “Supergirl” synopsis reads: “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.” The movie also stars Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of the Yellow Hills, David Krumholtz as Supergirl’s Zor-El and Jason Momoa as the alien mercenary Lobo.

“Supergirl” opens in theaters June 26. Head over to Vanity Fair’s website to read Alcock’s interview in its entirety.