Actress Milly Alcock Addresses Supergirl’s Sexuality, Divides Fans
Milly Alcock, the 26-year-old Australian actress set to portray Supergirl in the upcoming DC Studios film, has ignited a conversation among fans following her remarks about the superhero’s sexuality. Alcock, who stars as Kara Zor-El, was on a promotional tour for the highly anticipated movie, scheduled for release on June 26.
During a recent interview with Queerly Radio, Alcock was asked about her character’s romantic leanings. She explained that the film’s narrative intentionally steers clear of a male romantic interest, stating, “What makes this film beautiful is that it’s not centered around a man, not centered around love at all.”
When pressed further, Alcock initially expressed uncertainty before offering her personal interpretation. “I don’t really know. I don’t know,” she said before adding, “She probably goes both ways.”
Character’s Resonance with LGBTQ+ Community
In a separate discussion with Ana Paula Barbosa of Narrativa Feminina, Alcock elaborated on why she believes her character connects with the LGBTQ+ community. “I think because she doesn’t live inside the binary of what we think a woman should be,” Alcock commented. “That is what makes her so special and so exciting and so new.” She also revealed that she personally held a queer interpretation of the character, musing, “I kind of thought that as well. I was like… She’d do what she’d want to do in that regard anyway.”
Alcock’s comments have led to a mixed reaction online. Some fans have voiced criticism, interpreting her remarks as a political statement and questioning her casting. Conversely, many have defended her, seeing her answer as a neutral and open-ended interpretation. Others have expressed that the character’s sexuality is not a primary concern for them.
Backlash Over Casting and Appearance
The debate over Alcock’s portrayal comes shortly after she faced public scrutiny regarding her appearance upon being cast as the lead. Dean Cain, who famously played Superman in the 1990s series ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,’ drew backlash for a social media reaction to a meme that compared Alcock to a primitive character from the 1974 series ‘Land of the Lost.’ Cain’s response, which included a laughing emoji, was met with outrage from many superhero fans who accused him of tarnishing his legacy and showing bitterness.
Cain later clarified that he “never said she was ugly” but appeared largely unfazed by the criticism. Alcock herself has addressed the backlash surrounding her casting, telling Variety Magazine that she is choosing to disregard the negative comments. “[The criticism] 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,” Alcock stated. “I mean, whose opinion do you really care about? If you’re p***ing the right kind of people off, you’re doing okay!”
The upcoming film also features Jason Momoa, David Corenswet as Superman, and supporting actors Emily Beecham, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Eve Ridley.
