Milly Alcock is terrified of being idolised as Supergirl.
The 26-year-old star plays the titular heroine in the newly-released DC Universe (DCU) movie and has confessed that she feels a sense of unease about being seen as a role model by others.
Asked if she was ready to be idolised by SFX magazine, Alcock said: "No. Absolutely not. S***-scared! I think it's because I know all of me. You guys only know a certain part and that's a frightening thing, to be met with that."
However, the House of the Dragon star does believe that Kara Zor-El/Supergirl's imperfections will appeal to audiences.
Alcock said of her character: "She's someone who's suffered a lot of trauma. She's gone through a lot and she's been at war with herself, which is something a lot of people can relate to.
"She's unconventional, she's unapologetic. She's not trying to be perfect. I think that's very refreshing for audiences. It can be really exhausting, having role models thrust upon us. It's more about realising what you can control within your inner life, because the outer life is chaos."
Alcock – who had been headhunted for the role by DC chief James Gunn – has explained how she saw "a lot" of herself in Supergirl.
The Australian actress said: "I mean, it's all scary. It's all intimidating, you know? But it's exciting. It's both. I think that confidence was something that grew on set, and it's continuing to ebb and flow. It wasn't like, 'Oh yeah, I got this!'
"I had an interesting relationship with playing her. It was kinda meta. Her inability or want to be a hero... and then her resolve. I think I surprisingly saw a lot of myself."
Alcock also explained how she learned to speak Kryptonian for the film.
She said: "On the scale of challenges that this job provided, it wasn't too bad.
"I've spoken a fake language before on screen; I just used the same process, which is learn it in English, front and back, then put in the dialogue. Make it like a muscle memory, so when you're speaking whatever language it is, in your brain you're remembering the English words. And then, voila!"
Supergirl director Craig Gillespie revealed that Alcock had already been cast in the lead role before he joined the project and explained how he was "fortunate" to get the chance to work with the star.
He told The Playlist: "I did inherit her, very, very fortunately. Amazingly, the lead actor is probably the most contested, discussed, and controversial piece of filmmaking. And it's a very unusual thing that I get to come into this, and it's already been decided.
"But in so many ways, it set the tone for the whole film because I love Milly's work that I'd seen in House of the Dragon and in her work in Australia.
"Knowing that that's what they wanted this movie to be, because in her work in the past, there's scrappiness, or fierceness, or a humour and accessibility in all of her work. And there's almost this independent spirit that I loved.
"So being able to know that's what James was recognising as Supergirl, it gave me more licence to really lean into that. I couldn't have been more excited about Milly being attached beforehand."
