‘House of the Dragon’ star Milly Alcock addresses ‘Supergirl’ backlash ahead of June 2026 release: ‘I can only be myself’
Milly Alcock isn’t just stepping into the ‘Supergirl’ costume; she’s stepping right into the whirlwind of expectations, criticism, and attention that comes with one of the most iconic superhero roles. She already became a household name after her portrayal as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in ‘House of the Dragon’, but now she’s leading DC Studios’ new ‘Supergirl’ film. And even before cameras finish rolling, Alcock’s bracing herself for what she calls inevitable backlash.What’s more, she’s pretty up-front about it. In a recent interview, she didn’t mince words. Instead, she said, “I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself.”What exactly did she say? Let’s unpack.
Milly Alcock speaks out ahead of ‘Supergirl’ release: What happened?
If anyone knows about rabid fan culture, it’s Alcock. With ‘Supergirl’ hype swirling, she’s acknowledged the huge pressure and criticism that come with playing such a storied character. She gets it: superhero audiences are famously passionate, and sometimes that passion tips into a kind of “ownership,” especially when women lead major franchises. That’s something she experienced firsthand on House of the Dragon, so she’s not exactly walking in blind.During a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Alcock admitted she’s nervous. “Of course I’m scared. Of course, I want people to like me and the movie. But ultimately, it’s out of my control.” Playing Supergirl’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, feels familiar to her, as both roles mean diving deep into worlds with fiercely devoted (and sometimes critical) fans.She summed up the challenge honestly: “Simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on. We’ve become pretty comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies.”Alcock just wants to be herself, no matter what fans think. She hasn’t reached out to past Supergirls, like Melissa Benoist or Sasha Calle, for advice. “They’re just people living their lives. It’s not like we have this blood bond,” she joked.And why Supergirl at all? She told the magazine, “I was so s**t scared that my life was over at 22. And, of course, it wasn’t.” In the end, she kind of strong-armed herself into taking the role.
‘Supergirl’: All we know about the upcoming film
What do we know about this new ‘Supergirl’ movie? Directed by Craig Gillespie and produced as part of James Gunn’s new DC Universe, Supergirl lands in theaters on June 26, 2026. It’s based on the comic ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’. However, this version of Kara Zor-El is tougher and more complicated. She’s not the sunny, idealistic hero raised on Earth. She watched Krypton crumble, and now she’s out for revenge, teaming up with a young girl named Ruthye to hunt down the villain responsible for everything. You get space adventure, a lot of emotion, and big themes about loss and identity.The trailer hints at something wild: a rebellious, sometimes messy Supergirl who parties across galaxies, really loves her dog Krypto, and is driven by vengeance. So, expect sweeping cosmic visuals: think planets, new languages, and epic settings.Alcock isn’t alone in the cast. Jason Momoa plays Lobo, a bounty hunter with attitude. Matthias Schoenaerts is the villain Krem. Eve Ridley brings Ruthye to life, and David Krumholtz shows up in a supporting role. The film’s part of the bigger DC Universe and picks up after the events of ‘Superman’.
Who is Milly Alcock?
For the unversed, Milly Alcock grew up in Sydney and kicked off her acting career on Australian TV. For a while, she flew under the radar, but that changed in 2022 when she played the young Rhaenyra Targaryen in ‘House of the Dragon’. The show covers a lot of ground over many years, so Milly only shows up in five episodes in the first season, then returns for two more in season two in 2024. After her scenes wrapped up, she actually needed to find more roles, even though the series kept going.Alcock’s take on Rhaenyra didn’t just get her noticed; it earned her rave reviews and nominations, putting her on Hollywood’s radar fast. In 2025, she landed a starring role in the series ‘Sirens’, and then popped up in the DC Universe at the end of ‘Superman’, where she and David Corenswet’s Clark Kent become family on screen.Getting cast as Supergirl took her from a supporting spot on a hit show to front and center in a global superhero franchise, which is a huge leap in her career.
