There's undoubted pressure being the main star of a TV show but more so when you're playing a popular superhero character. Melissa Benoist knows all about that pressure playing Kara Danvers in "Supergirl" but she's risen to the challenge to portray possibly her most important role yet.
Writing for Time Inc.'s new website Motto, Benoist said that she knew how important playing Supergirl was right from the very beginning. She was definitely up for the challenge so she was relieved to be told that she got the part.
To prepare, she trained hard and brushed up on a lot of the comics. However, she believes that part of what truly prepared her for the role was growing up in a matriarchal family. Surrounded by strong female figures, Benoist was a go-getter and that translated into how she portrayed Supergirl.
But while a strong family of women gave the actress the foundation she needs, she also turned to male actors for inspiration. One of them was Robin Williams. "Hook" was one of Benoist's favorite movies and she felt that Williams' character embodied many of the traits she thought her character should have. Benoist also believes that at the end of the day, Supergirl's being a woman doesn't matter.
"This is something that boys and girls, men and women can all enjoy and get something out of," says Benoist, proud that the TV show is contributing to furthering gender equality.
As a female superhero, however, Supergirl is likely to connect with girls first, the physical manifestation of which means a lot to Benoist. She said she gets videos from parents who are saying their daughters want to be like her.
"That's so meaningful to me to help children understand that girls can have just as much fun as their male counterparts in the superhero world," says Benoist. "It's about confidence and hope, and Supergirl really embodies all of that."
