Milly Alcock Says ‘House of the Dragon’ Prepared Her for Supergirl Scrutiny

Milly Alcock has spoken candidly about the pressures of joining another major franchise, saying her experience on House of the Dragon helped prepare her for the scrutiny surrounding her upcoming role as Supergirl.

In an interview with Vanity Fair published March 31, 2026, Alcock reflected on how playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen exposed her to intense fan attention. She said that experience made her more aware of how audiences react to women leading high-profile projects.

Alcock pointed to what she described as a sense of “ownership” some viewers feel over female actors’ appearances in franchise roles. She added that “simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on,” acknowledging that while she wants audiences to respond positively, public reaction is ultimately beyond her control.

The actor also revealed she had initially planned to avoid large franchise projects after House of the Dragon. However, a year without work led to anxiety about her career prospects. She said she “kind of bullied” herself into auditioning for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, fearing her career might stall at age 22.

Addressing ongoing criticism from filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott about superhero films, Alcock said she is not concerned by the debate, adding that “the beauty of art is that you can be selective.”

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, directed by Craig Gillespie, is scheduled for release on June 26, 2026. The film is expected to present a different take on Kara Zor-El. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has described the character as “bad and messy,” emphasizing a more flawed and emotionally complex version of the hero.

The film also stars Jason Momoa as the bounty hunter Lobo, Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knolle, and Matthias Schoenaerts as the villain Krem of the Yellow Hills. The story follows Kara on a spacefaring quest for vengeance, drawing heavily from the Tom King comic series of the same name.

Alcock said she has not contacted previous Supergirl actors, including Melissa Benoist and Sasha Calle, for guidance. She explained that she intends to approach the role independently and develop her own interpretation of the character.