I was really floored by Melissa Benoist at Comic-Con. I have been privileged enough to interview her from the premiere of Supergirl through its two seasons so far, but I never imagined the star of the show remembered me with all the people she speaks to in her job. But as soon as she walked into the room, she saw me sitting at a table and immediately said hi and waved at me. I am truly touched.
She did make it over to my table for a quick chat. Not only is Supergirl part of the Arrowverse and DC Comics franchise, but Franchise Fred has loved her since he saw the 1984 movie.
Franchise Fred: Clark was very clear that Kara was stronger than him. Was that an important revelation?
Melissa Benoist: Absolutely. I think Kara, the entire time she’s been on Earth, has maybe subconsciously compared herself or not thought that she wasn’t up to Clark’s strength or speed or what have you. Especially in that moment, that was her fight and that was her battle. She was fired up and saving him in a sense when they were fighting. So the stakes were really fine for her. I think she deserved to best him. [Laughs]
Q: Do you think Kara knows that Cat knows she is Supergirl now?
Melissa Benoist: Hmm, that’s a good question. I don’t know. No, I think she thinks she has Cat fooled because she has to. Or else, that relationship is so clear. Like, Kara Danvers with Kat Grant, their relationship is different from Supergirl’s relationship with Cat Grant. I don’t know if she realizes. I would love to see a scene where they talk about it. I really want to see that scene.
Q: Do you think she’s lying to herself to keep her life the way she likes it?
Melissa Benoist: Yes, I think that’s the way to put it. I think she might be in denial that anyone in her life that’s close to her knows. In the same way, even with Lena, that relationship. She has things very set in the way she knows them. So Kara doesn’t like change. She can’t handle that so it would really put her life in upheaval.
Q: How far has Kara come from when we met her to where she is in season three?
Melissa Benoist: Very different. It’s a dark period for Kara. The end of season two was a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking experience for her. The first time she’d been in love and put herself out there. Someone who had lost their entire world and their entire family besides Astra and Non must have abandonment issues. So she’s coping with grief and guilt for sending him and fear that she doesn’t know what happened to him. It’s a new chapter of womanhood for her. I think she’s really growing up. It feels more adult. It’s not as sunny as she always is.
Franchise Fred: Every time you put your hands on your hips, that’s the classic Supergirl pose. Do you feel the magnitude of that?
Melissa Benoist: It definitely feels like I can’t stand that way, oddly enough, unless I’m wearing the suit now. When we’re shooting and if I’m dressed as Kara Danvers in CatCo clothes and I put my hands on my hips, I’m like “That’s not where they need to be right now. That’s not right.”
Q: Will we see any more sister nights?
Melissa Benoist: We did get kind of split off into our own stories last season, but Kara and Alex find each other again this season. There will be couch nights.
