‘Supergirl’ Star Melissa Benoist On What Makes Kara Stronger Than Some Male Superheroes

Supergirl is arguably stronger than some male superheroes out there, but according to Melissa Benoist — who plays the Girl of Steel on the CW — it isn’t her character’s Kryptonian powers that set her apart from her male peers.

“[Supergirl is] not afraid to feel hurt and confused and sad and lonely — that’s not something I have seen in a lot of male superheroes,” Benoist told the New York Post during an interview covering a wide variety of topics, including her upcoming film “Patriots Day.” “I think that’s what makes her stronger … acknowledging her vulnerability. That’s how she touches so many people.”

In the same interview, Benoist revealed that she didn’t expect to get the title role on “Supergirl.” “I don’t think of myself as that tough, kick-ass, badass woman,” the “Glee” alum admitted. “I’ve always been a pacifist, for one, and I was [always] weirder and quirkier and dorkier.” Apparently, that assortment of qualities happened to be the perfect formula that ultimately helped her earn her the role of Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El.

“Supergirl” just aired its midseason finale earlier this week, and it won’t be back on air until January next year.

The show’s midseason premiere (Season 2, episode 9) is directed by Kevin Smith. It is titled “Supergirl Lives,” which is actually a nod to the canceled “Superman Lives” movie that Smith wrote back in 1996.

“I’m gonna cry talking about this,” Smith said on his YouTube show “Fatman on Batman” in August right after announcing the title of his directorial episode. “That’s what they do over here at Berlanti-verse. They make magic.”

Smith teased on Instagram over a month ago that the installment is “filled with deep-cuts characters” from some of his favorite stories in the comics. “It’s pure comic book and science fiction fantasy,” he wrote of the episode’s script.

Benoist’s “Patriots Day” — which also stars Mark Wahlberg, J. K. Simmons, John Goodman, Kevin Bacon and Michelle Monaghan, among many others — opens in theaters on Dec. 21.