She went from total anonymity to global stardom almost overnight — and then, just as quickly, the spotlight moved on. But the real story of what happened to this golden-haired actress is far more layered than the headlines ever let on.
In the early 1980s, a fresh-faced drama student barely out of performing arts high school landed what should have been the role of a lifetime — the lead in a major superhero blockbuster, opposite two of Hollywood’s most formidable veterans.
The actress stars as the titular superhero in the film “Supergirl” in 1984.
She was unknown, untested, and utterly captivating. Audiences across the world were transfixed. Men wanted her, women admired her, and the entertainment industry seemed to be hers for the taking. So what happened next?
From Drama Student to Superhero
She was just 18 years old and had barely appeared in a handful of television episodes when she walked into one of the most competitive auditions Hollywood had seen in years.
The actress poses on a rooftop as she puts her hand up to match with the top of St Paul’s Cathedral on July 16, 1984 in London, England.
The producers behind the 1984 superhero film “Supergirl” were searching for an unknown actress to take the title role — and they had their pick of the crop. Names like Brooke Shields had been floated and dismissed.
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