Milly Alcock is no stranger to playing a fierce leading lady. She first appeared on the mainstream circuit as Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon and now she’s doing it again with her new film Supergirl, where she plays Kara Zor-EL, the carefree, punk-rock younger cousin of David Corenswet’s Superman.
Last night, Supergirl’s grungy, gritty style was on full display as Alcock walked the blue carpet wearing a full Balenciaga ensemble with leather opera gloves and cool, effortless glam. “The inspiration for the makeup came directly from the tension within the look itself,” says celebrity makeup artist Tyron Machhausen. “The silhouette feels powerful and architectural, with an incredible sense of control and precision, but there’s also something undeniably rock’n’roll about it.”
To get the look, Machhausen started by prepping the skin with the Peach & Lily Ultra Plush Rich Cream before going in with Natasha Denona HY-GLAM Foundation and setting the face with Polite Society More Than a Pretty Powder Skin-Caring Loose Setting Powder. But the real focal point of the makeup was the smudged eye look. Lining the eyes with the Ulta Beauty Collection Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Black Brown and Ulta Beauty Collection Automatic Retractable Eyeliner in Matte Black, Machhausen lightly blurred the eyeliner to create a “lived-in quality.” He then added Ulta Beauty Collection Eyeshadow Singles in Roaring 20s for a subtle metallic shimmer. Alcock’s hair was kept simple with undone waves that mimicked Supergirl Kara’s free-flowing hair. “Nothing feels overly polished or perfect,” says Machhausen. This idea is also the cornerstone of Alcock’s summer-long partnership with Ulta Beauty, which focuses on celebrating self-expression in all its forms.
Ahead of the premiere, we caught up with Alcock to chat about her red carpet prep routine, stepping into the superhero universe, and embracing your messiness.
What was the inspiration for your look tonight?
I wanted to find something that was in Kara’s world. She’s a bit punk rock, grunge, messy, and it felt like this Balenciaga look really encapsulated that energy.
How do you center yourself when preparing for an event like this?
I like to center myself before—just sit outside, bare feet, and really ground myself. Then, put some music on and just lean into the fun and how big of a moment this is.
How does your red carpet style and glam differ from your everyday style?
I’m pretty undone when I’m out and about. There’s something really fun, exciting, and playful about getting to step into this other person and that other world.
This is your first leading role as part of a superhero franchise. How did you prepare to take on the role of Supergirl?
You have to approach it as you would any other job: lean in and allow the big elements of the world to do the talking. You approach it from a really real and grounded perspective and humanize this person who is so superhuman.
This is the first standalone Supergirl movie in many decades. What was most important to you to portray in your version of the character?
What was most important to me was really highlighting and leaning into Kara’s trauma. She is someone who has undergone such grief in her life, and that was exciting for me to take on in the role. She’s messy, imperfect, and has got a lot of grit, but she’s also got an enormous heart, and I really wanted that to sing in this film.
Milly Alcock for the Supergirl world premiere.
Did you discuss taking on the role with David Corenswet?
I actually had my first day with David Corenswet on Supergirl, so that was a really lovely moment. We were outside in the freezing cold in early January of 2025 and he gave me advice about bruising and the stunt work. He talked about understanding that it’s a marathon and not a sprint, and he was 100 percent correct about all of that.
Who do you think would win a battle, Supergirl Kara or Rhaenyra Targaryen?
Supergirl Kara. Rhaenyra—I mean, she has a dragon, so that’s a level up—but Kara is so incredibly phenomenally powerful. But I do think they would just end up being really good friends, genuinely.
How has it been interacting with fans?
It feels like such an honor to be part of the new DC Universe and give a generation a new perspective and voice for Supergirl. She will be such a role model for young people—it’s okay to be flawed, messy, and who you are, and I hope that they feel more comfortable being who they are after watching the film.
In a recent GQ interview, while referencing how your career opportunities impacted the trajectory of your life, you said, “I knew it would be really scary, but I’ve got one big, bad, beautiful life. Now is the time to be scared.” Outside of work, what are other things that scare you that you are actively running toward?
I really want to push myself to do a physical feat. I really want to cycle across France and camp this summer. I want to acquire new physical skills and find community within that. That’s something that I am trying to do more of on my time off.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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