Melissa Benoist got her break when she was cast as a female lead in the William McKinley High School storyline on Glee when most of the Fox dramedy’s original stars saw their characters either move to New York or leave the show.
Now Benoist has landed an even higher-profile leading role that could make her a household name overnight — she has been cast in the title role of CBS’ pilot Supergirl.

Based on the characters from DC Comics, the project, from Warner Bros. TV and studio-based Berlanti Prods., centers on Kara Zor-El (Benoist). Born on the planet Krypton, Kara Zor-El escaped amid its destruction years ago. Since arriving on Earth, she’s been hiding the powers she shares with her famous cousin, Superman. But now at age 24, she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be.
Written by Greg Berlanti and Ali Adler, the project went through an extensive casting process, with several young actresses testing for the lead. Benoist had been consistently in the mix, first alongside Claire Holt and more recently considered along with Elizabeth Lail.
Benoist, repped by UTA, Anonymous Content and Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein & Setz, has a supporting role in the feature Whiplash, which is nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. She will next be seen in the film The Longest Ride, opposite Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood.





I know you can’t meet everyone’s expectations, and I understand that sometime producers see something in an actor before everyone else does, but SERIOUSLY?! She’ absolutely charming but she a screen charisma of a mouse. Female superheros are a tough sell. They need to radiate femininity and authority, and you don’t get it by casting someone who’s projecting a timid 16-year-old, at best (and I am not only referring to her Glee role.)
A fanboy complaining about superhero casting. What else is new?
lol..right? For all he know’s the character is timid.
Is she daughter of some powerful producer or what? She was awful on Glee. Forgettable, no charisma, ordinary face. Everyone hated those new Glee members so much that writers threw them out eventually . And now another lead role in lead show?
Well, Grant Gustin was also on Glee and he seems to be filling the role of Barry Allen/The Flash quite nicely. You’re judging her work based on a single role.
It’s not the fact that she was on Glee that’s an issue. Yes, Grant was on Glee, but he was very good on Glee. Benoist has been subpar at best. She wad brought in to be the next Lea Michelle, but had zero charisma and quickly became overshadowed by more talented characters.
She’s extremely beautiful. Her voice made her amazing on Glee. Also, Glee was NOT a lead role for Melissa Benoist. ]
Seems like a good choice! Her character in Glee wasn’t written very well, but her acting was okay. I’m sure she’ll do a great job as Kara.
Also, she recently dyed her hair blonde (as seen on social media) so now we know why ;)
!!!!!!!!!!!! SO excited!!!
Who? She’s a nobody who isn’t even hot.
Hope this is a massive failure for CBS, which it probably will be since young people don’t watch that Network outside of The Big Bang Theory.
Christopher Reeve was a ‘nobody’ before he got the Superman role. Allison Janney was a ‘nobody’ before The West Wing. Alyson Hannigan was a ‘nobody’ before buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Shall I go on?
Nobody’s with talent.
Big difference.
Any appraisal of talent is subjective. You may think Melissa Benoist doesn’t have talent but the producers of the show thought otherwise. Don’t confuse your opinion with a fact.
No Super Dog, no fans. It’s that simple.
Go girl!
she played a superhero on glee lol
Booooooo. Claire Holt should have been cast!
Ugh is all I have to say. Since the show won’t line up with Arrow/Flash, or the DC movie universe, and questionable casting choice, I can see this being cancelled very fast. I would prefer that they bring Smallville back. Sadly, I would be more willing to watch this mess on the CW instead of CBS trying desperately to have an Agent Carter.
BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Claire Holt should have been cast!!! I’m sure this show will be garbage. No Ordinary Family was not that great so if this show is funny then it will definitely bomb!!!
‘Claire Holt should have been cast!!!’ why? so she can jump ship after a few episodes like her last show?
She would have been more believable as the lead in Mann’s hacker film. I’m sure she’s a nice, talented young woman but this looks like horrible miscasting.
I think CBS is making a bold move with this show. I think if they give it a season or two and let the show gain its footing it will be great. Melissa seems eager and positive and those are things I want in a Supergirl. I hope she kicks ass.
As a fan of comic-to-TV adaptations, all I can say is “In Berlanti We Trust”.
I think their is a deal to have SOME sort of crossover potential, but so long as the format has the general feel of ‘Arrow’, ‘Flash’ or even ‘Smallville’ – and provided scheduling is not NBC-esc on Fridays or lead in with a ‘CSI’ – it should be the GENRE HIT of 2016/2016 season…
I kind of wonder if DC/Warner Bros might have better luck trying to bring their properties to TV Arrow/Flash/Constantine/Supergirl etc if they put them all on the CW with a variety of different times or days of the week having all their eggs in one basket so to speak, It would allow for crossovers and maybe a chance to build up an audience fan base across the board.
Just a thought.
True, except I think business-logistics are not just them being from WBTV, but being from the same executive producers.
I would LOVE ‘Gotham’ to crossover with ANY of those other series, but Bruno Heller runs the show with that, and I think he wants to keep it pretty insulted anyway.
But because Greg Berlanti exec-Produces Flash/Arrow, AND because CW is half-owned by CBS, chances are better for crossovers there, I would think…
This series needs unknowns, yea, she was on Glee, but she is unkown to me. I’m sure she’ll do great. And I’m looking forward to a Smallville fix (which was pretty much all unknowns).