Filipino British teen lands lead role in ‘Supergirl’

LOS ANGELES – Eve Ridley, a 14-year-old Filipino British actress, has a leading role opposite Milly Alcock in DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Supergirl.”

Landing the Ruthye Marye Knoll part is a major break for Eve, whose previous credits are in television, including the mysterious character Follower in “3 Body Problem” and Young Nimue in “The Witcher.” Eve was only 12 when she auditioned for “Supergirl.”

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Young Fil-British actress Eve Ridley lands her first major role in ‘Supergirl.’ Photo from Warner Bros.

At the media screening of “Supergirl” in Burbank, I was struck by the teen actress’ poise and emotional depth as her character navigates a tragedy and aligns with Supergirl, who is played by Milly with equal spunk and intensity.

Interstellar journey

The production notes of the Craig Gillespie-directed potential summer blockbuster tout the plot, “When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl (Milly), reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion (Ruthye) on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.”

“Supergirl” also stars Matthias Schoenaerts, David Corenswet (Kal-El/Superman), Jason Momoa (Lobo), David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham and the scene-stealing canine, Krypto, with DC Studios heads Peter Safran and James Gunn producing the film, which is based on DC characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Supergirl Jason Momoa, Milly Alcock and screenwriter Ana Nogueira | Photo from Warner Bros.

Filipina grandmother

Eve, in an interview with Janet Nepales, said her Filipina grandmother grew up in the Philippines and that her mom is half-Filipino. According to CelebWikiCorner, the parents of the young actress, who was born in Tyneside, England, are Matthew and Monalisa Ridley.

The newest DC Universe star said to Janet, “I really want to go to the Philippines someday. I haven’t had the chance to yet, but it looks like such a beautiful country…I really want to learn Tagalog as well because I get to communicate with family over there.”

Director Craig Gillespie, Milly Alcock and Eve Ridley on ‘Supergirl’ set | Photo from Warner Bros.

Also a musical performer, Eve played the young Eponine in a UK tour of “Les Misérables.”

Only eight years old at the time, Eve began acting professionally when she voiced Wendy Wolf in the TV Series“Peppa Pig.” At 10, she made her live-action TV debut on the BBC’s medical drama, “Casualty.”

In my interview at the SLS Hotel in LA with Milly and Ana Nogueira, who wrote “Supergirl,” they both praised Eve.

Filipino British Eve Ridley as Ruthye Marye Knoll in ‘Supergirl’ | Photo from Warner Bros

Milly, yet one more Australian making it in Hollywood, said, “I just knew from the moment that I met Eve. I did a chemistry read with all the girls who potentially were going to play the part. Craig, at the end, was like, well, who did you like?

“And I was like, well, it’s the first girl. It’s obviously the first girl. Eve has such great instincts. She’s so responsive. She’s not thinking about what she’s doing. She’s just there. And she’s just also such a gorgeous human being. She’s so sweet.

Milly Alcock and Eve Ridley’s characters join forces in ‘Supergirl.’ Photo from Warner Bros.

“Her parents are so kind and so loving and not stagey at all. They really humanized her. So I think she’s gonna have a fabulous career.”

Good chemistry

Milly and Eve do have good chemistry together as they go on their interstellar journey, balancing their shared urge for personal vengeance with the fight for justice. Milly’s Kara Zor-El/Supergirl is a gritty, punk-rock outsider, while Eve’s Ruthye is the calm, poised yet intense fighter.

Ana, who is also an actress and whose writing credits include “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Michael J. Fox Show,” and is reportedly penning an untitled DC Studios “Wonder Woman” reboot movie with a new cast, commented on Milly and Eve, “I felt so lucky that these two girls wanted to do this movie. Honestly, their bond felt so genuine when I was watching them.

“Every now and then, when I was on set, I saw the two of them, when they were off camera, have a lovely real moment of just between Milly and Eve, not between Kara and Ruthye. I think that really comes off on screen.”

Biggest break as an actress

“Supergirl” is also Milly’s biggest break as an actress. Before landing the title role, the Aussie racked up several credits, including starring as Simone DeWitt in the limited series “Sirens” and as the Young Rhaenyra Targaryen in “House of the Dragon,” the “Game of Thrones” prequel.

Milly Alcock’s Supergirl and Matthias Schoenaerts’ Krem of the Yellow Hills | Photo from Warner Bros.

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In theater, Milly played Abigail Williams in the West End production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

Milly recalled bagging one of the most coveted women roles in Hollywood: “The moment that it hit me that I was playing Supergirl, I got a WhatsApp DM from James Gunn after I’d done the screen test. He just sent me a link to a Deadline article. I was a bit like, please just call me, tell me this information. That was the moment that I found out that I had the job.

“But to be honest, it still doesn’t feel real. It still feels very much like toggling this. This isn’t really happening. I’ll get there eventually.”

Ana said, “For me, it was crazy because I have been screenwriting for so long, and it was my job. I’ve written movies of all sizes. But this is the first one to be (produced).”

The other quotes below from Eve, Milly, Craig and others behind the highly anticipated new DC feature are from the production notes.

Auditions

Eve recalled how she learned she cinched the part, a significant break for such a young actress: “I went through a series of auditions and there was a lot of time in between, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to hear back, but then I did get the call with the news, and it’s the best feeling ever. It’s a feeling that you can’t describe.

Supergirl poster | Photo from Warner Bros.

“You’re so happy and proud of yourself, but then it also takes a while to sink in. That’s when I read the comic, and I didlots of research about Supergirl and her iconic look and the difference between Kara and Supergirl. And I loved it, and I’m so happy that I got to be part of this amazing film.”

Ruthye Marye Knoll

The film’s notes describe Ruthye Marye Knoll: “Despite her small stature, 13-year-old Ruthye Marie Knoll of the Danastia Clan is unwavering in her drive to avenge her family and serve justice to the man who killed them. Certain foes make the mistake of underestimating this young girl’s abilities, but Ruthye is a headstrong, focused, and scrappyfighter whose grit and determination impress even the biggest brutes who take her on.”

Producers Peter Safran and James Gunn admitted casting Ruthye was challenging. “Ruthye was an exceptionally toughrole to cast because of the age of the character and the depth of the part,” Peter said. “She’s both a foil and a partner for Kara because here is someone who, like Kara, lost everyone she loves and saw things too terrible to bear. But Ruthye has not yet given in to hardness and bitterness.

“Beneath the steel, she’s still a child – that’s what Kara sees in her. And Ruthye fights – a lot – and wields a mightysword. So, we saw a lot of talented young actors for the role, but it wasn’t until we saw Eve Ridley that we knew we had something. Then, when we tested her, it was just unanimous that Eve was the perfect Ruthye.”

Kara, Supergirl

Eve, who turns 15 in December, praised her co-star: “Milly is such a dream to work with. I really look up to her. She has taught me so much so far. She’s such an amazing actress. Kara is such a strong and emotional character, and she really takes on all of those emotions and showcases her talents. So yeah, I’ve loved working with her. She’s a bit like a big sister.”

As for Supergirl, the character, Eve said, “She’s such an inspirational character, and especially for younger children who are growing up watching all of these superhero films, they can really look up to Kara and think, wow, I want to be as brave as her when I’m older. If she can make her dream come true, so can I. I don’t need to just dream it, but I can make it a reality.”

On Ana’s screenplay, the Fil-Brit shared, “Reading the script, you get so engrossed in the storyline. I think it’s such a heartwarming story because both Kara and Ruthye go through such hard challenges in life, and then build a relationship by the end of the film.”

On her character’s back story, the latest DC Universe actress said, “Ruthye’s family is killed by Krem of the YellowHills, and she really is focused on getting revenge. She goes into all of these different pubs just to try and recruitsomeone to help her along the way, and then she meets Kara, Supergirl, and Kara had her own struggles and problemsin life, and she doesn’t want to be dragging around a 13-year-old and trying to help her kill this crazy guy.

“But then Krypto gets sick, and that’s when she feels like she has to come along, just to save her dog. So, we go on thiscrazy adventure together and, as the film progresses, our relationship and our bond get stronger and stronger.”

Villainous Krem

On acting opposite Matthias Schoenaerts as the villainous Krem, heavily costumed and studded on his face and body: “I met him on my second day of filming, when we were doing the scene where my family gets murdered. I’d never methim before, and he was in full costume, hair, makeup… I hadn’t seen any pictures of what he’d look like, so I was too scared to even make eye contact with him. I was physically shaking.

“I thought I liked horror films, but this was a different kind of fear. I think that really helped with the scene because it was the first time I was seeing him, and the first time Ruthye was seeing him. So, to channel all those emotions, that really helped a lot. But under all of the prosthetics and under all of the makeup and the creepy voice, Matthias is such a nice guy, and he’s really fun to work with.”

Jason Momoa as Lobo

As for Jason playing Lobo, Eve remarked, “I think Lobo, being a bounty hunter, has quite a strong personality, and Jason portrays that perfectly. He almost brings a rock n’ roll Super-Villain vibe to Lobo, which I also really like. He’s such a great actor, and he’s also really kind as well, because when he had to strangle me, he was always making sure that the blades on his gloves weren’t hurting me.”

On the stunt training she had to undergo: “I did two months of stunt training, and that was so much fun. I didn’t even know I had to do any stunts on this production, so when I found out, I was so excited to get started. And working with (stunt performers) Rob, Mickey, Maureen, and everyone was such an amazing opportunity.

“I’m so happy I got to be part of it. I learned how to fight with a sword and a staff, and I did boxing lessons. These were all things I’ve never done before, so to get that chance was quite crazy. I also did a lot of wire work, and I’ve neverfocused on wire work before. That was a lot of fun, too, really, really fun.”

Craig loved the girl duo projected by Milly and Eve: “They’re a classic duo in that they’re reluctantly put together with the same mission, so to speak. Kara, who is our lead character, is singularly focused on what she wants to do, and Ruthye is a distraction that eventually wears her down and warms her up.

“But there’s a lot of friction before you see the cracks that start to happen and the warmth that starts to become between them, particularly on Kara’s side, where she’s put up these walls, like this is gonna be three days and then she’s done.

“But Ruthye just gets under her skin in the best way and in a very patient way, so to see Milly and Eve with the restraint that they play against each other, and they take those barbs at times with a grain of salt, it’s like a dance that they do around each other’s backstory.”

“Supergirl” will be in theaters and IMAX across North America on June 26, and internationally beginning June 24.

Ruben V. Nepales is an LA-based journalist whose honors include nine first prizes from the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and the Los Angeles Press Club’s Southern California Journalism Awards. He authored “Through a Writer’s Lens,” which won first prize in nonfiction at the 2020-2021 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. In 2004, he became the first Filipino voter of the Golden Globe Awards, He is a member of the Golden Globe Foundation, one of Hollywood’s biggest philanthropic organizations.