Cover Eve Ridley as Ruthye in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Eve Ridley as Ruthye in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
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A new star enters the DC universe. Filipina-British actress Eve Ridley reveals how a life-changing audition led her to ‘Supergirl’, one of the most anticipated superhero films of the year
As one of the most anticipated superhero films of the year, Supergirl introduces a new generation of heroes to the DC Universe. Leading the charge is Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, the iconic heroine known for her strength and sense of justice. Alongside her is a rising young actress with Filipino roots: Eve Ridley, who plays Ruthye Marye Knoll, a determined young warrior whose quest for revenge sets the movie in motion.
For Ridley, landing a role in such a high-profile production felt almost surreal. At first, she wasn’t sure if she was going to hear back after auditioning for the role of Ruthye. She went through a series of auditions, and there was a lot of time in between. “But then I did get the call with the news and it’s the best feeling ever,” shares the young actress. “It’s a feeling that you can’t describe, you know? You’re so happy and proud of yourself, but it also takes a while to sink in. That’s when I read the comic and I did lots 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.”
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Above Milly Alcock and Eve Ridley in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Milly Alcock and Eve Ridley in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
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In Supergirl, Ridley plays the headstrong, focused and scrappy Ruthye Marye Knoll of the Danastia Clan, who is unwavering in her drive to avenge her family. She and Kara ultimately join forces.
Although Ruthye and Kara come from very different worlds, their contrasting personalities create one of the film’s most entertaining dynamics. “Ruthye’s quite upright and very composed and put together, but then Kara… she’s got that sort of energy where she doesn’t care what she says and she’s using a lot of slang language and it’s all really casual. You can see the difference between them and how it clashes. I think that’s really funny,” says Ridley.
The chemistry between Ridley and Alcock was immediately apparent to screenwriter Ana Nogueira, who believes their off-screen relationship helped shape the film’s soul. “Milly was like a big sister to Eve throughout this challenging thing that they both were doing, and I think all of that sisterly love and respect comes through on screen,” says Nogueira. “Eve is just an unbelievable find, such a gem. She’s self-actualised; she’s just herself, nice and sweet, professional.”
Above Eve Ridley as Ruthye in one scene in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Eve Ridley as Ruthye in one scene in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
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For Ridley, working with Nogueira and director Craig Gillespie proved to be an invaluable learning experience. During one of the read-through sessions, she was struck by Gillespie’s visual approach to storytelling. “Craig made a sketch of the cave scene, where he drew Ruthye and Kara, with arrows of where they’d move in that scene. I loved how he envisioned that scene to be and the way that he explains things,” says Ridley. “And learning different terms and phrases that he used will really help me for my future as well, because different directors have different methods and ways.”
The film also allowed Ridley to work alongside a cast that includes some of Hollywood’s most recognisable names. Prior to Supergirl, she had appeared in acclaimed television series such as The Witcher and 3 Body Problem, but this marks her biggest film role to date. “Milly is such a dream to work with. I really look up to her,” says Ridley. “She taught me so much, and she’s such an amazing actress. And I think Kara is such a strong and emotional character and Milly really takes on all of those emotions and really showcases her talent. I loved working with her. She’s a bit like a big sister.”
Above Milly Alcock in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Milly Alcock in ‘Supergirl’ (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
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One of her most memorable experiences on set came during her first encounter with Matthias Schoenaerts, who plays the villainous Krem. “I’d never met him 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, and 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,” Ridley shares. “But under all of the prosthetics and under all of the makeup and the creepy voice, he is such a nice guy and he’s really fun to work with.”
Ridley also has a lighter story to tell about Jason Momoa, who makes his debut as the notorious bounty hunter Lobo. “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,” shares Ridley with a laugh.
Beyond the action and adventure, Ridley hopes audiences leave the cinema inspired by the film’s central heroine. “I think that she’s such an inspirational character, and especially 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. And I feel like Supergirl really is the definition of girl power. Every kid wants to find their superhero. I’m just happy I found mine.”
Supergirl lands in Philippine cinemas on June 24.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
