Helen Rachel Slater (born December 15, 1963) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is best known for playing the DC Comics superheroine Supergirl in the 1984 film Supergirl, as well as appearing in films such as The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), Ruthless People (1986), The Secret of My Success (1987), City Slickers (1991), Chantilly Lace (1993), Lassie (1994), and No Way Back (1995). She provided the voice of Talia al Ghul in Batman: The Animated Series, portrayed Lara-El in Smallville, and played Eliza Danvers in the 2015 Supergirl TV series.

Early life Slater was born in Bethpage, New York to Alice Joan (née Citrin), a lawyer and nuclear disarmament peace activist based in New York City; and Gerald Slater, a television executive. Her parents divorced in 1974. She is Jewish. She has a brother, David, who is a lawyer in New York City. Slater attended Great Neck South High School and then transferred to the High School of Performing Arts from which she graduated in 1982.

Career Film and television Beating Demi Moore and Brooke Shields, Slater played Supergirl in the 1984 film Supergirl. She has starred in several further films including The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), Ruthless People (1986), The Secret of My Success (1987), and City Slickers (1991). She has additionally found work as an actress in television and stage projects.

Following Supergirl, Slater has made multiple appearances in Superman media such as Superman's mother Lara-El in the TV series Smallville, Supergirl's adoptive mother Eliza Danvers in the Supergirl TV series, and Clark Kent's adoptive mother Martha Kent in DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year and the associated film. Slater did filming for the film The Flash (2023) to portray Supergirl in a de-aged cameo appearance.

In 1985, DC Comics included Slater as one of the honorees in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great for her work on the Supergirl film.

Stage work

In 1987, Slater co-founded the New York theater group, Naked Angels, with Gina Gershon. In 1991, she also co-founded, with her husband, Robert Watzke, the L.A. based theater group The Bubalaires.

Slater appeared in two off-Broadway plays: Almost Romance and Responsible Parties. She also starred in The Big Deal at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Music career In 2003, she released the album, One of These Days, consisting of her original songs. The tracks were real-time recordings with Slater singing and playing piano, accompanied by six other musicians; no multitracking, editing, or dubbing was employed. In 2005, she released a second album, Crossword, which used the same recording approach as her first album. Both albums were produced by Phillip Swann. In 2008, Cortes Alexander recorded Slater's "Any Day Now" and "Love'll Come & Do Just That" on his album Swell. Since then, Slater has released four additional albums: Shine (2010), The Myth of Ancient Greece (2013) and The Ugly Duckling (2015), both made for children and Selkie (2019), an eleven-song concept album released as one continuous musical piece.

Writing In 2010, Slater wrote a Supergirl story, "A Hero's Journey", which appeared in the fiftieth issue of the fifth volume of the Supergirl comic book.

Filmography +Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 Supergirl Kara Zor-El / Linda Lee / Supergirl 1985 The Legend of Billie Jean Billie Jean Davy 1986 Ruthless People Sandy Kessler 1987 The Secret of My Success Christy Wills 1988 Sticky Fingers Hattie 1989 Happy Together Alexandra Page Also features singing by Slater 1991 City Slickers Bonnie Rayburn 1993 Betrayal of the Dove Ellie West A House in the Hills Alex Weaver 1994 Lassie Laura Turner Also features singing by Slater 1995 The Steal Kim No Way Back Mary 1997 The Long Way Home Herself Voice; documentary 1999 Carlo's Wake Lisa Torello 2001 Nowhere in Sight Carly Bauers 2004 Seeing Other People Penelope 2011 Beautiful Wave Jane Davenport Direct-to-video 2012 Model Minority Mrs. Ambrose 2014 Echo Park Julia 2015 The Curse of Downers Grove Diane 2016 DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year Martha Kent Voice A Remarkable Life Iris 2021 Confetti Dr. Wurner 2023 Chantilly Bridge Hannah 2023 The Flash Kara Zor-El / Linda Lee / Supergirl Digitally de-aged cameo

+Television Year Title Role Notes 1982 ABC Afterschool Special Amy Watson Episode: "Amy & the Angel" 1988 Improv Tonite Herself Guest host 1990 Half a World Away Jacqui Cochrane Miniseries Capital News Anne McKenna Television film 1991The Hidden Room Lauren Episode: "Wasting Away" 1992 Seinfeld Becky Gelke Uncredited; episode: "The Good Samaritan" Dream On Sarah Episode: "Theory of Relativity" 1992–1994 Batman: The Animated Series Talia al Ghul Voice; 4 episodes 1993 12:01 Lisa Fredericks Television film Chantilly Lace Hannah 1994 Couples Nina Parallel Lives Elsa Freedman 1997 Caroline in the City Cassandra Thompson Uncredited; episode: "Caroline and the Monkeys" Toothless Mrs. Lewis Television film 1997–1998 Michael Hayes Julie Siegel 3 episodes 1998 Best Friends for Life Pammy Cahill Television film 2000 American Adventure Kathy Pilot 2001 Will & Grace Peggy Truman Episode: "Moveable Feast" 2003 Boston Public Mrs. McNeal Episode: "Chapter Seventy-Four" 2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Susan Coyle Episode: "Families" 2005 Grey's Anatomy Nadia Shelton Episode: "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" 2006 Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall Stella Andre Television film The New Adventures of Old Christine Liz Episode: "Teach Your Children Well" 2007 Crossing Jordan Elaine Tallridge Episode: "Seven Feet Under" 2007–2010 Smallville Lara-El 3 episodes 2009 Supernatural Susan Carter Episode: "Family Remains" Eleventh Hour Susan Wynne Episode: "Medea" Greek Dr. Magda Stephanopoulos Episode: "Guilty Treasures" 2010–2011 Gigantic Jennifer Brooks 10 episodes 2010 CSI: NY Elizabeth Harris Episode: "Do Not Pass Go" 2011 Private Practice Erin Episode: "Two Steps Back" Rock the House Diane Petersen Television film Drop Dead Diva Penny Brecker Episode: "Hit and Run" 2011–2013 The Lying Game Kristin Mercer Main cast 2013 The Good Mother Cheryl Jordan Television film 2014 Caper Luke's Mom Web series; episode: "All Hands on Peltas" The Young and the Restless Dr. Chiverton 4 episodes 2015 Mad Men Sheila Episode: "Person to Person" 2015–2021 Supergirl Eliza Danvers 13 episodes 2015 Agent X Helen Eckhart Episode: "Fidelity" 2016 DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High Martha Kent Voice; television film 2026 The Rookie Darla Barrett Episode: "Survive the Streets"

Discography One of These Days (2003) Crossword (2005) Shine (2010) The Myth of Ancient Greece (2013) The Ugly Duckling (2015) Selkie (2019)

References

External links