80s pin-up looks unrecognizable 40 years after starring in superhero film… can you guess who?

An actress who is known for her leading role in a superhero film 40 years earlier was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles this week. 

The 80s pin-up was officially cast in the film based on a DC character when she was only 18-years-old. 

Throughout the course of her career thus far, she has worked alongside actors such as Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey, Faye Dunaway, Billy Crystal, Michael J. Fox and also Brad Pitt. 

She has over 70 acting credits to her name – and also appeared in a number of television shows.

In the early 2000s, the star pursed her other passion for music and released her first studio album – followed by four others, with her last being dropped in 2019. 

But can you guess who it is? 

It is Helen Slater, 61 – who is known for her role as Kara Zor-El in the 1984 superhero film, Supergirl. 

The character is notably the cousin of Superman and takes place in the same universe – although the movie itself was a box office flop upon its release in theaters. 

The project – which was directed by Jeannot Szwarc – raked in $14.3 million on a budget of $35 million at the time. 

Aside from Slater, the star-studded cast also included Peter O’Toole, Faye Dunaway, Mia Farrow, Hart Bochner and Brenda Vaccaro. 

During her solo outing on Thursday, Helen kept it casual wearing a light blue button up as well as a pair of loose-fitting, gray pants that stopped just above her ankles. 

She additionally slipped into a pair of comfy, gray sneakers that were secured with laces while a gray hat was placed on top of her locks. 

A black, cross-body purse was placed over her left shoulder and Slater also sported a pair of stylish, black shades. 

Helen opted to not wear any flashy pieces of jewelry and was seen listening to headphones as she strolled through a quiet neighborhood. 

At one point during the lowkey outing, the actress was spotted grabbing a hot drink from Starbucks before heading to her next destination. 

Slater is known for appearing in other projects including The Legend Of Billie Jean (1985), City Slickers (1991) and Lassie (1994). 

Her breakthrough role was when she portrayed Supergirl in the DC movie in 1984 and was the fourth film in the Superman film series which starred Christopher Reeve as Superman. 

During a past interview on the Inside Of You podcast with host Michael Rosenbaum, Helen reflected on being cast in the superhero film. 

She admitted, ‘I started crying. Like I just – my whole life changed. Like massive, massively changed.’ 

A remake of the 1984 film is currently in the works through Warner Bros. Studios – with Milly Alcock taking on the lead role in Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow. 

The Australian-born actress is known for her role in the HBO series, House Of The Dragon, as well as the show Upright. 

At the time of her casting announcement in January, CEO of DC Studios James Gunn issued a statement on social media. 

He expressed, ‘Milly is a fantastically talented young actor, and I’m incredibly excited about her being a part of the DCU.’

‘Yes, I first became aware of her in House of the Dragon but I was blown away by her varied auditions and screen tests for #Supergirl.’

Last year, Gunn opened up about the difference between Supergirl as well as the upcoming Superman movie which is slated to hit theaters next year in July 2025. 

‘We will see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents from the time he was an infant,’ he said, per The Hollywood Reporter. 

‘Versus Supergirl, raised on a rock, a chip off of Krypton, and who watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life and then come to Earth.’

Matthias Schoenaerts has been cast as the villain for the upcoming feature and will portray Krem of the Yellow Hills. 

He has starred in other past projects such as Suite Française, Far From The Madding Crowd, Red Sparrow, and A Little Chaos. 

James further discussed the development of the movie during New York Comic Con in October. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, he stated during a panel, ‘[Writer] Anna [Nogueira] came in, and she pitched the story to me of Supergirl, and it was just one of the best pitches I’ve ever heard, and she immediately wrote it.’ 

‘She came in with the first draft that was great, and it’s just gotten better and better,’ Gunn added.

‘Then [director] Craig [Gillespie] has been incredibly easy to work with, and I can’t wait for that to come out.’

‘It’s a three-act structure, so it’s a little bit different than the structure, which kind of goes through various stories, but as all those major characters, the major themes.’ 

Supergirl is set to begin filming next year in January 2025 and is projected to hit theaters in July 2026 – one year after the release of the upcoming Superman movie.

Helen Slater has also remained in the superhero world after her role in the 1984 DC film – although it is not known if she will have any part in the Supergirl remake. 

She portrayed the character of Eliza Danvers in the Supergirl series (2015-2021) which first premiered on CBS and then later moved to The CW. 

Slater also appeared in Smallville – which was a show that followed the story of a young Clark Kent.