Biographie

Both she and Christian Slater achieved early success playing brother and sister in The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), leading many to believe they were real-life siblings. Although they share the same last name, they are not, in fact, related.

She played Superman's cousin Kara Zor-El / Supergirl / Linda Lee in Supergirl (1984), Superman's mother Lara Lor-Van in Smallville (2001), and Supergirl's foster mother Eliza Danvers in Supergirl (2015).

Attended the premiere of Supergirl (1984) with Superman - Le film (1978) star Christopher Reeve. Reeve was originally set for a cameo in the film, playing cousin to Slater as Superman, but bowed out later.

Spoke to Christopher Reeve about portraying a superhero. They spent all day on the streets of New York with Reeve giving advice on being a super-heroine.

Gained over 20 pounds for the role in Supergirl (1984).

[on facing mid-life crisis] I can't speak for all women, but I do think that . . . I mean, me and my girlfriends, we definitely . . . we're in crisis on a continuous basis . . . or at least monthly, for sure, I don't know. It's funny because we just bust ourselves! We go to therapy, we eat right, we stay away from caffeine, we try to have loving relationships with our mothers and more communication with our fathers, and still the black abyss will open up!

[on looking at herself in the home-made Supergirl costume she wore to her audition] I looked at myself in the mirror and I thought, "I look like such a jackass".

[about her character "Christy Wills" in Le secret de mon succès (1987)] At first I wanted her to appear more military-like, wearing more blue and the like, but then Herb [director Herbert Ross] told me to have her display more female qualities, which turned out to be right because we could then see she was more apt to being both an executive and a woman.

[on her teen years] I was terribly gawky--too goofy to become a high-kicking cheerleader--with stringy brown hair and bad posture. Definitely nobody noticeable!

[on her character "Mary" in Dilemme sans issue (1995)] Mary . . . is a chatty, loopy, quirky flight attendant who doesn't understand all that's going on around her. She realizes the situation soon enough and perceives Yuji is innocent, but she knows that Zack is also in a terrible conflict with his son. Yet she questions him: Why is he doing this? How can he take this guy [Yuji] to his death? Mary wises up very quickly.