15 Actresses Perfect for the Role of Power Girl in the DCU

Power Girl—also known as Kara Zor-L, Karen Starr, and more recently Paige Stetler—is a Kryptonian hero tied to the Justice Society and classic DC continuity. Introduced as Superman’s cousin from an alternate Earth, she has cycled through retellings and, post-‘Infinite Crisis’ and ‘Rebirth’, re-anchored her origin to Earth-Two while forging a distinct identity, including recent stories that spotlight her new psychic abilities and partnership with Omen. These arcs emphasize a confident, powerhouse protector who blends Kryptonian might with a direct, no-nonsense presence.

With that in mind, here are 15 actresses whose bodies of work include action, thriller, superhero, and genre performances that demonstrate familiarity with physical roles, ensemble world-building, and franchise storytelling. The summaries below highlight key credits, creators, directors, and plot elements from their most relevant projects.

Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney portrays Cassie Howard in HBO’s ‘Euphoria’, created and principally written by Sam Levinson, a series centered on interconnected high-school stories led by Zendaya. She also appeared in Mike White’s anthology series ‘The White Lotus’, which follows guests and staff at a luxury resort, and has featured multiple ensemble casts across seasons.

Sweeney headlined and produced the convent-set horror film ‘Immaculate’, directed by Michael Mohan and written by Andrew Lobel, about a novice who uncovers sinister secrets in an Italian religious community; she also co-starred in S. J. Clarkson’s ‘Madame Web’, playing Julia Cornwall alongside Dakota Johnson in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.

Samara Weaving

Samara Weaving led the survival horror-comedy ‘Ready or Not’, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, in which a new bride tries to survive a deadly game orchestrated by her in-laws; the film was produced by Mythology Entertainment, Vinson Films, and Radio Silence Productions. She also starred in McG’s ‘The Babysitter’, a black-comedy slasher about a boy who discovers his sitter is part of a murderous cult.

Weaving portrayed G.I. Joe operative Scarlett in ‘Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins’, directed by Robert Schwentke and starring Henry Golding, which reimagines the character’s backstory within the Hasbro franchise. The film integrates clan politics, the Arashikage trials, and ties to Cobra and the Joes.

Lili Reinhart

Lili Reinhart starred as Betty Cooper in The CW’s ‘Riverdale’, developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa from Archie Comics, which merges teen drama, noir, and mystery elements around the town’s evolving scandals and relationships. The ensemble includes KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, and Cole Sprouse.

On film, Reinhart appeared in Lorene Scafaria’s ‘Hustlers’, an ensemble crime drama led by Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu about strippers who scheme against wealthy clients, and she headlined ‘Look Both Ways’, directed by Wanuri Kahiu, which follows parallel outcomes for a college graduate after a pivotal life event.

Katheryn Winnick

Katheryn Winnick played Lagertha in ‘Vikings’, created by Michael Hirst, a historical drama that follows Ragnar Lothbrok, his family, and Norse expeditions; Winnick’s character evolves from shield-maiden to leader, intersecting with political and clan conflicts.

She also starred in ABC’s ‘Big Sky’, created by David E. Kelley from C. J. Box’s novels, about private investigators probing abductions and crimes in Montana, with storylines that weave law enforcement, trafficking conspiracies, and shifting antagonists across seasons.

Sophie Turner

Sophie Turner portrayed Sansa Stark in HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’, created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss from George R. R. Martin’s novels, tracking Sansa’s arc through court intrigue, captivity, and leadership within Westeros’ power struggles.

Turner also played Jean Grey in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’, directed by Bryan Singer, and ‘Dark Phoenix’, written and directed by Simon Kinberg, installments that depict the emergence and fallout of the Phoenix Force within the X-Men ensemble.

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer starred as Villanelle in ‘Killing Eve’, created for television by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and based on Luke Jennings’ ‘Codename Villanelle’ novels, a spy thriller that pairs an MI6-adjacent operative with an unpredictable assassin across Europe.

Her film credits include ‘Free Guy’, directed by Shawn Levy, where she plays both a programmer and her avatar inside an open-world game, and ‘The Last Duel’, directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon, centered on a historic judicial duel in medieval France.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh appears as Yelena Belova in Marvel’s ‘Black Widow’, directed by Cate Shortland, and in the Disney+ series ‘Hawkeye’, created by Jonathan Igla; the connected projects explore espionage fallout and vigilante narratives within the MCU.

She also portrays Princess Irulan in Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Two’, adapted from Frank Herbert’s novel, and starred in Ari Aster’s folk-horror ‘Midsommar’, which follows a group of Americans drawn into a Scandinavian commune’s rituals.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer made her acting debut as Jules Vaughn in HBO’s ‘Euphoria’, collaborating with creator Sam Levinson on character and story; the series interweaves addiction, identity, and relationships among its central ensemble.

Schafer played Tigris Snow in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’, directed by Francis Lawrence, a prequel that follows a young Coriolanus Snow mentoring District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird, with Tigris as his confidante and stylist.

Alexandra Daddario

Alexandra Daddario played Rachel in Mike White’s HBO anthology ‘The White Lotus’, which examines guests and staff at exclusive resorts through satirical, character-driven storylines across different locales.

She leads AMC’s ‘Mayfair Witches’ as Rowan Fielding, adapted by Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford from Anne Rice’s ‘Lives of the Mayfair Witches’, a gothic supernatural drama that reconfigures characters and relationships from the novels for television.

Erin Moriarty

Erin Moriarty stars as Annie January/Starlight in Amazon’s ‘The Boys’, developed by Eric Kripke from the comics by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, a satirical superhero series about a vigilante group opposing corporate-backed “Supes”.

Her film work includes ‘Captain Fantastic’, written and directed by Matt Ross, a drama about an off-grid family re-entering mainstream society, in which she plays a key supporting role connected to the protagonist’s son.

Chloë Grace Moretz

Chloë Grace Moretz portrayed Hit-Girl in ‘Kick-Ass’ and headlined the WWII action-horror ‘Shadow in the Cloud’, directed by Roseanne Liang, about a flight officer guarding a secret cargo aboard a B-17 as a supernatural threat emerges.

On television, Moretz stars in Prime Video’s ‘The Peripheral’, created by Scott B. Smith and executive produced by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, adapted from William Gibson’s novel and set across intertwined timelines with immersive future tech.

Meg Donnelly

Meg Donnelly voices Kara Zor-El/Supergirl in DC’s animated ‘Legion of Super-Heroes’ and the ‘Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths’ trilogy, entries in the Tomorrowverse continuity with ensembles that include Darren Criss, Jensen Ackles, and others.

She starred as Mary Campbell in The CW’s ‘The Winchesters’, developed by Robbie Thompson as a ‘Supernatural’ prequel set in an alternate timeline, and plays Addison in Disney’s musical ‘Zombies’ franchise.

Peyton List

Peyton List (born 1998) plays Tory Nichols in ‘Cobra Kai’, created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, a continuation of ‘The Karate Kid’ saga that blends coming-of-age drama with tournament and dojo rivalries.

Earlier, List starred as Emma Ross in Disney Channel’s ‘Jessie’, created by Pamela Eells O’Connell, and appeared as Holly Hills in the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ films, which track Greg Heffley’s misadventures with friends and classmates.

Alexandra Shipp

Alexandra Shipp portrayed Ororo Munroe/Storm in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ and ‘Dark Phoenix’, entries that frame the X-Men’s struggles with ancient mutants and escalating cosmic power. She also appeared in ‘Love, Simon’, directed by Greg Berlanti, a teen coming-of-age story adapted from Becky Albertalli’s novel.

Shipp played Susan in ‘tick, tick… BOOM!’, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a musical drama about Jonathan Larson’s early career, and appeared as Sasha Arias in ‘Shaft’, directed by Tim Story, a continuation of the franchise starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, and Richard Roundtree.

Ana de Armas

Ana de Armas co-starred in ‘Knives Out’, written and directed by Rian Johnson, a modern whodunit that assembles an ensemble cast around the murder of a crime novelist, and in ‘No Time to Die’, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, part of the James Bond franchise.

She leads the upcoming John Wick-universe film ‘Ballerina’, directed by Len Wiseman, expanding the assassin-mythos worldbuilding and continuing the franchise’s blend of stylized action and underworld codes.

Share which actress you’d cast as Power Girl in the DCU—and why—in the comments!