Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Helen Slater playing 'Supergirl' in the 1984 movie that made her famous. Slater was only two years out of performing arts college when she landed her best-known role, and she's been stuck with it ever since. Although many people mistakenly believe that she's related to Christian Slater (both became famous at around the same time and have shared the screen together), they're not.
Like a lot of aspiring performers, Slater's first TV work was on an ABC 'Afterschool Special' where her co-stars included Meg Ryan and James Earl Jones. 'Supergirl' was not a critical or box office success and could have derailed her career, but Slater pressed on by starring in 'The Legend of Billie Jean' and 'Ruthless People.' By 1988, though, her star appeared to be on the wane as she drifted into independent cinema.