ACTOR
Helen Slater
20 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (20)
- #001
Both she and Christian Slater found early success playing brother and sister in The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), which led many people to believe they were real-life siblings. Despite sharing the same surname, they are not actually related.
- #002
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 stepmother Eliza Danvers in Supergirl (2015).
- #003
She attended the premiere of Supergirl (1984) alongside Superman (1978) star Christopher Reeve. Reeve had initially been prepared for a role in which he would play Slater's cousin as Superman, but he later dropped out.
- #004
In addition to her piano skills, she is also a classically trained singer.
- #005
She was the first girl to audition for Supergirl (1984). The producers considered her the strongest of the applicants, and after months of callbacks and screen tests she was cast.
- #006
She spoke with Christopher Reeve about playing a superhero. They spent an entire day on the streets of New York while Reeve gave advice on becoming a superhero.
- #007
She performed some of her own stunts in Supergirl (1984).
- #008
Her best friend is Helen Hunt, who first introduced her to her future husband, Robert Watzke.
- #009
Her natural hair color is brown. After she dyed it once for Supergirl (1984), she stayed blonde for future roles until she became a spokesperson for L'oreal's Preference. She appears with her natural hair in her first feature film, Amy & the Angel (1982).
- #010
She co-founded the New York-based theater group The Naked Angels with Gina Gershon.
- #011
She wrote a musical titled "Ugly Duckling." Although it takes on the original story, it was written for adults and focuses on human characters, and she is trying to get it published.
- #012
She gave birth to a 7 lb., 10 oz. baby. The girl, Hannah Nika, was born on August 28, 1995.
- #013
Her second album, "Crossword," was released. It is another collection of songs she wrote herself, recorded live in a studio. This time the music is inspired by jazz rather than the folk of her debut. Slater had written songs for "Crossword" before her first album came out. After recording "Crossword," Slater prepared to put together another collection for a third album.
- #014
She tested successfully for a role in The Slugger's Wife (1985) but had to leave the role because of contract details.
- #015
She attended and graduated from the famous New York High School of Performing Arts.
- #016
She enjoys singing and playing the piano.
- #017
She reunited with her Happy Together (1989) co-star Patrick Dempsey in an episode of the medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2005).
- #018
She was a member of the Actor's Movement Studio.
- #019
Helen Slater attended the Collector Mania convention and once again became the center of attention.
- #020
Barry Friedman was one of the acting coaches at the New York High School of Performing Arts.
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