Line #53 Creator/HelenSlater


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/helenslater.jpg]]
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3	Helen Rachel Slater (born December 15, 1963 in Bethpage, New York) is an American actress, singer and songwriter.
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5	She was the first actress to play ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} in live action, in the [[Film/Supergirl1984 eponymous 1984 film]]. She went on to star in films such as ''Film/RuthlessPeople'', ''Film/TheSecretOfMySuccess'' and ''Film/CitySlickers''.
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7	She also played in television productions and stage projects, including the voice of ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' and three guest appearances as Lara-El on ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' (2007–2010). She was a series regular for the two-season run (2011–2013) on the ABC Family series ''Series/TheLyingGame'' and ended up playing Eliza Danvers in the ''Series/{{Supergirl\|2015}}'' series.
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9	In the 2000s, Slater recorded five albums, singing her own compositions and playing the piano.
10	----
11	!!Filmography with TV Tropes pages:
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13	* ''Series/AnotherWorld'' (1982) as Suzie
14	* ''Film/{{Supergirl\|1984}}'' (1984) as [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara Zor-El / Linda Lee / Supergirl]]
15	* ''Film/TheLegendOfBillieJean'' (1985) as Billie Jean
16	* ''Film/RuthlessPeople'' (1986) as Sandy Kessler
17	* ''Film/TheSecretOfMySuccess'' (1987) as Christy Wills
18	* ''Film/CitySlickers'' (1991) as Bonnie Rayburn
19	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatestAdventureStoriesFromTheBible'' (1992) as [[Literature/BookOfEsther Queen Esther]] (voice)
20	* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' (1992) as Becky Gelke
21	* ''Series/DreamOn'' (1992) as Sarah
22	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' (1992-94) as ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul (voice)
23	* ''Franchise/{{Lassie}}'' (1994) as Laura Turner
24	* ''Series/CarolineInTheCity'' (1997) as Cassandra Thompson
25	* ''Series/WillAndGrace'' (2001) as Peggy Truman
26	* ''Series/BostonPublic'' (2003) as Mrs. [=McNeal=]
27	* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' (2004) as Susan Coyle
28	* ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' (2005) as Nadia Shelton
29	* ''Series/TheNewAdventuresOfOldChristine'' (2006) as Liz
30	* ''Series/CrossingJordan'' (2007) as Elaine Tallridge
31	* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' (2007, 2010) as Lara-El
32	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' (2009) as Susan Carter
33	* ''Series/EleventhHour'' (2009) as Susan Wynne
34	* ''Series/{{Greek}}'' (2009) as Magda Stephanopoulos
35	* ''Series/{{Gigantic}}'' (2010-11) as Jennifer Brooks
36	* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' (2010) as Elizabeth Harris
37	* ''Series/PrivatePractice'' (2011) as Erin George
38	* ''Series/DropDeadDiva'' (2011) as Penny Brecker
39	* ''Series/TheLyingGame'' (2011-13) as Kristin Mercer
40	* ''WebVideo/{{Caper}}'' (2014) as Luke's Mom
41	* ''Series/TheYoungAndTheRestless'' (2014) as Dr. Chiverton
42	* ''Series/MadMen'' (2015) as Sheila
43	* ''WebAnimation/DCSuperHeroGirls'' (2015-16) as Martha Kent (voice)
44	* ''Series/{{Supergirl\|2015}}'' (2015-21) as Eliza Danvers
45	* ''Series/AgentX'' (2015) as Helen Eckhart
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47	!!Tropes applying to her works:
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49	* BillingDisplacement:[[invoked]] In ''Supergirl'', Faye Dunaway is billed before her, continuing the ''Superman'' movie tradition of billing the villain's actor before the hero's.
50	* ButIPlayOneOnTV:[[invoked]] She and Christian Slater played brother and sister in ''Film/TheLegendOfBillieJean'', and the same last name led to many assuming they were related in real life. She frequently has to tell fans they aren't at conventions.
51	* TheCastShowOff:[[invoked]] She sings in the movies ''Happy Together'' and ''Lassie''.
52	* CastingGag: As with many actors from DC Comics adaptations, she got to appear in several DC-inspired works after the ''Supergirl'' movie, namely '' Batman: The Animated Series'', ''Smallville'', ''Supergirl'' (the TV series), and ''WebAnimation/DCSuperHeroGirls'' .
53	* DarkHorseCasting:[[invoked]] She was cast as Supergirl because producers wanted an unknown, just as Christopher Reeve had been.
54	* DyeHard: Naturally dark-haired, Slater dyed her hair blonde to play Supergirl in 1984 and hasn't looked back since.
55	* DyeingForYourArt:[[invoked]]
56	** She had long hair when she did ''Film/TheLegendOfBillieJean'' and it was cut short when the character has an ImportantHaircut. She didn't do it herself though; a professional hairdresser did.
57	** She had to gain 20 lbs to play Supergirl.
58	* HollywoodHypeMachine: Back in the '80s she found herself getting a big push. It started with ''Film/{{Supergirl\|1984}}'', which was unfortunately a flop. Her next project was ''Film/TheLegendOfBillieJean'', which she hoped would be her breakout role, but it ended up another flop (it did later get a cult following from TV airings however). She did have notable successes in ''Film/RuthlessPeople'', ''Film/TheSecretOfMySuccess'' and ''Film/CitySlickers'' but work seemed to dry up in the 90s. While she's still working away, she's still best known as the first Supergirl, and her most recent high profile work is usually something that [[CastingGag acknowledges this]] (such as ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' or ''Series/Supergirl2015'').
59	* IAmNotSpock:[[invoked]] Despite a lengthy resume in TV and film, a lot of her roles evoke Supergirl in some way.
60	* WagTheDirector: [[invoked]] The haircut in ''Film/TheLegendOfBillieJean'' was meant to be much shorter, and close to a shaved head, taking inspiration from ''Film/ThePassionOfJoanOfArc'' that Billie Jean watches before cutting it. The makeover was also supposed to include lots of glitter and colourful eye makeup. Helen refused to cut her hair so short or wear the eye makeup, so they settled on a longer pixie. Some scenes were shot before this, where extras playing Billie Jean's fans can be seen wearing the planned eye makeup.

Context Creator / HelenSlater