USA TODAY International Edition
Oval Office role is a wonder
Lynda Carter goes presidential in ‘ Supergirl’
Lynda Carter’s favorite thing about playing a president on TV? No fundraising involved.
The 1970s star of Wonder Woman returns to the world of small- screen superheroes as President Olivia Marsdin on Monday’s episode of CW’s Supergirl ( 8 ET/ PT). Carter’s commander in chief comes to National City — and meets Supergirl ( Melissa Benoist) — as the town is divided on the civil rights of aliens.
“There are good aliens and bad aliens,” says Carter, 65. “Different doesn’t necessarily mean bad, and there are some topical things that are being dealt with.”
The Supergirl role is the latest authoritative character for the actress, who played a governor in the 2001 comedy Super Troopers ( and is reprising her part for the upcoming sequel) and a school principal in the 2005 kid- friendly film Sky High.
“It’s really great because I have none of that with my children,” says Carter, who has a son, James, 28, and daughter Jessica, 26. “I try to assert myself, and they’ll have none of it.”
Carter, a singer and former Miss World America, discusses her role on Supergirl and fancasts a disco- era Batman: QWhat’s President Marsdin like? AI really did model my character off of Hillary Clinton because I’ve known her since 1983. I know who she is because I’ve seen her in all kinds of situations — I spent quite a bit of time with her during the whole impeachment and ( saw) how she handled herself with grace. When she’s working, she’s got her first- class brain going, and the difference between her and most other politicians is it’s not just her own voice she likes — she listens. That’s what I tried to convey in what an effective president would be: warm and passionate. QMelissa’s roughly the same age you were playing Wonder Woman. Do you see any similarities? ASure, I do. It was very easy for me to get the frustrations, the everyday- ness and what the public sees. She plays a superhero extremely well, and it’s difficult because the tendency is to make fun of it and you can’t do that. You have to play it with complete sincerity, otherwise it doesn’t work. She does a beautiful job and she’s a wonderful young woman. ALet me put it this way: I will never run for office because it is so complicated, there is so much that goes on.
QLet’s
say there had been a Justice League movie in the 1970s with you as Wonder Woman and Christopher Reeve as Superman. Who’s your Batman? AKurt Russell, probably. He was really cute! Great body, with all that hair. Why not? When’s Q your next episode of Supergirl? AFans
better start pressuring them because I have not been ( cast) in a subsequent episode. I’m thinking, ‘ Well, when are you going to advance this thing?’ Because I’m getting busy!