Milly Alcock is about to be the only person your kids want to talk about as she takes flight in the new Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow this summer, but if you only recognize her from the brutal world of Westeros, you’re probably wondering if her filmography is actually safe for your 12-year-old.
Milly Alcock is the breakout Australian star moving from the very adult House of the Dragon to the lead role in DC’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (releasing June 2026). While her "dragonrider" roots are strictly TV-MA, her new role as the Girl of Steel is set to be the major teen cultural touchstone of the year. Parents should steer younger kids toward her lighter work like Upright and keep a close eye on the PG-13 boundaries of the new DC Universe.
If you haven't been keeping up with the "Who’s Who" of Hollywood, Milly Alcock is the 25-year-old Australian actress who basically broke the internet a few years back playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen. She has this incredibly expressive, slightly rebellious energy that makes her a magnet for Gen Z and Gen Alpha fans.
Before she was flying dragons or wearing a cape, she was doing gritty indie work in Australia. She actually dropped out of high school to pursue acting, which is a fun fact your kids might use against you when they don't want to do their math homework. (Pro tip: Remind them she dropped out to star in a massive TV show, not to spend twelve hours a day on Roblox.)
It’s not just about the movies; it’s the vibe. Milly has become a massive figure in "edit culture" on TikTok and Instagram. If your teen is into "aesthetic" videos, they’ve likely seen hundreds of slow-motion clips of her set to moody synth-pop.
She represents a shift in what a "Supergirl" looks like. She’s not the polished, perfect cheerleader type we saw in older iterations. She’s a bit more jagged, a bit more "Ohio" (as the kids might say when something is weird but interesting), and she brings a level of gravitas that makes superheroes feel less like "brain rot" and more like actual cinema.
Let’s get the big one out of the way. If your middle schooler is asking to watch Milly’s "other show" because they’re hyped for Supergirl, you need to be the "bad guy" here. House of the Dragon is essentially a soap opera with dragons, extreme gore, and levels of "incest-adjacent" drama that will make a family dinner very awkward, very fast.
Screenwise gives House of the Dragon a hard TV-MA rating. It’s not for kids. If they want to see her in a fantasy setting, maybe suggest they stick to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for their dragon fix while they wait for the movie to drop in June.
If you want to get to know Milly's work without the trauma of Westeros, here is the Screenwise breakdown:
This is actually her best work. She stars alongside Tim Minchin as a runaway teenager hauling a piano across the Australian outback. It’s funny, it’s heart-wrenching, and while there is some language, it’s a fantastic "older teen and parent" watch. It deals with real themes of family and belonging without the dragons.
This is the big one for Summer 2026. Directed by Craig Gillespie and overseen by James Gunn, this isn't your typical "save the cat from a tree" Supergirl. It’s based on a comic run that is a bit more cosmic and philosophical. Expect a PG-13 rating with some sci-fi violence. It's likely going to be the "it" movie for the 12+ crowd.
Skip this for the kids. It’s an eerie, atmospheric crime drama. It’s good, but it’s slow and dark—definitely more of a "parents' night in" show after the kids are asleep.
Since today is April 2nd and we are just a few months away from the premiere, the marketing machine is in full swing. This is a great time to talk to your kids about fame and image.
Milly Alcock is someone who has been very vocal about how "overwhelming" and "gross" social media fame can feel. She actually deleted her Instagram for a while because the comments were too much.
Questions to ask over dinner:
- "I heard the actress playing Supergirl actually hates being on social media. Why do you think someone that famous would find TikTok exhausting?"
- "What do you think makes this version of Supergirl different from the ones we've seen before?"
- "If you had to travel across the desert with a piano like in Upright, which three Spotify playlists would you need to survive?"
We are entering a new era of superhero movies. James Gunn (the guy who did Guardians of the Galaxy) is now running the show. This means the tone is shifting.
While the old DC movies were often "dark and gritty" (and frankly, sometimes a bit boring), the new universe is aiming for more "heart and soul." Milly Alcock’s Supergirl is the centerpiece of this. Screenwise is tracking the community sentiment, and parents are cautiously optimistic that this will be a return to movies that are actually fun for the family, rather than just two hours of people punching each other in the rain.
Q: Is Milly Alcock’s Supergirl movie okay for a 10-year-old? Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is expected to be rated PG-13. While it will have sci-fi action and some mature themes about loss, it is generally being marketed as a "coming of age" story that should be fine for most 10-year-olds with parental guidance.
Q: Can my kid watch House of the Dragon if they only watch the Milly Alcock episodes? Honestly, no. Even the early episodes featuring Milly contain graphic violence, sexual situations, and birth scenes that are genuinely traumatizing. It’s better to wait until they are 17+ for that one.
Q: What is the best Milly Alcock show for teenagers? Upright is the clear winner here. It’s a 15+ rated show in Australia (roughly TV-14 in the US), offering a great balance of humor and emotional depth that resonates well with 14-to-18-year-olds.
Q: Why is everyone calling Milly Alcock "Rhaenyra" on TikTok? Rhaenyra Targaryen was her breakout character in House of the Dragon. Even though she’s moved on to DC, the "fandom" is still very attached to her portrayal of the dragon princess, so you'll see a lot of crossover content.
Milly Alcock is a high-caliber talent who is about to become a household name. While her past work in Westeros is a "no-go" for the younger crowd, her future as Supergirl looks bright. She’s a great example of an actress who prioritizes the craft over the "influencer" lifestyle, which is a refreshing narrative to share with our tech-obsessed kids.
If you’re looking for more ways to navigate the summer blockbuster season, ask our chatbot for a personalized movie calendar
based on your kid's interests!
- Watch the trailer for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow with your kids to gauge their interest level.
- Check out Upright if you have older teens looking for a high-quality binge-watch that isn't "brain rot."
- Set boundaries early regarding House of the Dragon—the hype for the actress will make them curious, but the content isn't there yet for them.