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Helen Slater

Helen Slater

Actor · Born December 15, 1963 (62) · Bethpage, Long Island, New York, USA

Helen Rachel Slater (born December 15, 1963) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is best known for her role as the title character in the 1984 film Supergirl. She returned to the 2015 TV series of the same title, this time as Supergirl's adoptive mother, Eliza Danvers. In the intervening years, she starred in several films including The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), Ruthless People (1986), The Secret of My Success (1987), and City Slickers (1991). She additionally found work as an actress in television, and stage projects, including three guest appearances on the series Smallville (2007–2010). In the 2000s, she recorded three albums, on which she sings her own compositions and plays the piano.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 15, 1963 (62)
From
Bethpage, Long Island, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
43 on MovieCove · 61 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 1% in 30 days

What are Helen Slater's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
30%
Self
29%
Morality
18%
Survival
9%
Power
8%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Coming of age6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 14 · Intense 0

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 17 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 15 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 15
Hero
4 of 15
Mentor
2 of 15
Shapeshifter
1 of 15
Shadow
1 of 15
Herald
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Warm
7
Hopeful
7
Melancholic
7
Joyful
7
Other
20

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet11
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Helen Slater's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 43 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Helen Slater's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

61 credits, 43 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Chantilly Bridge(2023)

    as Hannah

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Confetti(2021)

    as Dr. Wurmer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Rookie(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Francine Barrett

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year(2016)

    as Martha Kent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • A Remarkable Life(2016)

    as Iris

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High(2016)

    as Martha Kent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Supergirl(2015)

    Show 13 episodes · as Eliza Danvers

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • The Curse of Downers Grove(2015)

    as Diane

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Ride(2014)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Echo Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Julia

  • Caper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Luke's Mum

  • The Good Mother(2013)

    as Cheryl

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Model Minority (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Mrs. Ambrose

  • Beautiful Wave(2011)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Lying Game(2011)

    Show 30 episodes · as Kristin Mercer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Rock the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Diane

  • Gigantic(2010)

    Show 10 episodes · as Jennifer Brooks

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Drop Dead Diva(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Penny Brecker

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Eleventh Hour(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Wynne

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Erin George

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Mad Men(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Greek(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Magda Stephanopoulos

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The New Adventures of Old Christine(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Liz

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall(2006)

    as Stella Andre

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Supernatural(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Carter

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Nadia Shelton

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Seeing Other People(2004)

    as Penelope

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Smallville(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lara-El

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Elaine Tallridge

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Nowhere in Sight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Carly Bauers

  • Boston Public (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. McNeal

  • American Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Kathy

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan Coyle

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Carlo's Wake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Lisa Torello

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Peggy Truman

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Toothless(1997)

    as Katherine's Mom

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Katherine's Mom

  • The Long Way Home(1997)

    as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • No Way Back(1995)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Steal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Kim

  • Parallel Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Elsa Freedman

  • Lassie(1994)

    as Laura Turner

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • 12:01(1993)

    as Lisa Fredericks

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Chantilly Lace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Hannah

  • Betrayal of the Dove(1993)

    as Ellie West

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • A House in the Hills(1993)

    as Alex Weaver

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Batman: The Animated Series(1992)

    Show 4 episodes · as Talia (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Queen Esther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Queen Esther (voice)

  • The Hidden Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Lauren

  • City Slickers(1991)

    as Bonnie Rayburn

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Great Air Race (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jacqui Cochrane

  • Dream On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah

  • Capital News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 13 episodes · as Anne McKenna

  • Seinfeld(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Becky Gelke

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Happy Together(1989)

    as Alex Page

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sticky Fingers(1988)

    as Hattie

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of My Success(1987)

    as Christy Wills

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Ruthless People(1986)

    as Sandy Kessler

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Billie Jean(1985)

    as Billie Jean

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Supergirl(1984)

    Stunts · as Supergirl / Linda Lee

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Amy and the Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Amy Watson

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 61 titles from 1982 to 2023; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

City Slickers (1991)

$179M worldwide

Highest rated

The Long Way Home (1997)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

The Secret of My Success (1987)

Film career

19822023

Peak 1984 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting60 of 61: 59 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thOther crew2 of 61: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s8 · 8 acting · 1 crew1990s21 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s15 · 14 acting · 1 crew2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 15% of 13 roles
8494

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Helen Slater's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 25; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 43 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 43 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Gigantic (2010)

93rd percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Batman: The Animated Series (1992)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Helen Slater's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles25–51 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles41–62 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles18–38 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Helen Slater work with?

People who share at least 2 of Helen Slater's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Patricia Richardson shares the most, 2.

Actors

Editors