海角大神

Actress Noel Neill, who has died, was the first actress to portray the Superman character Lois Lane in movies.聽

In the early days of Superman, the character of Lois Lane represented a portrait of an ambitious professional woman that was relatively rare in the popular media. But the character didn't evolve, say critics.聽

Ms. Neill starred opposite actor George Reeves and Kirk Alyn, who both played Superman. Neill appeared as Lois in 鈥淪uperman,鈥� a 1948 film serial, among other movies. She then starred in the TV series 鈥淎dventures of Superman,鈥� which debuted in 1952, after the original Lois, actress Phyllis Coates, departed the project.

Neill also appeared in Superman projects such as the 1978 Christopher Reeve 鈥淪uperman鈥� film, in which she portrayed Lois鈥檚 mother, Ella, and the 2006 movie 鈥淪uperman Returns,鈥� which stars Brandon Routh and in which she portrays Gertrude Vanderworth, Lex Luthor鈥檚 wife.聽

Besides her work appearing as Lois, Neill also starred in the films 鈥淎n American in Paris,鈥� 鈥淭he Greatest Show on Earth,鈥� and 鈥淕entlemen Prefer Blondes.鈥�

Reporter Lois is one of the most famous characters in the Superman cast and has also been played by actresses including Margot Kidder (in the movies starring Mr. Reeve), Teri Hatcher (in the 1990s TV series 鈥淟ois & Clark鈥�), Kate Bosworth (in 鈥淪uperman Returns鈥�), and most recently, Amy Adams, who appeared in the 2013 film 鈥淢an of Steel鈥� and this year鈥檚 鈥淏atman v Superman.鈥� She鈥檚 set to reprise the role in an upcoming 鈥淛ustice League鈥� film.

Tim Hanley, author of 鈥淚nvestigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet鈥檚 Ace Reporter,鈥� said in an interview with 海角大神 that many female journalists he spoke to said they enjoyed Lois鈥檚 character.聽

鈥淚n the beginning, the relentless ambition of Lois 鈥� her striving 鈥� wasn鈥檛 something you saw elsewhere in popular media of the late 1930s,鈥� Mr. Hanley said. 鈥淪he became a role model for women in journalism who picked up on her drive.鈥�

Her portrayal didn鈥檛 always match up with the attitude of the times, however, says Hanley.聽

鈥淚n the late 1970s and the 1980s, when you started to see a rise in women in TV news, she鈥檚 in a 1950-style rivalry with Lana Lang and fighting over Superman,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e post-women鈥檚 lib at that time, but she鈥檚 still trapped in these antiquated stories.鈥�

However, in her portrayals, Lois often stands out from other women characters in the comics world, Hanley says.

鈥淪he escapes the trap of many female comic book characters, including superheroes, who are known for their beauty and physical shape and have skimpy outfits,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hile she鈥檚 pretty, she wears normal clothes. She鈥檚 in love with Superman, but there鈥檚 not a lot of romantic or sexual attraction directed at her. She gets to be her own character without the male gaze thing that can come with a lot of superhero characters.鈥�