Former ‘Glee’ star Melissa Benoist was born to play ‘Supergirl’

Beverly Hills, Calif. • As far as the producers of "Supergirl" are concerned, Melissa Benoist was born to play the title role in the new CBS series.

Either that, or they are the luckiest TV producers on Earth.

The first person they saw for the title role in "Arrow" — Stephen Amell — got the part. The first person they saw for the title role in "The Flash" — Grant Gustin — got the part.

And Benoist ("Glee") was the first person they saw when casting the part of Kara Danvers/Supergirl.

"It really is the truth," said executive producer Andrew Kreisberg. "As soon as we saw her, we just knew she was the one. She had the strength, the hope, the heart, the humor and just that instant likability.

"[Warner Bros. Television Group president] Peter Roth said after watching her that it's the closest feeling he's had since he saw Christopher Reeve" in the 1978 "Superman" movie.

"He said that?" Benoist exclaimed.

It's not that Benoist is the most beautiful woman on Earth, which is not to say that she's not very attractive. It's not that she's the most athletic woman.

"I'm terrible at sports," she said. "I'm not coordinated in that way."

But Benoist is, well, adorkable. She's adorably dorky, and in the "Supergirl" pilot, she brings exactly the right note.

Kreisberg pointed to a scene in the first episode when Kara flies for the first time. "Just seeing the unfettered joy on her face as she's flying around and as she's reveling in this power — in this freedom" is a delight, he said.

And it's not as easy as the finished product makes it look. Benoist is in uncomfortable harnesses as wires suspend and move her through take after take.

"Yeah, it's really difficult," she said. "And there have been moments where I'm in that position and they're, like, 'Try to look less concerned. You need to look comfortable.'

"But, actually, it's also really exhilarating. As difficult as it is, it's just as much, if not more, exciting to feel like you're flying."

Kara has that same sort of enthusiasm about her superpowers in the show.

"I think that there are a lot of heroes who are sort of very ambivalent about their powers and very dour, and we're certainly guilty of putting some of those people on TV," said Kreisberg. "But one of the great joys of Supergirl is that she really loves being Supergirl, and you see you only believe that and you only get that because Melissa loves being Supergirl."

Benoist's natural charm and enthusiasm for the part translate to the screen.

"The second that I saw in my email inbox the title 'Supergirl,' I just knew automatically that it was something important and it was something exciting and rare and that I wanted to be a part of," she said. "I guess I just knew automatically that she's such a beacon of hope.

"And I knew that her bravery and strength was so intrinsic and important to who she is and that I really needed to feel in myself in order to play that, I think."

The producers couldn't believe their luck when she walked in at the front of the audition line. Actually, they didn't believe their luck.

"She was the first person we saw, and we looked at each other and were blown away," said executive producer Ali Adler. "And we were, like, 'We have to get a diamond ring for that girl.' But then we still needed to date the nation. We had to see maybe a thousand more women, and we never stopped being in love with Melissa.

"The first time Melissa walked onstage wearing this suit, none of us went, 'Oh, there's an actress wearing a suit.' We all went, 'There's Supergirl.' "

spierce@sltrib.com

Twitter: @ScottDPierce