Smallville cast discusses the show's legacy at Fan Expo Canada.

      As audiences revel in the variety of superhero TV series that have emerged over recent years, one show that continues to hold its popularity, despite its age, is Smallville. The series, which chronicles the youth of Clark Kent and the adventures he and his friends embark on in their hometown, focuses on his journey of discovering his powers and heritage. This weekend, cast members Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance, and Laura Vandervoort celebrated the enduring legacy of the cherished series at a convention.

      Debuting in 2001, Smallville delved into Clark Kent’s experiences in Smallville, his early friendship with Lex Luthor, and his developing abilities. Throughout its groundbreaking 10 seasons, which remain the longest-running superhero show, Clark gradually evolved from a small-town hero into Superman.

      The upcoming 25th anniversary of Smallville is significant for the cast, especially as Superman remains a beloved character and the show is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, partly due to Rosenbaum and Welling’s re-watch podcast, Talkville, and the recent release of a new Superman film, marking the start of a fresh DC cinematic universe led by James Gunn. “Smallville is nearly half my age,” Rosenbaum reflected. “It has been a major part of my life, and all of ours. Thank you for supporting us all these years. With the new Superman movie, there’s a fresh audience and a revival of fans. I think that’s really exciting.”

      For Vandervoort, who joined the series in its latter seasons as Clark Kent’s Kryptonian cousin Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl, it opened many doors for her career and revived a character that had been largely absent from film and television. “At that time we had Helen Slater from [1984’s Supergirl], and I got to portray the first televised version of her,” Vandervoort noted. “Even now, you all have continued to support us, and it’s a significant highlight of my career. I’m very thankful for it.” Since her role as Supergirl in Smallville, the character has had her own series featuring Melissa Benoist and Milly Alcock made a cameo in Superman ahead of the forthcoming Supergirl film next summer. “I love that more Supergirl representations are coming to life now, and I think they’re doing a fantastic job,” she added regarding her fellow Supergirls.

      Clearly, portraying these iconic characters for a decade affected not only their careers but also their personal lives. The five actors shared how their bond has grown in adulthood from seeing each other at conventions and podcasts, even deeper than during their time on the show, where they were already quite close. They also discussed what they learned from their characters throughout the years.

      “There’s something about Clark’s… it’s not just open-mindedness, but his eagerness to learn more,” Welling described. “That was something I always aimed to embody in scenes. ‘I don’t know, but let me try to figure it out; let me understand.’” Welling recounted a poignant experience with a fan: during the filming of Smallville, he and Kreuk met a young boy who was brought to the set through the Make-a-Wish Foundation and took a photo with him. Welling recently encountered that same fan again at a convention, this time with the fan's son, and came across the photo taken over 20 years ago. The fan is now watching Smallville with his son, prompting Welling to say, “That was just amazing to me.”

      For Kreuk’s Lana Lang, who often found herself facing Meteor Freaks, navigating her relationship ups and downs with Clark, and dealing with Lex’s manipulations, Kreuk expressed, “I think her resilience was inspiring. She persisted through terrible circumstances and was dedicated to growing, to working on herself, and becoming a better person.”

      “I would say learning from Kara that it’s alright to be an outsider, to be a little unconventional, and to be new in any field,” Vandervoort shared. “When I first joined Smallville, I was new to the show, new to the U.S. market, and so was Kara. I became comfortable putting myself in uncomfortable positions, and I’ve come to realize it’s okay to feel out of place. Everyone is unique; it’s okay to be different, and she taught me that it's acceptable.”

      “That you can keep getting back up after failing repeatedly and be okay,” Durance remarked. In hindsight, she mentioned wishing for more scenes with Kreuk and Vandervoort, as Lois, Lana, and Kara rarely shared screen time even after several seasons together.

      “I think I’ve always craved approval. Lex was always seeking that validation, whether it was from his father or others, but ultimately, you need to believe in yourself and learn self-love.”

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