What Happened to Melissa Benoist?
The Short Answer
Melissa Benoist is thriving in her post-Supergirl era. The 38-year-old actress, married to Chris Wood since 2019, is mom to son Huxley, born in 2020, and continues to headline prestige television.
Benoist, born October 4, 1988, in Houston, Texas, became a star as Marley Rose on Glee before landing the career-defining role of Kara Danvers, aka Supergirl, which she played from 2015 to 2021.
Since the cape came off, she led the Max political drama The Girls on the Bus (2024) and is developing Duo, an NBC musical drama she will star in alongside Wood, reuniting the real-life couple on screen.
Who She Was: Supergirl
For six seasons, Benoist was Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, on The CW's Supergirl. Her warm, earnest performance made the character a feminist icon and inspired a generation of young viewers.
The role was physically and emotionally demanding, with Benoist performing stunts, carrying the show's hopeful tone, and becoming the face of the Arrowverse's brightest hero.
When the series ended in 2021, she bid farewell with gratitude, calling Kara's impact on young girls "humbling" and the role life-changing.
Marriage to Chris Wood
Benoist married actor Chris Wood on September 1, 2019, at a private estate in Ojai, California. Wood played Mon-El, Kara's love interest, on Supergirl seasons 2 and 3, and their on-screen romance became real.
Their wedding was intimate and elegant, with guests including Kevin Smith and Paul Wesley. The couple's shared musical theater backgrounds, she starred in Beautiful on Broadway, he in Almost Famous, bonded them deeply.
Married for seven years as of 2026, they are developing Duo together, a project Wood wrote, marking their first on-screen reunion since Supergirl.
Son Huxley
In September 2020, Benoist and Wood welcomed son Huxley Robert Wood, now 6 years old. They announced his birth on Instagram weeks after the fact, with Wood jokingly telling fans the details were "none of your business."
Benoist has described motherhood as transformative, balancing it with her career while keeping Huxley largely out of the public eye.
The couple's low-key parenting style reflects their values: family first, fame second.
The Girls on the Bus
In 2024, Benoist headlined The Girls on the Bus, Max's political drama about female journalists on a presidential campaign trail. Her performance as a determined reporter drew strong reviews.
The role showcased her dramatic range beyond superheroics, proving her leading-lady credentials in prestige television.
Though the series ran one season, it reestablished Benoist as a versatile dramatic actress.
Duo: Reuniting With Wood
Duo, in development at NBC, is a musical drama created by Wood and showrun by Rina Mimoun, Benoist's Girls on the Bus collaborator. The couple will star as a two-person band navigating sudden fame.
The project, reported by Deadline via Just Jared, is a family drama about music, ambition, and partnership, drawing on the couple's real-life creative chemistry.
If picked up, it would be their first shared screen project since Supergirl, a reunion fans have eagerly awaited.
What She's Doing Now
At 38, Melissa Benoist balances motherhood, marriage, and a thriving career. With Duo in development and her production company active, she is building a sustainable second act.
She remains beloved by the Supergirl fandom, makes selective appearances, and advocates for mental health causes.
From Glee to Supergirl to showrunner's muse, Benoist's star keeps rising, on her own terms.
Glee Days
Before Supergirl, Benoist was Marley Rose on Glee (2012-2014), the sweet new girl with a powerhouse voice.
Her performances of "Holding Out for a Hero" and other numbers showcased the vocal talent that would define her career.
Glee was her breakthrough, introducing her to television audiences and to future husband Blake Jenner.
The show's musical theater energy suited her perfectly, a Broadway baby finding her screen home.
Broadway: Beautiful
In 2018, Benoist starred as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway, earning raves for her portrayal.
The role was a homecoming for the theater-trained actress, proving her live performance chops to New York audiences.
Her "You've Got a Friend" stopped shows nightly, a reminder that beneath the cape was a genuine triple threat.
Broadway remains a love she returns to between screen projects.
Advocacy Work
Benoist is a vocal advocate for mental health awareness and survivors of domestic abuse, drawing on her own experiences.
In 2019, she shared her story of surviving intimate partner violence in a powerful video, becoming a voice for survivors.
She partners with organizations supporting mental health and has used her platform to destigmatize seeking help.
Her advocacy is personal, brave, and impactful, heroism beyond the cape.
Early Life and Training
Melissa Benoist was born October 4, 1988, in Houston, Texas, and raised in Colorado, where she began dance classes at age three and community theater soon after.
She attended Arapahoe High School, starring in productions, then Marymount Manhattan College, earning a theater degree while performing Off-Broadway.
Her classical training, voice, dance, and acting, made her a triple threat before television discovered her.
The discipline of her training shows in her work ethic: prepared, professional, and versatile.
Her Colorado roots keep her grounded, a theater kid who made it big but never forgot the community stages.
At 38, her foundation supports everything she builds.
Friendships and Arrowverse Family
Benoist's Arrowverse family remains close: her friendships with Grant Gustin, Stephen Amell, and Caity Lotz survived the shows' endings.
The musical crossover with The Flash showcased her and Gustin's Broadway chemistry, a fan-favorite episode.
She and husband Chris Wood socialize with former co-stars, their Supergirl bonds enduring.
The Arrowverse was more than a job; it was a community, and Benoist was its heart.
Reunion photos delight fans, proof that the found family was real.
As she develops Duo, those relationships remind her what collaborative joy feels like.
Glee: The Marley Rose Era
Before Supergirl, Melissa Benoist was Marley Rose on Glee (2012-2014), the sweet newcomer whose powerhouse voice made her an instant fan favorite.
Her Glee performances showcased her Broadway-caliber vocals, with solos that remain among the show's best-remembered musical moments.
It was on Glee that she met Blake Jenner, her first husband, a relationship that began as a fairy tale and ended in her brave disclosure of domestic abuse.
Her Glee years were formative: the show's intensity, its fame, and its tragedies shaped her profoundly.
She has spoken of her Glee castmates with affection, the bonds of that chaotic, beloved show enduring.
Marley Rose was the role that introduced her to the world; what followed proved she was much more.
Directing Ambitions
Melissa Benoist has expressed growing directing ambitions, having helmed episodes of Supergirl and developed a taste for behind-the-camera storytelling.
Her directing style, collaborative and actor-focused, reflects her theater background and her empathy as a performer.
She hopes to direct more television and eventually features, with her production company's projects offering natural opportunities.
Her husband Chris Wood shares her creative ambitions, and the couple envision building a body of work together.
At 38, her career is expanding in every direction: acting, producing, and now directing.
The girl from Glee is becoming one of Hollywood's multi-hyphenates.
The Girls on the Bus and Political Turn
Melissa Benoist's role in The Girls on the Bus (2024), the Max political drama, marked a deliberate turn toward substantive material. Playing a journalist on the campaign trail, she showcased dramatic chops her superhero years only hinted at.
The series, inspired by Amy Chozick's memoir, let Benoist play a grown-up professional, a departure from Supergirl's earnest heroics.
Her performance drew praise, critics noting her ease with political dialogue and moral complexity.
The role reflected her own engagement: Benoist is politically aware, using her platform for causes she believes in.
At 38, her post-Supergirl career is defined by choice, not necessity, each role expanding her range.
From National City to the campaign trail, Benoist keeps flying higher.
Supergirl's Cultural Impact
Supergirl (2015-2021) was more than a superhero show: it was a cultural landmark, the first female-led superhero series of the modern era. Melissa Benoist's Kara Danvers inspired a generation of young girls.
Her Supergirl was earnest, kind, and powerful, a hero whose strength included compassion. Benoist's performance made the character iconic.
The show tackled immigration, xenophobia, and women's rights through its sci-fi lens, with Benoist's sincerity selling every message.
Her 2019 crossover episodes, uniting the Arrowverse, were television events.
At 38, Benoist's Supergirl remains beloved, the role that made her a hero on and off screen.
Her 2024 return to the character in animated form delighted fans.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Melissa Benoist?
Melissa Benoist led The Girls on the Bus in 2024 and is developing the NBC musical Duo with husband Chris Wood.
How old is Melissa Benoist?
Melissa Benoist is 38 years old. She was born on October 4, 1988.
Is Melissa Benoist married?
Yes. Melissa Benoist married actor Chris Wood on September 1, 2019. They met on Supergirl.
Does Melissa Benoist have kids?
Yes. Melissa Benoist has a son, Huxley Robert Wood, born in September 2020.
What is Duo?
Duo is an NBC musical drama in development starring Benoist and Wood as a two-person band, created by Wood.
Was Melissa Benoist on Glee?
Yes. Melissa Benoist played Marley Rose on Glee before landing Supergirl.
Who was Melissa Benoist married to before?
Melissa Benoist was previously married to Glee co-star Blake Jenner from 2015 to 2017.
Sources
- ExtraTV - Benoist and Wood welcome sonExtraTV
- TVOvermind - Benoist bioTVOvermind
- Just Jared - Duo NBC seriesJust Jared