In a lively interview on the “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum” podcast, actress María Gabriela de Faría – known for her explosive performance as The Engineer in the new “Superman” film – shared candid details about her casting, intense physical transformation, and the overwhelming cultural impact of the blockbuster.
Host Michael Rosenbaum praised de Faría’s portrayal, calling her “unbelievable” in the movie, which he described as “really fun” and “filled with so much energy and love”. De Faría revealed that landing the role was far from smooth sailing. After losing a different part she had auditioned for repeatedly, she felt highly insecure about the “Superman” opportunity. She initially said, “F#$% Superman,” telling her husband she was “never going to get this”.
However, her husband motivated her to submit a self-tape. The audition, which used “dummy sides” and implied the character had a superpower, focused heavily on nonverbal acting for her Fortress of Solitude scene. De Faría made the bold decision to interpret the scene as the character “having an orgasm” while connecting to the computer, aiming to “go the extra mile” for her self-tape and subsequent in-person session with director James Gunn.
De Faría was ecstatic when she finally landed the role a month after her director session. Her celebratory response involved buying Superman capes from Party City and walking around Pasadena wearing them. Director James Gunn later confirmed the good news via text, simply writing: “This is James Gunn”.
The role demanded extreme commitment. De Faría, who was initially “very huggable” and “soft,” worked out daily with the same trainer as her co-star Edi Gathegi (who plays Mr. Terrific) for eight months prior to filming. She described her successful transformation by saying, “My abs had abs”. She even requested James Gunn give her “one scene” without the suit to show off her physique, which the crew happily obliged, working to ensure the camera and lighting (with help from DP Henry and James’ wife, Jennifer) accentuated her muscles.
Filming the Fortress of Solitude scenes took place on Svalbard, an island north of Norway, where the temperatures were bitterly cold, compounded by her tight suit, which prevented wearing layers.
The “Superman” premiere proved deeply emotional, particularly for her parents, who were “crying all night”. De Faría noted that her family, who grew up poor in Venezuela, did not fully grasp the magnitude of the project until they saw it on the big screen. She later recognised the broader cultural significance when hosting a screening for Latinos, who were thrilled to see her character speak Spanish.
De Faría clearly loves the DC universe and currently texts James Gunn constantly urging him to include her character in future projects, including her favorite show, “Peacemaker”. She admits she wants her own spin-off.
