Cristin Milioti, a longtime comic-book enthusiast, has realized a dream she has harbored since childhood: portraying a Batman villain. This milestone came to fruition with her role as Sofia Falcone in the DC Universe crime drama The Penguin, released in 2024. Alongside acclaim for her performance, Milioti earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, marking a significant highlight in her career.
Exploring the Complexities of Sofia Falcone
While The Penguin centers on Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot, played by Colin Farrell, Milioti’s character Sofia Falcone drives much of the series’ emotional depth and narrative tension. Sofia is both vengeful and cunning, yet Milioti imbues her with vulnerabilities and humanity that invite audience empathy. The character’s tumultuous journey, especially explored in the pivotal episode titled Cent’anni, showcases Sofia’s isolation and inner conflicts, aspects Milioti holds close to her performance.
Reflecting on the process, Milioti shared how the show’s format allowed her to delve into Sofia’s complexity over eight episodes, blending vulnerability with menace. She remarked that the writing balanced these traits beautifully, enabling her to bring nuance to a villain whose unpredictability is shaped by heartbreak and trauma.
Immersing Deeply in the Role
Milioti has a strong theater background, having performed intense roles early in her career, but The Penguin presented a rare opportunity to revisit such raw material on a broader platform. She received scripts well ahead of shooting, allowing her to develop a rich understanding of Sofia’s motivations and emotional arc. Throughout filming, the support from showrunner Lauren LeFranc and directors Helen Shaver and Craig Zobel empowered her to take bold creative risks.
She described this as part of what makes memorable villains: the combination of unpredictability with emotional depth. The long-form nature of the series gave her the freedom to explore changing facets of Sofia’s psyche, from vulnerability to calculated vengeance.
The Revealing Impact of Sofia’s Backstory
The revelation of Sofia’s past in episode four was a turning point for Milioti’s portrayal. She explained that even before this episode aired, she wanted the audience to sense something hidden beneath Sofia’s surface through earlier episodes, hinting at the pain driving her actions. She praised the decision to position Cent’anni mid-series for its powerful impact, mentioning prior discussions with LeFranc to weave that emotional complexity throughout the season.
Collaboration with Creatives and Co-Stars
Cristin highlighted her close working relationship with Lauren LeFranc, describing her as a true collaborative partner who encouraged deep exploration of the character. Milioti admitted that joining a major franchise could be intimidating, especially as a fan of the DC universe, but LeFranc’s leadership created a trusting and inspiring atmosphere on set.
The demanding shoot took place in cold New York City winter nights, with long hours and challenging material, but the cast and crew’s camaraderie helped sustain the energy. Milioti particularly appreciated working with Colin Farrell, calling him a generous performer who contributed to the authentic chemistry needed between Sofia and Oz. She reflected on a memorable scene where the two characters share a quiet moment of connection just before betrayal unfolds, underscoring their complex relationship as family, rivals, and reluctant partners.
Portraying a Rare Female Villain in Comic Adaptations
Milioti stressed the significance of Sofia Falcone as a rare example of a deeply flawed and villainous woman leading a comic-book adaptation. She and LeFranc frequently discussed the character’s importance in broadening representation within the genre. Milioti cited Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman in Batman Returns as an inspirational precedent, appreciating how that character was given substance and complexity in a major film.
She believes playing Sofia is a career-defining role that will have lasting reverberations, not only for her but for expanding the portrayal of multifaceted female villains in mainstream media.
Navigating Intense Scenes and Complex Production Demands
The episode Cent’anni demanded especially intense work from Milioti, spanning over 15 years of Sofia’s life and multiple locations. She described the challenge of shifting rapidly between scenes representing different ages and emotional states, often requiring intricate makeup and costume changes, including wearing wigs and prosthetic scars. The intensity was amplified by scenes set in Arkham, where the cast needed to fully embrace the dark, immersive tone together.
Despite keeping her acting process private, Milioti acknowledged the necessity of collective focus and dedication during these demanding sequences, crediting the entire team for successfully creating an immersive environment.
Recognition and Reflection on an Emmy Nomination
The Emmy nod for her work on The Penguin marks Milioti’s first major awards recognition after nearly twenty years in television. She expressed gratitude and humility, viewing awards as unpredictable but feeling deeply moved by this acknowledgment. The experience of portraying such a layered character has been galvanizing, especially moments like filming Sofia’s interactions with her niece Gia, which reveal softer, more vulnerable sides of the character. Milioti and LeFranc fought to keep that scene in the final cut due to its emotional significance.
Continued Passion for Diverse and Genre Roles
Looking beyond The Penguin, Milioti values exploring a range of genres throughout her career. With credits including Black Mirror, where she reprised her role in the recent seventh season, and shows like Made For Love and The Resort, she embraces the opportunities to inhabit different worlds and characters. Revisiting the character Nanette from USS Callister was uniquely challenging due to the passage of time, but the reunion with the original cast and crew was rewarding.
Milioti enjoys the diversity of roles and experiences, as both a performer and viewer, and looks forward to continuing to explore varied narratives in film and television.
A Dream Realized with Lasting Impact
For Cristin Milioti, stepping into the shoes of Sofia Falcone has been a rare and empowering fulfillment of a lifelong aspiration to play a Batman villain. Her commitment to portraying Sofia with depth and complexity has resonated with audiences and critics alike, securing a prominent place for her within the DC Universe and the broader landscape of television villains. As The Penguin’s story concludes, Milioti’s performance signals a promising path forward, both for expanding female villain roles in comic adaptations and for her own evolving career.
