Melissa Marie Benoist (born October 4, 1988) is an American actress and singer known for her portrayal of Marley Rose on season four and the first part of season five on the Fox musical comedy-drama television series Glee. She has also appeared in a number of television series including Homeland, The Good Wife and Law & Order. Benoist's first film was in singer Mariah Carey's Tennessee. She appeared in the film Whiplash (2014), which won top prizes (Grand Jury and Audience awards) at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, January 2014. She has completed filming Danny Collins, set for a 2015 release, starring Jennifer Garner, Al Pacino, and Annette Bening. She will be starring as Supergirl in the CBS television series of the same name. She was born in Harris County, Texas, and was raised in Littleton, Colorado, the daughter of Jim and Julie Benoist. Benoist has two biological sisters Jessica and Kristina. From her father's re-marriage, she has five half siblings; Tanner, Estella, Coco, Rocket and Tor. She graduated from Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado in 2007 and from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City in 2011. Benoist made her film debut in Tennessee in 2008. In May 2012, she auditioned for Glee in New York at the Roundabout Theatre Company, singing a different song for each of her five auditions including: "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor, "King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles, a Colbie Caillat song, and several musical theater pieces. In July, she had two screen tests in California for series creator/writer, Ryan Murphy, the casting directors, and executive producers. In July 2013, Benoist was cast for the film Danny Collins. She will play the role of Jamie, a desk clerk at a hotel frequented by one of Jamie's all-time favorite rock stars. In January 2015, it was reported that Benoist will be portraying the lead role of Kara Zor-El on the upcoming CBS fantasy adventure drama series, Supergirl.