Updated
Lois Lane actresses: everyone who played her, in order
Every actress who has played Lois Lane, from Noel Neill and Margot Kidder to Teri Hatcher, Amy Adams and Rachel Brosnahan, in order, with her comics story.
The short answer
Lois Lane is the Daily Planet's star reporter and Superman's great love, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in Action Comics #1 (1938). She has been played by Noel Neill, Phyllis Coates, Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, Erica Durance, Kate Bosworth, Amy Adams, Elizabeth Tulloch and, in the DCU, Rachel Brosnahan.
Who is Lois Lane?
Lois Lane is a fearless investigative journalist at the Daily Planet in Metropolis. She appeared alongside Superman in Action Comics #1 in 1938 and has been part of his story ever since. In the classic version she’s sharper than Clark, braver than most of Metropolis and the one person who could see through the glasses. Modern versions usually let her in on the secret early, which makes her Superman’s partner rather than a damsel. For the full story, see Lois Lane’s comics history.
In today’s comics Lois and Clark are married, and their son, Jon Kent, has become a Superman himself.
Every actress who has played Lois
| Actress | Years | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Noel Neill | 1948–1950; 1953–1958 | Kirk Alyn serials; Adventures of Superman (seasons 2–6) |
| Phyllis Coates | 1951–1952 | Superman and the Mole Men; Adventures of Superman season 1 |
| Lesley Ann Warren | 1975 | It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman (ABC TV film of the musical) |
| Margot Kidder | 1978–1987 | Superman I–IV |
| Teri Hatcher | 1993–1997 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman |
| Erica Durance | 2004–2011 | Smallville |
| Kate Bosworth | 2006 | Superman Returns |
| Amy Adams | 2013–2021 | Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Justice League |
| Elizabeth Tulloch | 2018–2024 | Arrowverse crossovers; Superman & Lois |
| Rachel Brosnahan | 2025– | Superman (2025), Man of Tomorrow (2027) |
Dana Delany voiced her in Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), and Alice Lee plays her in My Adventures with Superman (2023–). To stream Lois & Clark or Superman & Lois in the UK, see Superman on TV.
Best Lois Lane stories
- Superman: For All Seasons (1998): Lois’s chapter is a highlight. See our comics reading order.
- All-Star Superman (2005–2008): Superman gives Lois his powers for a day.
- Lois Lane (2019–2020): Greg Rucka’s 12-issue series about Lois as a journalist.
For the men in the cape opposite her, see every actor who played Superman.
Questions
Who plays Lois Lane in the new Superman films?
Rachel Brosnahan, star of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, plays Lois in Superman (2025) and Man of Tomorrow (2027).
Who was the first actress to play Lois Lane?
Noel Neill was the first live-action Lois, in the Kirk Alyn film serials from 1948. Phyllis Coates took over for Superman and the Mole Men and the first season of Adventures of Superman, and Noel Neill returned for seasons 2 to 6.