Matt Reeves explains how Cristin Milioti masterfully brought Sofia Gigante to life in The Penguin, which has now made her the talk of the town

HBO’s latest Batman spin-off, The Penguin, has become a runaway success, capturing the audience’s attention, especially with its standout performances. The story brings Oz Cobb to the forefront, who may have seemed a bit caricature-ish until now. Among the stellar cast, while Colin Farrell continues to impress, it’s Cristin Milioti as Sofia Gigante who truly steals the show in a way that’s impossible to ignore.

Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves on the set of The Batman | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

As executive producer, Matt Reeves recently has shared his admiration for Milioti’s performance, offering insights that people will deeply relate to!

Matt Reeves on Cristin Milioti’s Performance in The Penguin and How She Nails It

Cristin Milioti as Tracy McConnell in How I Met Your Mother | Credits: CBS

In a recent interview with Interview Magazine, Matt Reeves and Andy Serkis touched on a variety of topics, including one standout performance that’s taking the spotlight, Cristin Milioti in The Penguin. There’s no denying that Milioti absolutely owns the role now.

She portrays Sofia Gigante, a powerful member of the Falcone crime family. What makes her character so compelling is how the series takes the time to flesh her out, turning what could have been a one-dimensional role into something far more complex and intriguing. Speaking about Milioti’s performance, Reeves said,

I mean, we took Carmine from the comics and there was a lot of stuff from The Long Halloween, but I think there was something very personal that Lauren wanted to say with Sofia’s character. She enters the story in this really delicious way, because you’re like, “Who is this force of nature?” Cristin just embodies that so beautifully.

Further gushing over the actress the director said,

She seems to be a foil in the beginning, and you are wondering, “What is their history together?” But I think it’s really about being a woman in a very male toxic world and how she’s going to rail against that to become this incredible force, which she does. 

Well, this isn’t the first time the world has been obsessed with Cristin Milioti. In How I Met Your Mother, she played the long-awaited “Mother,” and when she finally appeared, she definitely exceeded every expectation. She didn’t just meet the hype, she somehow surpassed it, effortlessly checking every box. Milioti has this incredible ability to do that, time and time again. And she did it again with Sofia.

The World Can’t Stop Raving About Cristin Milioti in The Penguin

Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone in The Penguin | Credits: HBO Max

Critics are raving about Cristin Milioti’s performance in The Penguin. Known for her roles in mostly comedies sort of leaning towards romance, she surprises with a powerful turn as Sofia Falcone, proving her impressive range.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress shared her favorite scenes from the show. While the whole world is going on non-stop about theirs, she said,

I find watching myself as excruciating, I think a lot of actors feel that way. But I will say, there are definitely scenes that I did that I loved doing and that I then watched and felt like [how the performance came across was] how it felt — which is sometimes rare. It doesn’t always translate.

She further continued,

I would say the speech at dinner with my family, and the ensuing aftermath, that whole sequence from the minute I entered the dining room to the very end of the episode was very, very thrilling.

And another which is a close second is in the seventh episode, where Sofia confronts the only witness to her family’s killing spree, a young girl now in an orphanage. She coldly tells the girl her family deserved their fate and threatens her to stay silent. But in a moment of self-awareness, Sofia realizes she’s becoming exactly what she hates most, her father. So terrifyingly beautiful!

Actually these three words, “So terrifyingly beautiful!” accurately represent what the whole world is feeling about her right now. Fans can’t wait to see more of her.

The Penguin is streaming on HBO.