Underrated Actresses Who Could Replace Ruby Rose As Batwoman

In May of 2020, Australian actress Ruby Rose made the surprising announcement that she would step down from the title role of Batwoman on the CW's Arrowverse series, and on the heels of her statement, the network revealed it would work to recast the show for its upcoming second season. Naturally, fans and fellow actors alike are dying to see who will step into Rose's shoes as Kate Kane, and there are plenty of options.

With that, it's important to note that the CW remains committed to representation and inclusivity in Rose's absence. In a statement from Warner Bros. TV, the CW, and Berlanti Productions, the show's producers noted that "the studio and network are firmly committed to Batwoman's second season and long-term future, and we — along with the show's talented creative team — look forward to sharing its new direction, including the casting of a new lead actress and member of the LGBTQ community, in the coming months."

While fans have hoped that big names like Evan Rachel Wood or Rose Leslie might enter the running to take up Batwoman's mantle in the past, it seems like there's a perfect opportunity for the CW to find a lesser-known performer and make her a star. In Rose's absence, there are plenty of actresses you've seen before who deserve a bigger audience and opportunity. Here are a few names that would make a great new Batwoman as the series continues.

Not long after Rose announced her departure, Brooklyn Nine Nine star Stephanie Beatriz took to Twitter to throw her hat in the ring for the role. Having tweeted her intention to read "everything about Batwoman," she told writer Ella Céron (who tweeted at her with encouragement to go "method") that she's already dyed her hair red anyway.

Beatriz, who plays the tough yet sensitive detective Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine Nine, could be a perfect fit for the role for a few reasons. Throughout Rosa's journey on Brooklyn Nine Nine, Beatriz has played her character carefully and given her tons of depth and heart. Both Beatriz herself and the character of Rosa recently came out as bisexual, which would fulfill the CW's goal of working with a member of the LGBTQ+ community. With some new scarlet locks, Beatriz might be an amazing option for Batwoman.

One of Kate Kane's defining features is her signature red mane, and Jane Levy would be a great candidate for the role on that basis alone. The young actress, who broke onto the scene in shows like Shameless and Suburgatory, has made a name for herself on the small screen throughout her short but busy career. In the past few years alone, she's appeared on Showtime's Twin Peaks revival, in a leading role in Castle Rock, and as a main character in Netflix's What/If. Currently, she stars on NBC's musical comedy Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist as Zoey herself.

Levy hasn't spoken openly about her sexuality, but even so, she's used her time on television to give the LGBTQ+ community more visibility. One of her co-stars on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Alex Newell — a gender nonconforming actor known for Glee and his Broadway work — is breaking barriers on network television alongside Levy. Being involved in such an inclusive show might just be a plus for her.

Rachelle Lefevre might not be a household name, but her fiery red hair and diverse resume could make her a perfect choice for Kate Kane. After appearing in films like Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and television shows like Charmed, Lefevre broke out in the first Twilight film in 2008 as the evil vampire Victoria. Though she returned for the second installment, New Moon, she was replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard for the third movie, Eclipse, due to scheduling conflicts. Since then, she's appeared in television shows like Under the Dome, A Gifted Man, and Mary Kills People.

Lefevre has spoken about her support of the LGBTQ+ community in the past, though that's not necessarily enough to qualify as the kind of inclusion the network is looking for. Still, with a solid resume and the right look, she could be a contender for the role.

If you were a fan of Jane the Virgin, it might be hard for you to imagine Bridget Regan as anybody but the insidious Rose — also known as "Sin Rostro" — who spent the entire series terrorizing Jane Villañueva (Gina Rodriguez) and her loved ones in order to win the affections of her one true love, Luisa (Yara Martinez). But this actress, who also appeared as Dottie Underwood on Agent Carter and as a regular on The Last Ship, certainly has the acting chops to pull off the role of Batwoman, not to mention the fact that she looks great as a redhead.

Regan also hasn't personally addressed her sexuality — in 2018, she gave birth to her second child with her husband Eamon O'Sullivan — but after playing such a high-profile queer role on Jane the Virgin, she might seem like a great pick to play Kate Kane after all, making the transition from villain to hero.

If the CW wants to pull from their own bank of regular actors, they should probably look no further than Phoebe Tonkin. After appearing in the network's popular series The Vampire Diaries as Hayley Marshall, Tonkin made the leap to the show's well-received spin-off The Originals, which ran for five seasons before ending its run in 2018. Tonkin continued her role as Hayley for the series' entire tenure.

Like some of the other names on this list, Tonkin has been outspoken about her support for the LGBTQ+ community in the past, though she hasn't publicly addressed her own sexuality. However, after her turn in The Originals, we can't rule her out just yet.

Ashley Platz might be one of the less recognized names in the running, but she has some of the most outspoken support from true Batwoman fans. The actress, who has appeared in GLOW, Grey's Anatomy, and The Bold Type in small roles, apparently auditioned for the role once before. When her tape leaked onto Twitter, fans went wild. After user @haenelswift tweeted the video with the caption "a moment of silence for what should have been — miss ashley platz, MY batwoman," other fans flocked to the post to agree. In the replies, @Cazzakstan tweeted, "WHY DIDN'T THEY CAST HER?! She was so genuine in her acting she had me blushing behind my computer screen," while @EmmaDoodlebug21 wrote, "Ashley Platz is my batwoman" followed by several weeping emojis.

Fans already support her, and Platz would bring something else important to the role aside from her undeniable talent: she's openly pansexual and excited about taking on queer roles, which is exactly what the CW is looking for. Platz might not be a big name yet, but a chance to play Batwoman would really put her on the map.

Alexandra Daddario has appeared in plenty of films and television shows over the past few years, but Batwoman could be the project to really boost this powerful performer's image. Throughout her career, Daddario has shown off impressive versatility in range, from goofy blockbusters like Baywatch to young adult fare like the Percy Jackson films to serious prestige dramas like True Detective. Recently, she's starred in romantic comedies like Netflix's When We First Met and Can You Keep a Secret?, and aside from a man role in Why Women Kill in 2019, she hasn't had many leading roles on the small screen.

Daddario also hasn't addressed her sexuality in a public space, keeping most of her relationships private apart from a brief engagement to her Percy Jackson co-star Logan Lerman. Of course, that may not prevent her from snagging this super high profile role and taking the television landscape by storm.