Vanessa Kirby: Playing Pregnant Sue Storm in ‘Fantastic Four’ Prepared Me for Real Motherhood

The Oscar-nominated actress says her superhero role “changed” her as she expects her first baby.

Vanessa Kirby reveals her role as a pregnant Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: The First Steps profoundly impacted her real-life journey to motherhood. The 37-year-old actress, who announced her own pregnancy in May, praised her character’s resilience: “Sue was never sat down. She was never huffing and puffing about it” – even while facing planet-devouring villain Galactus.

Kirby emphasized how Sue Storm balances superhero duties with impending motherhood in the retro-1960s-set film: “It didn’t define who she was. She’s a mother [and] a team member who defends against great threats.” This duality resonated deeply with Kirby, who told press: “I literally had the lived experience of somebody fulfilling what she needed to do as a woman and a team member while doing this incredibly sacred thing. That changed me.”

Also Read: Lady Gaga Falls During Vegas Concert, Gets Right Back Up Like a Pro

The film, releasing July 24, stars Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm), with Julia Garner as Silver Surfer. Kirby, currently dating retired lacrosse player Paul Rabil (since November 2023), noted Sue Storm’s pregnancy mirrors her personal growth as she prepares to welcome her first child.