Three episodes into the HBO series “The Penguin,” it's clear that Sofia Falcone, played by Christine Miliotti, is the standout character. It's a major departure from the roles Miliotti is more commonly known for, like the charming Tracy in “How I Met Your Mother” or the underdog protagonist in one of the best episodes of “Black Mirror,” and that's part of the fun. It's exciting to see Amma playing a creepy, powerful, unblinking mafia assassin.
But while Sofia seems like a big change for Miliotti, the actor has always wanted to play a Batman villain. At least, he's loved it ever since he saw 1995's “Batman Forever” as a kid and fell in love with the Riddler. “I really liked Jim Carrey's Riddler,” Miliotti explained on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” When Meyers asked her, “Do you think 'Oh, that's good acting'?” Miliotti responded with an emphatic “yes.”
It's the much-needed love he gives to “Batman Forever,” which is often derided as a clear step up from previous Tim Burton “Batman” movies, but which is nonetheless praised by a small group of fans for its fun campiness and its killer soundtrack. Even if Carrie takes on the Riddler Very much Unlike what Paul Dano did in “The Batman” 27 years later, that's the kind of performance the movie needed.
Miliotti always wanted to play male Batman villains
“I was talking to our showrunner Lauren about it [LeFranc],” Miliotti added. “We were talking about how we would watch these movies growing up, and we would always play male characters. […] I'll be in my backyard as the Riddler or Two-Face or the Joker.” With the female “Batman” characters, Miliotti struggled to find appeal as a child, as the characters were “female-in-inside,” as she told Meyers.
“Even in 'Batman Forever' – obviously she's one of our greats – but Nicole Kidman's a psychiatrist and she's in underwear half the time, like, 'Nice nipples, Batman,' so I'm going, you know. At home, 'good nipples- no.' 'I can't […] It's not real to me.' But, wearing a green unitard, 'Aw!' Felt a little better.”
Unfortunately, Sofia Falcone doesn't pull it off like the Riddler did in “Batman Forever,” but Miliotti still plays a fun, unsettling character. Like every good Batman villain, she has her own particular brand of twist, specializing in intense eye contact and brutal, direct performances. The fact that she is really smart and intelligent makes her effective with the namesake Penguin (Colin Farrell), as Penguin constantly forces her not to find out (and to reveal her own intelligence).
The result often feels like an extended “Sopranos” homage to the TV show, but it continues to come to life the moment Miliotti comes on screen. (Luckily, he's on screen a A lot.) Miliotti never played the Riddler or Two-Face or the Joker, but he's got a role to rival any of them.
New episodes of “The Penguin” air Sundays on HBO and Max.
