Trading her Emmy-winning Modern Family for a crime-fighting vigilante, Ariel Winter provides the voice of Batman’s trusted sidekick Robin who appears as a female for the first time in The Dark Knight Returns. The teenage actress is no stranger to the world of animation as she has also been involved with ParaNorman (2012), Ice Age: Meltdown (2006), Over the Hedge (2006) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009). Winter did not have to stretch her personality too much to portray her spunky and smart animated persona as revealed in a recent Q&A released by Warner Home Video.
Are you into comic books?
I’m an avid reader, so anything I can read is awesome. I go into comics stores and I can be in there for hours. It’s truly amazing when you open a comic book, because you’re immediately sucked in from the first line. The writing, the graphics, the artwork, it makes you feel like you’re inside the story.
Imagining many of your fans are experiencing Batman: The Dark Knight Returns for the first time describe your character Carrie Kelley’s place in the story.
Carrie is a street gangster girl who lives in this shady part of Gotham City; she’s always dreamed to meet her hero, Batman. One day she’s walking with her friend Michelle, and they get mugged by the Mutants – but Batman saves her. She then sets out to be Batman’s partner in crime-fighting, eventually succeeds and becomes Robin.
Are there similarities between Ariel Winter and Carrie Kelley, and how did that help/hinder getting into character?
It wasn’t hard getting into Carrie’s mindset because I’ve always wanted to play the Tomb Raider, Kick-Ass role where the girl is really the brains behind the power. I was excited when I got to do it and just devoured the script. I was surprised. It was pretty violent. I saw some of the things and was like, ‘Woah! That is so cool.’ I’m a big fan of that action, thriller sort of thing, so it was exciting for me to read.
How important to you is being the first female Robin?
To have Robin be a girl is cool because it gives girls a chance to know that they can do everything boys can do, and even better. No offense [laughs], but it’s true.
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 arrives on September 25, 2012 as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD, On Demand and for Download.
Originally published September 25, 2012. Updated April 14, 2018.
