If you look at the most famous pictures of Margot Kidder, you aren’t just looking at a movie star. You’re looking at a force of nature.
There’s this one specific black-and-white shot from 1978. She’s leaning against a desk in the Daily News Building, holding a cigarette, wearing that oversized vest, and looking absolutely unimpressed by the man in the blue tights standing next to her. That was Margot. She didn't just play Lois Lane; she owned the very idea of a modern, messy, brilliant woman who wouldn't be rescued unless she absolutely had to be.
Honestly, we don't see energy like hers anymore.
The Iconic Superman Stills
Most people start their search for pictures of Margot Kidder because of the 1978 Superman. It’s the baseline. You’ve seen the flying sequence shots—the ones where she’s wearing that flowing gown and Christopher Reeve is holding her hand over Metropolis.
But the real magic is in the candid stuff.
Look for the shots of her and Reeve behind the scenes. There’s a warmth there that wasn't just acting. They were friends. They fought like siblings. In the 1977 production photos taken on the streets of New York, you can see the grit of the city. Margot’s hair is slightly frizzy from the humidity, and her smile is huge. She looked like a person you’d actually meet at a coffee shop, not a sanitized CGI creation.
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The promotional portraits for Superman II (1980) are also fascinating. By then, she was a massive global star. You can see it in her eyes—a mix of confidence and the exhaustion that comes with being the "it" girl of the decade.
Before the Cape: Horror and Grit
If you only know the Lois Lane photos, you’re missing the best part of her portfolio.
Long before she was a journalist for the Daily Planet, Margot was the queen of the 1970s Canadian "tax shelter" horror scene. If you find pictures of Margot Kidder from the set of Brian De Palma’s Sisters (1973), you’ll see a completely different woman. She played twins—one sweet, one... not so much. The contrast in those still frames is chilling.
Then there’s Black Christmas (1974).
The photos of her character, Barb, are iconic among horror fans. She’s often pictured with a glass of booze in one hand and a phone in the other, delivering lines that were decades ahead of their time. These images capture the "liberated woman" archetype she became known for. She wasn't playing the victim; she was the one talking back to the killer.
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The Raw Reality of the 1990s
We have to talk about the 1996 photos.
They are hard to look at, but they are part of her story. After a massive manic episode triggered by a computer virus—yes, a literal virus that made her believe her autobiography was being stolen—Margot was found in a backyard in Glendale, California. The paparazzi photos from that day are infamous.
She was missing teeth. Her hair had been hacked off with a razor.
Many celebrities would have disappeared after that. Not Margot. She eventually allowed herself to be photographed again, healthy and recovered, to talk about bipolar disorder. Those "after" photos, where she’s gray-haired and fierce in her home in Montana, are arguably more beautiful than the ones from the 70s. They show survival.
Activism and Later Life
In her later years, the pictures of Margot Kidder shifted from red carpets to protest lines.
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She was arrested in 2011 outside the White House during a protest against the Keystone XL pipeline. The photo of her being led away in handcuffs, grinning at the cameras, is pure Margot. She didn't care about "looking like a star" anymore; she cared about the planet.
She spent her final years in Livingston, Montana. The photos from that era show a woman who had finally found peace. She lived in a modest house, surrounded by dogs and books. You can find candid snapshots of her at local events or horror conventions where she’d sit for hours talking to fans. She never charged for an autograph if she thought the fan couldn't afford it.
Why these images still matter
- The Authentic Lois: She remains the gold standard for the character because of her "human" quality.
- Mental Health Advocacy: Her willingness to be photographed at her lowest point helped de-stigmatize mental illness.
- Fashion Influence: Her 70s "urban professional" look is still being ripped off by Pinterest boards today.
Basically, Margot Kidder was a "real one." Whether she was flying over Manhattan or standing in a mugshot for a cause she believed in, she never faked it for the lens.
If you’re looking to collect or study her filmography through photography, you should start with the 1970s press kits from Warner Bros. They capture the peak of her "Canuck" charm. After that, look for the 1980s portraits by photographers like Ulvis Alberts—they caught the sharper, more sophisticated edge she developed after the Superman fame settled.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
If you want to find high-quality, authentic prints of these moments, check the archives of Getty Images or Alamy, specifically looking for the "Editorial" sections from 1978 and 1980. For the more obscure horror stills, search for original lobby cards from Sisters or The Reincarnation of Peter Proud on specialized film memorabilia sites.