Annette O'Toole appeared in the DC Universe more than once, but her most memorable role was as Martha Kent on Smallville where she was featured for six seasons. The character appeared in many of Smallvile's most rewatchable episodes, and certainly became one of the most iconic depictions of Superman's terrestrial mother. Starring alongside John Schnieder's Jonathan Kent, the Smallville version of Superman's adoptive mother was complicated and took its time to unveil and establish the intricacies of Martha Kent's character.
Superman's mother is a complex role. The character's influence on Clark Kent has been explored throughout cinematic history, with the Diane Lane iteration serving as a unifying presence in the DCEU. From the character's name itself, an alliance is forged in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice's Martha scene. The exploration of the character and her influence on Superman in Smallville is less on the nose and takes more time to explain and explore her motivations. In this, Smallville created what might be the best Martha Kent iteration yet seen in the overarching DC Universe.
Annette O'Toole Left Smallville After Her Original 6-Season Contract Ended
O'Toole Played Martha Kent On The Series
O'Toole was contracted for 6 seasons as Martha Kent, then chose to leave the series. Notably, the actress was not in the original pilot, where Cynthia Ettinger played the role. However, Ettinger herself agreed with the producers that she was not the right fit for the part, and they reached out to O'Toole to replace her. O'Toole was at first reluctant, having appeared in Superman III and believing that she had already done that kind of role. However, after having the opportunity to watch the pilot, she was convinced of the new take on the Superman mythos.
The role was an essential part of her career for several years. However, the show began to grow into something else in its later seasons, and there was an appropriate point to leave after the actor's contract ended. Speaking with the Daily Planet, O'Toole noted that the role began to grow stagnant: "As time went on for the series, it was a little frustrating that there wasn’t more for Martha to do." She remarked on how much her role had been linked to the role of Jonathan, and how John Schnieder left after five seasons.
Why Annette O'Toole Decided To Leave Smallville
The Travel To Film In Vancouver Took A Toll On O'Toole
Annette O'Toole has herself explained why she left Smallville. The role seemed to have served its purpose, and according to her interview with Daily Planet, that was enough for the actor. “I signed for six years and did that and that was enough... [t]he travel had taken its toll,” she said, remarking on the distance to Vancouver to film. O’Toole was born in Texas, but moved to Los Angeles when she was 13, where she eventually had to choose between working as a dancer or actor. She opted for the latter and has since appeared in many films and series.
In addition to the burnout caused by the distance and the work, O'Toole spoke on Michael Rosenbaum's podcast Inside of You about her later episodes on the series. "It wasn't interesting work," she said, reflecting on how her role had been reduced to just checking in on her son. While there was fun to be had and good character stories for O'Toole during the first several years, it seemed that the role had grown stale from the direction of the show, and it made sense for the actor to depart after her contract ended.
Why It Makes Sense That Annette O'Toole's Martha Kent Left Smallville
The Setting And Makeup Of Smallville Changed Significantly In Its Later Seasons
Following season 6, it made sense that O'Toole left Smallville as a regular. While there may have been room for her in the following season, Kristen Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum left Smallville after season 7 and the show moved primarily to Metropolis to see Clark Kent becoming an adult. These changes made the constant presence of the character's mother feel unnatural. As Clark blossomed into the man he was destined to become, it was important that he was able to grow more independent from his parents.
This was explained by Martha moving away from Smallville to Washington, D.C. to become a senator. The actor returned a few times to the series, once with an appearance as the Red Queen of Checkmate that allowed a return from O'Toole's real-life husband, Michael McKean, as Perry White. Following this, her character was able to be involved with opposition to the superhero registration act and was given an emotional end with connections to the spirit of her late husband Jonathan in the series finale.
Annette O'Toole's Superman Movie Legacy Explained
O'Toole Played Lana Lang In Superman III
In 1983, Annette O'Toole played one of the main roles in Superman III as Lana Lang. The character in the film was Clark's childhood friend, and she had a young son from a previous relationship. The film ends with Lana moving to Metropolis and working as Perry White's secretary. This is notable because it seemed as if the film was setting her up to continue in the Christopher Reeve Superman story. However, the character did not appear in the next film, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
Notably, the Lana Lang character actually first appeared in Superboy comics rather than Superman, but grew to be an important part of the young Superman mythos. This legacy was contributed to significantly by both Annette O'Toole and Kristin Kreuk, who each worked hard to humanize the complex character. Superman stories have generally been built around the Superman and Lois dynamic, so there is great depth to be found in exploring young love that is fated not to last in a character like Lana Lang.
Annette O'Toole has been a major contributor to Superman's legacy, and her role as Martha Kent in Smallville was perhaps her most significant. Her take on the character will surely influence any iteration that follows, including Neva Howell in 2025's Superman. As a sweet and caring mother to Clark, but with deep character motivations and complexities, Annette O'Toole's contribution to the series was immeasurable. Viewers were blessed to have her in the role for as long as she was, and Smallville was a much better series as a result.
