"If we hadn't found her, I wouldn't have wanted to make it," "Supergirl" EP Greg Berlanti tells Variety of Melissa Benoist, who was chosen by the magazine as one of next season's 10 Actors to Watch.

The first actor on the list, Benoist's write-up is accompanied by a new photo of her in costume as Superman's younger cousin. Judging by the flaming wreckage of a tractor trailer in the background, the image appears to be from the pilot episode, shot after her confrontation with her first supervillain, presumed to be the Lumberjack.

WATCH: New "Supergirl" Trailer Features Kara in Full Battle Action

"There are moments when I step back and look at the bigger picture and I'm on the set with fire and explosions and I'm in the suit," Benoist told Variety. "And I'll have to do a double-take."

"Supergirl" has also been named to the Broadcast Television Journalists Association's list of Most Exciting New Series, alongside "The Muppets," Minority Report,""Scream Queens" and more.

Executive produced by "The Flash" and "Arrow" veterans Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, plus Ali Adler and Sarah Schechter "Supergirl" is scheduled to air Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBS.