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50 People Share Movies Where The “Strong Female Protagonist” Was Actually Done Right
Have you ever turned off a film or TV show half-way through because you just couldn’t stand the writing? Maybe there were far too many car chases, or the dialogue spoken by doctors was extremely unrealistic. Or perhaps, the way the female characters were written was painfully cringey.
I’m not sure why it’s so difficult for writers to craft complex female protagonists with depth, but apparently it is, because well-written leading women aren't always easy to find. But if you’re looking for something to watch that features a character you’ll actually love, we’ve got your back. Redditors have recently been discussing their favorite strong female leads from the screen, so we’ve got a list celebrating them all below. Enjoy scrolling through, and be sure to upvote the characters that you’re a huge fan of too!
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#1
Ellen Ripley in Alien. She’s the OG.
jmorfeus:
Recently when I rewatched the film I distinctly thought that the film made it on purpose that the crew repeatedly dismisses or ignores her idea because she's a woman (like it happens to so many women in professional setting even now, moreso back when it was shot) and that the film made it one of the explicit points not to do that (she was right all along, every time).
Strange how the mind works.
But at the same time it didn't feel forced or fake like so many modern "feminist" movies/recasts and I think Ripley really is the perfect example of a strong female lead.
The Other Guest 1 year ago
It's interesting that jmorfeus up in the post thinks that the other characters ignored Ripley because she's a woman, when the character was written as a man. Ridley Scott decided to make her a woman instead, but kept all the dialog & interactions with the rest of the crew unchanged.
Edith 1 year ago
No it wasn't written as a man, it was left open for decision.
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John Dilligaf 1 year ago
not mine, but seen on the web somewhere. Alien: A movie where everyone ignores the smart woman. Then they all die, except the smart woman and her cat.
somed ay 1 year ago
And yet she still ends up fighting the monster in her underwear. I was very disappointed by the director’s choice on that scene.
Sheena Leversedge Wood 1 year ago
wasn't Ripley originally written as a man. and then she got cast. I'm sure I read that somewhere.
RELATED:
#2
Let’s add Uhura, then. She encouraged all girls and black people in general to aim their sights on space and science.
Mike Crow 1 year ago
Filmed when a black woman as a bridge officer was believed impossible. She had authority, she was trained and could get the job done. She definitely was an inspiration.
Lee451 Henderson 1 year ago
Don't forget Majel Barret as #1 in the Star Trek pilot.
Load More Replies... FlamingZombies 1 year ago
Nichelle told Roddenberry she was quitting the show. Then she happened to talk to MLK Jr at an NAACP convention and he convinced her to stay on the show.
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
I've heard that story before, and it's excellent.
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Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
A talented musician too, as shown in one early episode. A pity that William Shatner wanted Star Trek to be all about him. It could have been so much better otherwise.
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Zoe Vokes 1 year ago
Yes she was strong in the beginning but the writers ended up having her just listen to broadcasts and repeat it to the crew. And they apparently hid a lot of her fan mail too so she had no idea how popular her character was. Nichelle Nichols was going to quit but MLK Jr convinced her to stay and that having a black female character on TV was a great thing.
#3
Wednesday and Morticia Adams. They both are strong willed, confident females who don’t give an F about what other people think about them.
Tabitha 1 year ago (edited)
Morticia and Gomez are also a great example of a relationship where husband and wife both 100% love and 100% respect each other. They never insult or put each other down, they’re each absolutely in the center of each other’s universe (along with their beloved family members—-the center of a universe can hold more than one person), they truly listen to each other, and give each other’s opinions and ideas full and serious consideration.
DC 1 year ago
It's actually sad how refreshing this appears among all the "my wife ruins everything, haha, lov her, hah, hate her, haha, chicks, you know..."-themed relationships of protagonists in sitcoms.
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Joshua David 1 year ago
Recently saw a photo of angelica houston (former fashion model) and she still looks amazing into her 70s!
Michael None 1 year ago
And Wednesday actually experienced growth in the second movie. She didn't have to be bad a*s with all the answers from the start. She could be bad a*s and still become a better person.
Linda Harwood 1 year ago
Have a close relative that I love and respect yet he talks trash about his wife and it makes me sad. Maybe he truly feels this way about his wife. Maybe it’s an act. I cannot be certain but if my husband speaks this way about me, I’d prefer to give up all the comforts we share and go out on my own (again) than to have a partner who tells others that I’m an albatross around the neck of his life.
#4
[Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor]
Icing on the cake is that John can immediately tell who the fake Sarah is in that scene. Cause his mother would never dare to risk his life to save her own.
Jahaangle:
[Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor]
Stabbed through the shoulder, one hand reloading her shotgun, almost taking out the T-1000 herself only to run out of ammo.
Her first instinct is to protect John before the T-800 shows up.
That scene is brilliant.
SayNoToStim:
[Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor]
Her escape from the mental institution is one of the best scenes in film, across any genres. Watching the cause of all of your problems walk around the corner just as she's escaping from those said problems is going to break anyone, and two minutes later she's leaning out a car window as it drives shooting at the T1000.
XchrisZ:
[Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor] yelling at John to get back under the bullet proof vests while shooting out of the back of a moving vehicle. Such a great example of a mother being a mother and a bad a*s.
Michael P. 1 year ago (edited)
Aside from "The Terminator" series, Linda Hamilton was also in the movie: "Dante's Peak" with Pierce Brosnan. Interesting seeing James Bond and Sarah Connor surviving a volcanic eruption while slowly getting romantically involved with each other, a great movie worth watching.
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Marvellous character change between 1 and 2. Shame they brought her back for the later ones, that wasn't necessary.
#5
Dana Scully. Even caused an uptic of women in STEM studies.
Caira_Ru:
I’m very biased, because I was at a pretty critical age in my own development when Scully and Mulder were also developing, but there were so many things that they did so incredibly well that it’s been my favorite fiction show for decades. The X-Files shaped me to think the way I think, in a lot of ways.
Scary, funny, touching, horrific, wholesome, sexy but not contrived (for many seasons at least) or over the top and most importantly, the female lead had more to offer to most situations than the male.
Mulder was relatable sometimes and almost always adorable, but as a teen girl, Scully was EVERYTHING!
She was smart, capable, compassionate, confident, and funny. Logical but always able to see past social and scientific constraints. Aware in her femininity but not dependent on it. Full of faith without ever pressuring others to believe the same.
She also was fallible and vulnerable, questioned herself and others, and snapped sometimes when someone hurt her.
If I had to sum her up in 6 words: She owned it. All of it.
Edit: I also felt like I was maybe bi for a couple decades because of Gillian Andersen’s Dana Scully on the X-Files! Sure, I was attracted to the men - Mulder, that one guy who maybe was his brother, and Skinner especially - but I thought “wow… women can sure be attractive, too…”
I finally realized I just had a hard-on for Dana Scully AND men!
AtMostAFabulist 1 year ago
Scully was without a doubt stronger than Mulder. Not physically, but mentally, and more pragmatic.
El Dee 1 year ago
I remember thinking the same thing when i saw the show about 30 years ago. Saw an episode recently and thought that the attitudes were old fashioned. I then realised that Scully was REALLY ahead of her time then and the fact it looks old fashioned now is a good sign. The direction of travel has maintained but it's moving EVER so slowly..
#6
Judy Dench as M.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago (edited)
I love the odd balance in her personality as M too. She seems to stand right on the line between dignified, no nonsense professional and cold, heartless harpy. Yet she cares more than she lets on. Very complex character. Love her!
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
Judi Dench as anyone. My husband (66) has a serious crush on her.
#7
Margie from Fargo. She's the only moral, reasonable, responsible person in a town full of insanity. She deals with it all, while being pregnant and still finding the time to have emotions, but keeping them separate when there's a job to do.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
I love how while a fellow male cop is vomiting at the sight of a dead body, she's totally chill while heavily pregnant and just matter of factly takes notes on the crime scene lol she's so badass 😂
Moxitron Jazz 1 year ago
Margie is the GOAT, but also her and Norm's marriage seems like the most wholesome, supportive and loving couple in all of cinema. Love the Gundersons...
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
I absolutely love this movie. Frances McDormand can do no wrong in my eyes.
Debbie 1 year ago
I haven't seen this one I think. But doesn't this symbolize the daily situation of many women? That they have to keep all balls juggling and because if they don't, there's no one to do it. The mental load and organizing and keeping track of everything. All the while being pregnant - no idea how far along she was in the movie, but it's not a sign of a being a badass if you're working while heavily pregnant (for physically light jobs maternity leave starts 4 weeks before due date, for hard jobs it's 6 weeks or sooner). It's a sign of bad employment or laws.
#8
She may not have been the 'main' protagonist but Rachel Weisz as Evelyn in The Mummy (1999) was for me the perfect mix of feminine, brains and grit. Just loved her. And she wasn't a mary sue either. She make mistakes.
Daniel Atkins 1 year ago
Yes she was great she wasn’t just the love interest she got the expadition going.
#9
The original, animated Mulan.
They don’t make the mistake of having her just walk onto the training ground with the other rookies and just automatically know everything and be the best. She falls on her a*s and generally gets the s**t kicked out of her just like everyone else. And by the time she becomes a competent fighter, her comrades are all competent fighters with her. But she still has that little bit of an edge to her due to her intelligence.
My point being, she’s “done right” because she’s actually believable.
DramaDoc 1 year ago
I teach Mulan in my seminar about Women and War, where the whole point of it is that she never wanted to fight, but did so out of filial loyalty. In the original Chinese ballad (c. 400 - 500 CE), Mulan is never "outed" the way she is in the Disney movie and is only discovered as female when she returns home. I absolutely love the final line of the ballad: “When a pair of rabbits run side by side, who can distinguish male from female?”
Ben Aziza 1 year ago (edited)
I am happy to read about the "Lady of the Dark" An actual real world incarnation of the mulan story in ww2! In Milunka Savić's case she was discovered after many deployments. Noone wanted to punish her for faking her identity and takeing that of her brother. As she was simply too competent and everyone understood why she did it. She insisted that she wanted to keep fighting when offered a transfer to a nurse position instead of the punishment. The commanding offiser asked her to give him a day to decicide. She stood at attention and said "I will wait". As in she was going to wait the whole day standing there. Dude came back after an hour and put her in the infantry. I have read also that ww2 reaserch detected a pattern around filial loyalty. Like her case being an older sister. The boys who were the eldest with many siblings were the ones who had a WAY higher than usual confirmed kills and daring achivements. The conclusion was that they saw themselves responsible for their squadmates and would DO ANYTHING even shoot to kill unlike most others who shot to supress. I guess in their minds they had to save them. The Lady of the Dark too was as merciful as she was ruthless. Would go out of her way to help the wounded and to finish kills.
Load More Replies... Sophia Athene 1 year ago
But she gives up a career in the cabinet of advisors because she fancies the possibility of the relationship rather than what she trained her a*s off to do. Plus, she didn't have the status needed to marry him.
The Other Guest 1 year ago
I do not remember that in the original, animated Mulan. Perhaps that's from the live action remake?
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#10
Did anyone say Princess Leia?
Sophia Athene 1 year ago
Best story of a mom naming her daughter Leia and somebody said, "Like Princess Leia." Mom comes back, "No, General Leia."
Moxitron Jazz 1 year ago
Fisher could never had pulled off the 'flimsy damsel', just too bad-a*s...
#11
Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
She’s not a one dimensional, no emotions having badass trope of a character. Her femininity wasn’t cut in order for her to be “strong”. She’s a whole human being.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
My personal favorite was Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Load More Replies... Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
I have loved her since the first time I saw her. She is absolutely fabulous. She is beautiful, to be sure (God, she's aged well!) but more of a badass than I can ever hope to be.
#12
[Clarice in Silence of the Lambs]
It's great because the movie acknowledges her strengths, weakness and challenges as a woman. Often lazy writers make a woman character strong by just making her more masculine. Clarice is a decidedly feminine lead (petite, soft spoken, etc) yet still a complete badass.
Patsy Fine 1 year ago
That scene where she's in the elevator surrounded by men... cinematic masterpiece
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
Or in the morgue surrounded by guys and she ushers them out, then says to her Boss, "It matters, Sir" about the way he let them treat her.
Load More Replies... Jaya 1 year ago
I think we need strong female protagonists who are feminine AND strong female protagonists who are more masculine. We need a wide variety of different role models for girls. Because different girls get inspired by different types of role models. Same for male roles by the way, we need a wide variety of male role models for boys, ranging from masculine men to feminine men.
Simon Chen 1 year ago
Mostly thanks to jodie foster who was a brilliant clarice. Could have been completely ruined with the wrong person for that role
Crystal M 1 year ago
I agree, I did not care for Julianne Moore as Clarice.
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TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago
Or by surrounding the woman with men that behave like apes to make her look stronger
#13
Xena-warrior princess.
whineygingercat 1 year ago
Xena always was a bada$$ woman, more so because Lucy Lawless is a bada$$ woman
Debbie 1 year ago
I think watching Xena shaped me more than I know. She's independant, strong, intelligent, but also caring and sometimes struggling with her emotions. She truly is THE warrior princess. I wanted to be like her. I think I still want to be. I had hopes for Wonder Woman being like this. Wonder women started out strong, but unfortunately Wonder Woman turned into too much of a love story. I really want to like Amazones but the flaw in the story is that women seem to be controlled by emotions even if they are fierce smart warriors. I still like the movie and the idea though.
Cydney Golden 1 year ago
I've been watching a TV series where she plays a private detective....def not dependent on men.
Michael None 1 year ago
As an 13 year old when this show was on Xena was the height of sexuality at the time. She still is in a way as I'm attracted to strong women.
#14
Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager.
Michael P. 1 year ago
Genevieve Bujold was initially cast as Captain Janeway but left after a few days of filming. Kate Mulgrew was her replacement and she played the role perfectly. The differences in the acting between Bujold and Mulgrew is night and day. With Bujold being subdued and passive while Mulgrew as the bold and assertive one.
Amy 1 year ago
Shame the actress is pro life and so insecure she couldn't get along with Jeri Ryan.
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Russell Tilling 1 year ago (edited)
For me she’s ok, but a little affected, and I think there is quite a lot of overacting in Voyager. Still a fan but Picard et al are way better. My ideal crew would be Picard, Tuvok, Troi,Worf, Torres, Paris, EMH, Kim…
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
It's hard to believe she started out on the soap opera "Ryan's Hope". She was a badass even back then.
Anna Drever 1 year ago
I love all the Star Trek captains, even Kirk, but Janeway is my favourite by far and Voyager is my most rewatched of all the series. 🖖
#15
Elle Woods. I love how feminine she is. An absolute girly girl and yet she totally rocks as the main character. And when the other girl thinks she's trying to sleep with the professor but instead they actually just talk it out instead of use miscommunication as a plot device? Such a good movie.
leobubby:
So happy this movie came out when I was 13 years old, her persona and the way she handled being girlie and pinkish and intelligent at the same time was so fundamentally important for my self development. I can be girly and funny and interesting AND smart all at the same time and I will not let anyone dull my shine!
trauma_queen:
And her innate kindness shows throughout the movie as well! It comes off as true security - not feeling the need to put others down or act superior, lifting others up! I am in a male dominated profession, and I am so grateful that where I work currently, the women are team players , secure, kind, and genuinely support one another. Elle woods is interesting and smart and girly... And the antithesis of a mean girl. I love that most of all
Michael None 1 year ago
"Elle Woods. I love how feminine she is." Can I just take a second to point out the double standard of this opening sentence. Imaging if I praised a man for being really masculine. I'd be called toxic and "part of the patriarchy". Not saying we shouldn't be happy with feminine and masculine characters but there shouldn't be a double standard.
CP 1 year ago
Miscommunication as plot device is the most annoying. Red One, bad overall, but atrociously plays the miscommunication scene. 5 seconds after of speech will stop the 20 questions. Just lazy writing.
ManuelQue 1 year ago
Who and what are you talking about? As the article states the apparent miscommunication is dealt with in a completely different manner from other similar plots.
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Eowyn.
Sophia Athene 1 year ago (edited)
I was lucky to have my husband on one side and a close friend on the other when I saw RotK the 1st time b/c I lost my s**t at that moment in the theater. 20+ years and I still get cold chills. My hubby knew the scene was coming (he had read the book) and kept glancing over at me waiting to see my reaction. I had no idea! I did the same with him at his 1st Phantom of the Opera performance.
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Sheena Leversedge Wood 1 year ago
I loved her. I also love that they showed her going through all kinds of emotions, including fear, but her bravery was in carrying on despite obviously being scared, as anyone in that situation would be. then her absolutely badass "I am no MAN" GLORIOUS!
#17
[Samantha Carter from Stargate]
They were originally going to have her in a more revealing outfit than the guys, but the actor protested, saying something along the line of: this this is the military, we would all be wearing the same thing.
Which I think ultimately helps with the show's credibility.
Secret_Ad_1541:
A great character and one thing that really stood out, and was kind of unusual, was that she was not treated any differently by the SG-1 team because she was woman. She was an invaluable asset to the team, and everyone knew and acknowledged it. Jack, Teal'c and Master Bra'tac were all experience, elite warriors and Carter was respected and treated as their equal. And, even though Amanda Tapping was an attractive woman, I was glad that they didn't turn her character into eye candy, like you would see in so many other shows and movies. Sam was awesome and a badass who didn't have to strut around and tell people about it, because they all knew it.
WindySwede 1 year ago (edited)
And the medical [doctor] from there, even though she has not at much screentime as Sam. edit: spelling and the name och character: Dr. Janet Fraiser
Zoe Vokes 1 year ago
You have to write women in the military strong otherwise it’s ridiculous. They’ve passed all the qualifications to be accepted (physical, mental and psychological), worked for years in order to achieve the rank they have. Writing them as a weak person would be insane.
AR 1 year ago (edited)
You’d be surprised in the real life military, mainly with lower enlisted. There are some pretty useless women who make it out of boot camp. (Am a female Navy vet.) But there’s also some pretty useless men.
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mandy the capibara 1 year ago (edited)
I loved this about stargate! She is knowledgeable and respected for it, and the fact that she is a woman An doesn't really influence how she acts in the team. And even though all main characters get a few romances written in, it doesn't overpower the storyline. The only thing I'd say is that they fall a little in the trap of " she's a smart girl so she must be an absolute expert in anything", but let's face it, that is part of what makes scifi fun
Ayışığı Erşan 1 year ago
She is smart, talented, respected and hot. I love the show, i love the characters, i still watch over again and again
JessieJ&LilyLovebug 1 year ago
One of my favorite shows of all time. This is part of the reason why.
#18
Fiona from Shrek. She was willing to admit when she was in the wrong and grow personally, stood up for herself and her friends and didn't get sucked in by the pretty boy show off, she actually kicked his butt.
#19
Any woman written by Terry Pratchett, really.
My favorite is Granny Weatherwax tho.
Zoe Vokes 1 year ago
Personality yes they’re strong, but I hate the way he describes the physical characteristics of his female characters. I remember his description of Margaret (one of the main characters of witches),: “She is short, thin, decently plain, well scrubbed and has the watery expression of hopeless goodwill wedged between a body like a maypole and hair like a haystack.” A lot of his descriptions are similar where he describes all their physical faults.
CP 1 year ago (edited)
He describes men in the in a similar way though. It is the writing style.
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Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
UGH - I tried to read "The Woman's Murder Club" by James Patterson. The women he portrayed were so stilted & unbelievable. Seriousy, Jim? No woman who has been best friends with another for over 20 years calls her by her full name. We ALL create nicknames for each other. Do you actually KNOW any women?
#20
Disney's **Moana**. Y'all don't have kids?
That girl speaks truth to power, finds evidence, heads off on a dangerous trek, saves the world (basically), returns home and makes her small town better. And the whole time there's no distraction from any romantic interest.
Badass.
Ellinor 1 year ago
And the second movie ? She remained the same strong woman she already was, with the same goal of giving her people the best she could. Brilliant.
The Mediterranean Fruit 1 year ago
But the second movie just wasn't very good.
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TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago (edited)
Not enough struggle on her journey in my opinion, small hassles but the odds really never were against her in the movie (in comparison to other Disney movies)
#21
I'm not overly fond of the movie overall, but Emma Thompson's character in Love Actually.
Frazzled Mama 1 year ago
Same. I think she deserved an Oscar for that Joni Mitchell scene alone. Absolutely heartbreaking.
Load More Replies... Cydney Golden 1 year ago
One of the reasons I don't usually rewatch it...her heart break is too painful.
#22
Evelyn Wong in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
I literally mentioned everything everywhere all at once on that one as my favorite Michelle Yeoh
Load More Replies... #23
Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) in Fringe is my go to example of a strong female protagonist.
CanadianDimes 1 year ago
I really loved Astrid as well but I think they did her dirty. She was brilliant but her character was mostly responsible for making sure Walter didn’t get into trouble. I loved Fringe, but they definitely could have done better there.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
Anna Torv is also a pretty strong protagonist in The Newsreader, if you discount how bad she is at her relationship.
🩶🩷Marvin HoG🩷🩶 1 year ago
I kinda didn't like her at first but it did not take me long at all to just fall in love with what an amazing character she was.
#25
Amy Adams in Arrival.
WindySwede 1 year ago
needed a "explanation"-video on YT after watching this to fully grasp what happened!
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#26
Geena Davis as Samantha Caine in The Long Kiss Goodnight.
#27
Erin Brockovich.
CP 1 year ago
Can't after knowing how that law firm got rich and took years to get the money to the people that deserved it if ever.
David 1 year ago
The firm took 40% of the settlement, and then billed all the people for "expenses, totaling 1/3 of what each person got. Or what about the California Dept of Health (and NIH) later discovered the fraud the firm committed in fabricating reports that grossly exaggerated the cancer rates, which helped them win the case (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1473137/, https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/705826/morgan-hinkley-cancer-cluster-study.pdf, ), that later resulted in the company they won against suing the locals for money back. BTW she knew about it from the lawsuit. Basically the people would have gotten far less money without that falsified report, or possibly lost the case. The whole thing was a mess. They took most of the money from the people, and now some of them might end up having to give some of it back bc of fraud.
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#28
Lagertha in Vikings.
#29
Offbeat choice, but Helen Hunt's character Carol in As Good As It Gets. She deals with all the c**p life has handed her, constantly cares for her son, deals with a horribly difficult man, and manages to maintain her sunshine and cheer in the face of it all. She lays down strict boundaries and gets right in Melvin's face when he crosses the line. She doesn't allow herself to get pushed around, but she doesn't retreat into being a bully either. She's amazingly patient and loving, and I love her.
#30
The Bride and O-Ren from *K**l Bill*.
#31
Chrisjen Avasarala (The Expanse) - intelligent and ambitious, unapologetic, but also capable of personal reflection and growth.
AYASOFAYA:
[Chrisjen Avasarala (The Expanse)] Yeah all of the women in that show were good, but Avasarala is a good example of how to do this without making her physically strong as a trope.
YNot1989:
Chrisjen Avasarala and Bobby Draper.
Laura MG 1 year ago
Drummer fan too, this show had amazing female characters!
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Moxitron Jazz 1 year ago
100% agree, but also wanna include Naomi Nagata and Carmina Drummer. The Expanse had so many awesome, complex female characters. Even the Mormon lady had moments of both grace and bad-assery!
#32
Furiosa from *Mad Max: Fury Road*—she doesn’t need a tragic backstory speech or a romantic subplot to prove her worth. She just drives into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, kicks a*s, and liberates people while rocking a metal arm like it’s no big deal. That’s the kind of energy I aspire to bring when I tackle my inbox on a Monday morning.
Sarah Pryde 1 year ago
i believe that eve ensler (vagina monologues) was a consultant on this film
Remi (He/Him) 1 year ago
To be fair, it the mad max uneverse everyone and everything has a tragic backstory
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#33
Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Rae Reyn 1 year ago
Kristy Swanson walked so Sarah Michelle Gellar could run. Both were well done strong women.
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#34
President Laura Roslyn from Battlestar Galactica.
Cronecast AtTheRisingMoon 1 year ago
Mary McDonnell had to talk Ronald Moore into having Laura die in the finale. Her character is introduced as having terminal cancer but Moore loved the character so much he tried to just imply her death in the original script and the actor had to insist that she die on screen to complete the story.
Sand Ers 1 year ago
So much of that show was so well done. And then the writers were forced to make two incoherent "series finale" episodes because SciFi wouldn't commit to the final season early enough for them to create a thought-out storyline.
Load More Replies... #35
Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games.
Kurt Ramsey 1 year ago
Not even close. There's a number of other women on this list, in action movies, that predate Hunger Games.
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and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
I actually disagree on this one. She absolutely had the makings of a fantastic lead, but ended up having to cling to male characters, for no good reason.
#36
Chihiro in Spirited Away… she starts out as a scared little girl who needs protection from those around her to becoming someone who, through her own decisions and courage, finds clever ways to protect herself and her loved ones.
FlightlessGriffin:
There's a reason Spirited Away claimed the No. 1 spot as the highest grossing Anime of all time. Chihiro was a great protagonist. Maybe not what OP is looking for considering Chihiro is just a little girl but she's worth mentioning.
If we're mentioning Anime, any Miyazaki film does this in spades. Nausicca: Valley of the Wind, Howl's Moving Castle (Sophie is amazing in that) and I should give an honorable mention to Princess Mononoke.
Edit: I said honorable mention as a response to the comment. I didn't want to hijack theirs by saying my own pick, so I passed it off as honorable. Princess Mononoke was my individual pick as a response to OP.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
I. LOVE. Nausicaa. It’s probably my favorite ghibli movie of all time.
Amelia Jade 1 year ago
Fathom Events ran a Ghibli Fest this year. Every month they were playing one or two Ghibli movies on the big screen, with My Neighbor Totoro being the finale. Spirited Away was my absolute favorite. If I'd seen that as a kid, it would have been one I would have watched over and over.
#37
Charlize Theron in anything.
Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Old Guard, etc.
Kalikima 1 year ago
I loved that movie! I don't know why it wasn't a bigger hit..
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TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago
I'd question Old Guard though, her throwing around buff, trained soldiers in hand to hand combat is a bit far fetched
Sophia Athene 1 year ago
She's hundreds of years older than those buff, trained soldiers. Why exactly would she not be able to do so without all that training over centuries?
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#38
Veronica Mars.
Jess Bertram 1 year ago
You know what they say about her...she's a marshmallow. And, so, so am i. ✨️❤️
#39
Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility (1995). So strong, charming and thoughtful. What a lovely person.
#40
Tiffany Aching.
Sheena Leversedge Wood 1 year ago
and, technically not a Witch, but "something" Susan. I love her
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and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
I mean, come on, it opens with her hitting a bog monster over the head with a cast iron frying pan.
#41
Lucy MacLean from Fallout.
#42
Avatar doesn't have a female protagonist, but all of its female characters are great .
Cosmos in your eyes 1 year ago
100%! And great diversity among them: young and old from all different walks of life and perspectives.
Ben Aziza 1 year ago
I had a crush on Azula when i was 13. Make with that information what you will...
Smiley MG 1 year ago
She was a sizzling spice for sure, if only she didn’t go all loony with the heir competition... I kinda like her
Load More Replies... #43
Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn is pretty fantastic.
Serial pacifist 1 year ago
Is there going to be Merida the Brave on this list? She deserves highest of honors!
JammaCoast2Coast 1 year ago
I don't know why you were downvoted, but I completely agree.
Load More Replies... #44
[Kim Wexler] is one of the most complex characters I’ve seen. She’s definitely a great example of a strong female protagonists done right. I always think of that line she says early on
“You don’t save me. I save me”
hellomolly11:
I finished Better Caul Saul about a year ago and I still think of how composed and disciplined Kim Wexler is, and how much compromising it must have taken for her to live a new, mundane life in Florida. She’s actually inspirational in her professionalism and dedication.
#45
Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
John Dilligaf 1 year ago
All the female characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender were done right. Heroes or Villains. ... But yea, Toph was done very right.
#48
Samus Aran, in any game besides Other M, we don't talk about Other M.
#49
Emily Blunt in Sicario.
Amelia Jade 1 year ago
One of my favorites with her is Edge of Tomorrow. She's totally badass. She's also really fun, and still a badass--just in a different way, in Wild Target.
#50
Does Frieren count?
Ben Aziza 1 year ago
In this series Flamme her mentor would be my pick. As Frieren is strong in ways but still kinda finding herself in many other ways. Ehh I guess that is also the mark of a good character! Yeh both fit and are great in their own ways!
I am glad this show is getting the fame it deserves. It somehow stole the top place for me from full metal alchemist... Also enjoy this bladerunner crossover meme. Frirenhimm...5-jpeg.jpg 
Magdalena Skrabut-Konderla 1 year ago
I think Fern is more fitting, looking at her determination and development is so inspiring. I love Frieren, but her living sort of outside the time makes her exampke hard to follow ;)
Jayeff Vee 1 year ago
All of these entries and not a mention of Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect?
What do you think ?
Mike Crow 1 year ago
No one mentions Jessica Fletcher (Murder she wrote). She is the leading serial killer in TV shows and was never caught.
CanadianDimes 1 year ago
The three leads from Hidden Figures! Obviously based on real people and I loved that they were smart, capable, and vulnerable at times.
Chris the Bobcat 1 year ago
Not one, but four! Dorothy was a jaded divorcee who still put herself out there and held strong convictions. Rose was kind if a bit naive, but held firm to her sense of right and wrong. Blanche lived her best life after the death of her husband even if the others questioned her lifestyle, and Sophia never failed to speak her mind, right or wrong, while never losing her humanity even after a medical incident. They weren't the Golden Girls just because of their ages.
LillieMean 1 year ago
Toni Collette has also played many strong female roles. She has an incredible ability to convey complex emotions and if her character tells another character in the movie to shut up, I instinctively correct my posture on the other side of the screen and I'm like, yes, mom.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Paikea Apirana from Whale Rider. Also all of the women in Westward the Women. And Mrs. Benson in the original The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Helena 1 year ago
Love the movie whale rider. That character is the main reason.
Load More Replies... Jaya 1 year ago
There are SO MANY great strong female protagonistst. But.... when you think about how incredibly many movies there are, you realize that there should be way way more.
Ben Aziza 1 year ago
I honestly think it is more proportional to the movie/series gendre more than anything else. To me it seems that there are as many actresses as there are actors.
Load More Replies... Mike Crow 1 year ago
No one mentions Jessica Fletcher (Murder she wrote). She is the leading serial killer in TV shows and was never caught.
CanadianDimes 1 year ago
The three leads from Hidden Figures! Obviously based on real people and I loved that they were smart, capable, and vulnerable at times.
Chris the Bobcat 1 year ago
Not one, but four! Dorothy was a jaded divorcee who still put herself out there and held strong convictions. Rose was kind if a bit naive, but held firm to her sense of right and wrong. Blanche lived her best life after the death of her husband even if the others questioned her lifestyle, and Sophia never failed to speak her mind, right or wrong, while never losing her humanity even after a medical incident. They weren't the Golden Girls just because of their ages.
LillieMean 1 year ago
Toni Collette has also played many strong female roles. She has an incredible ability to convey complex emotions and if her character tells another character in the movie to shut up, I instinctively correct my posture on the other side of the screen and I'm like, yes, mom.
Dread Pirate Roberts 1 year ago
Paikea Apirana from Whale Rider. Also all of the women in Westward the Women. And Mrs. Benson in the original The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Helena 1 year ago
Love the movie whale rider. That character is the main reason.
Load More Replies... Jaya 1 year ago
There are SO MANY great strong female protagonistst. But.... when you think about how incredibly many movies there are, you realize that there should be way way more.
Ben Aziza 1 year ago
I honestly think it is more proportional to the movie/series gendre more than anything else. To me it seems that there are as many actresses as there are actors.
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