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Cinema is still a largely male dominated affair with a lot of the best roles and characters developed for men. This makes it really difficult to think of genuine standout female characters in films with actresses reduced to playing the doting wife, the understanding hooker or damsel in distress. In the 21st Century you might argue that we've now seen the arrival of the "kick ass chick", but is this genuine character development or just male screenwriters forcing their own set of values on a cute looking girl in a skimpy outfit?

So then, what are the best female characters in films (and TV)? You can have "kick ass chicks" if you can argue that the kick ass element has been properly incorporated into their character arc. Here are three to get us going...

1. Ellen Ripley (Aliens) - Without a shadow of a doubt, the best film role ever offered to a woman. Yes, she kicks ass eventually, but only as a protective surrogate mother defending her child.
2. Clementine (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) - Essentially two roles, the fiercely independent Clementine who tires of her introverted boyfriend and the "memory" Clementine who tries to help Joel resist the mind wiping procedure
3. Lisa Fremont (Rear Window) - Perhaps not a great female role model, but the charming pampered socialite using every single femine wile at her disposal to pin down her man is a delight to watch. "Preview of coming attractions" indeed!

Though she was an anime character, I vote for Hayao Miyazaki's "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds". Truly awesome heroine!

Sadly, most films about Joan of Arc are seriously flawed... truly she was one of the greatest human beings ever.

I'm sure there are a lot of terrific female characters in films, for example, my sister and mother were greatly moved by 'The Joy Luck Club'. I suspect you meant great female characters in movies popular with men?

Long Kiss Goodnight

Dreg Warpspawn wrote:I'm sure there are a lot of terrific female characters in films, for example, my sister and mother were greatly moved by 'The Joy Luck Club'. I suspect you meant great female characters in movies popular with men?

Nope, any great female role. By all means include chick flicks if you think it was a good character.

Veronica (Heathers) : Probably Winona Ryders best role. The story of a teenage outcast who desperately wants to be popular, and descends into murder and some of the best black comedy ever committed to celluloid

If you haven't seen this film, get some beer and rent it at once. Then stand on a rooftop and shout "I love my dead, gay son!"

Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane: Pure, total and utter malevolence. The scene with her freaking out under the swining lightbulb, singing about daddy, is skin-crawlingly uncomfortable.

I thought President Roslin in Battlestar Galactica was brilliantly played by Mary McDonnell. She was a difficult character, wavering between hostile to sympathetic over the course of the series.

Actually, strangely enough, I also highly rate Angelina Jolie. Her acting and accent in Tomb Raider were excellent. She should give classes in English accents to other Hollywood greats. I especially liked her in Girl Interrupted.

Angela Bissett in Strange Days as Mace, fookin hardcore chauffeur/protection operative and very iconic looking. She also acts up a storm easily.

Of course Ripley, Sigourney Weaver is incredibly strong in that role and the role it's self is ladened with message and metaphor.

Lucy Lawless..."Zena the Warrior Princess"

Sorcerous from "He-man cartoon"

my top.....females for today

Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars. Strong female yet still vulnerable, survives by her wits often after letting her convictions get her into trouble.

Rachael Leigh Cooke as Josie from Josie and the Pussycats. She's what every wanna-be rockstar should be.

Huge plus 1 for Betty Davis in What ever happened to Baby Jane,her character is positively mesmerizingly evil, "But you are in the wheelchair Blanche!!..you are !!"...that line has stuck in my head since I first saw the film over 30 years ago.

I should add that Joan Crawford does an outstanding job as her victimized sister Blanche.

Now..for one that may raise an eyebrow or two.

Kristen Stewart...yup,the actress from the Twilight films.

I recently saw her in the role of Joan Jett in the Film "The Runaways",a movie documenting the career of the 70's punk/rock band The Runaways,and I have to admit Miss Stewart did a fantastic job portraying Jett...and not a sparkly vampire in sight.

Kristen Stewart is learning not to act like Kristen Stewart and she killed it in The Runaways

She

Interesting choices so far. Let's have a few more...

Princess Leia - Yes, in Carrie Fisher's words, she was the only girl in a boy's fantasy, but it's a strong role that doesn't cover over a woman's sensibilities
Eowyn - Essentially a repeat of the above, but Tolkien got there first really.
Juno - Look past the cocky dialogue and Ellen Page presents a vulnerable but determined girl making the best of a bad situation.
Lois Lane - Wandering danergously into damsel in distress territory here, but Margot Kidder nailed it IMO and got the best line too "You've got me? Who's got you?!"

Amy Pond and River Song from the current (US) Dr. Who. The Dr always relies on strong female roles for support.
+1 for Bette Davis in Baby Jane.
From NCIS - Pauley Perrette as Abby, Cool, gothy, nerd-girl that can be painfully innocent and tough as nails when need be.
And Cote De Pablo as Ziva, hard bitten ex-Mossad agent that is still "womanly".

Anita Blake from those Laurel K. Hamilton is pretty awesome. She's tough and smart, but not to the point of being two-dimensional as these "kick ass chicks" can end up being.

Marge Gunderson is a great character in Fargo. She's a nice counterpoint to the helpless/idiotic women that she encounters throughout the film as well as to the victim of the crime she's investigating.

Annie Wilkes in Misery. I mean, come on. Kathy Bates was just incredible.

Pam in office space


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:Kristen Stewart is learning not to act like Kristen Stewart and she killed it in The Runaways

YES. She was really good. I was looking forward to her in that movie. Dakota fanning looks totally different though.She's only like 16, but she looks like 23....

Maleficent.

just for Mr. FITZZ

Wow, this is a lot harder than it should be...


Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth
Katherine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter

That's pretty much all I can think of...

I definitely agree with Laura Roslin. I would add Kara Thrace to the list because she would "pick up the chainsaw" if chased by Leatherface and he dropped it. unlike Jessica Biel's character in that stupid movie.

Anita Blake started out ok, but her stupid sex life has gotten in the way of her bad-ass nature.

loranafaeriequeen wrote:Anita Blake started out ok, but her stupid sex life has gotten in the way of her bad-ass nature.

That's the problem right there :( Her sex life should really have no bearing on her career, unless it's men doing the judging.....

.....Hmm, i notice Errol flynn didn't suffer from the same problem Wonder why that could be?

@ reds8n

Thank you ever so much,Sherri Moon Zombie makes me...very happy,and I did actually quite like her in the role of Baby Firefly...big shock there huh?

J.Black wrote:

loranafaeriequeen wrote:Anita Blake started out ok, but her stupid sex life has gotten in the way of her bad-ass nature.

That's the problem right there :( Her sex life should really have no bearing on her career, unless it's men doing the judging.....

.....Hmm, i notice Errol flynn didn't suffer from the same problem Wonder why that could be?

James Bond has sex with every female that crosses his path(Agent Fields is my favorite) and it doesn't get people all upset.

Double Standard ftl

The difference is that James Bond has sex because he likes having sex, while Anita Blake has sex because that's how she solves all her problems.

Not even joking, the plot of the newer books has degenerated into "Who will Anita have sex with to save the day?"

Definitely in accordance with Warboss about the difference between Anita Blake and James Bond. I still read Laurell K. Hamilton's books, but they've definitely changed over the years.

I haven't read many of the newer ones, but the Anita Blake of the older novels was pretty awesome.

I haven't read many of the newer ones, but the Anita Blake of the older novels was pretty awesome.
-----
After Obsidian Butterfly it descends into a pattern of "I've met a new guy. Oh no the ardeur is rising, it needs to feed. Insert random group sex scene here."

Most definitely Pam Grier in Jackie Brown. The role is slightly reminiscient of her earlier work, but with a much more mature and believable tone. She manages to be a total badass, but with a major element of humanity (her fear and her faults are palpable, but only outside of contact with other people). She doesn't fall into the 'kickass chick' stereotype, as she's not nigh-invulnerable, she's definitely not scantily clad, and she actually acts like a human being, but she still manages to hit all the right notes, and I can't help but love her in this role.

Although she was definitely overshadowed by Anthony Hopkins (Who had less that 20 minutes of screentime throughout the whole film), I feel that Jodie Foster was brilliant in The Silence of the Lambs. Her role was not stereotypical in the least (and, in fact, certain scenes speak out against these very same stereotypes). It was very interesting to watch Clarice Starling get picked apart by Hannibal Lecter, and to see her display both comfort and discomfort simultaneously. This is a very rare role, and I don't think anything before it demanded similar inner conflict in an actor or an actress.

The women from Firefly have very strong and compelling roles. You have Zoe who and is just as tough and smart has Mal. Kaylee is while innocent, is also a smart independent woman, who is very important to the ship. Inara is also another strong woman and River is a very complex character. On a side note I really wish Fox did not cancel the series.

Claudia Black's characters from "Bitch Black" and "Farscape", which are essentially the same in the larger sense.

@ Chrysaor686 - Good call on Jackie Brown, that's the kind of character I was thinking of when I started this thread.

A bit obscure, but I liked Natalie Portman's Marty in Beautiful Girls. Beyond their years teenagers are a bit cliche, but Portman pulls it off without seeming too grown up. Her scene with Timoty Hutton on the ice skating lake about why it wouldn't work for him to "hang on" five years until she grows up is quite well done given its dubious nature.