Top 25 Greatest Action Movie Heroines
Physical beauty, incredible talent and excellent physical skill are key factors in determining the greatest action heroines of all time. To varying degrees, the women on the Top 25 list must have all three and, like their more muscular brethren, hordes that want to watch them in action. The rules were simple: the star must have at least one legitimate action film and be recognized as one of the "action" stars in the film. For practical reasons (there just aren't as many female action stars), the number of films in which action heroines starred played very little in the choices, but the performances and action did. The women on the list are some of the most beautiful, kinetically superior and dynamic personalities in film.
No. 25: Sandra Bullock
With Speed, The Net and Demolition Man in her filmography, Sandra Bullock’s credentials are bona fide. Bullock seems like the typical “girl next door” and that’s what makes her such a great draw. In Speed, Bullock makes an excellent opposite to Keanu Reeves. In The Net, Bullock manages to create a far more convincing tension than in any moment of The Firm or Pelican Brief, both movies far better written. And in Demolition Man, I cannot imagine anyone better to be the foil to Sylvester Stallone than Sandra Bullock. Something about her just is likeable, innocent and fresh. She is barely on the list, but she is on the list.
No. 24: Lucy Liu
Squeaking onto the list at No. 24 is Lucy Liu. Her martial arts skills, at least those we see on screen, are superlative and Liu’s physical beauty remarkable. Liu’s portrayal of O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill: Vol. 1, not as a hero but still powerful, mark her as one of action’s best, but her lack of great heroic film roles move her to near the bottom of the action heroine list. She did star in one of my least favorite action series, Charlie’s Angels, but the films were at the bottom end of my top 500 hundred action films so hardly a recommendation. Only Lucy Liu’s great physical prowess and outstanding personality qualify her to be on the list at all.
No. 23: Halle Berry
As Storm in the X-Men series, Halle Berry is a real, dynamic representation of the character she portrays; stormy indeed is the young mutant. Berry’s excellent portrayal in a very challenging role make her, if not one of the major action heroines, at least worthy of the list. Berry is a wonderful actress, and with her excellent voice talents manages to create the tension that so many other action stars project through body movement and kinetic energy. Something about her very expressive face and hand gestures also add to Storm’s magnificent persona. Of course, Berry’s physical beauty, just as Storm in the comic book, adds greatly to the magic. Truly, Halle Berry was a great choice for the role.
No. 22: Rhona Mitra
Beautiful, naturally exotic, thrilling, scary and frigidly fierce, Rhona Mitra made one of the best of the new vampires in the Underworld series. There is something truly dangerous about this dark and sexy vampire and yet, as the daughter of lead vampire, Viktor, strangely compelling. I first saw Mitra in the starring role as Dr. Eden Sinclair in Doomsday. The film was rather silly, but the marvelous actress did extremely well with little with which to work. Given the lead and a wonderful script, Mitra might be just the ticket for a very successful franchise. I want to see Mitra in more action thrillers; she could very well be one of the best, given the chance.
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Comments
16 August 2007
4 hours 39 min
Question....where would u rank Sarah Michelle Gellar? She's known for her action on TV, but her movies haven't focused on that as much? Would she even merit an honorable mention for you?
25 September 2009
1 year 38 weeks
Craig, I think you should have squeezed in Jodie Foster. She has been in a few of those movies where she takes names (Brave One, Panic Room, and Flightplan)
I also think you should have squeezed in Michelle Rodriguez. She is not a big name but she has been in Fast and the Furious, SWAT, Resident Evil, Fast and Furious, Lost, and off course the very anticipated Avatar.
I don't understand how you put in Rhonda Mitra in that list. Yes she has been in Doomsday and Underworld but that really it. If you put her on the list for her looks alone then I have no complaints because she looks fantastic.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
Absolutely Sarah Michelle Gellar would have been on my Action Heroine list had it included TV action heroines. I love Ms. Gellar and really wanted to include her but alas, she didnt have any movie credits to give me an excuse.
As to Rhona Mitra, she has some great cred, absolutely stunning beauty and added so much to the movies she's been in. i realized she might cause a little controversy, but should she continue in the genre she will continue to rock.
Ms. Mitra also managed to impress. Her credits are small, but her impact on the films she's in is immense. i'm more surprised you didnt challenge the inclusion of some of the more obscure actresses. I respect your opinions as you know.
I like Rodriguez, but she could hardly be called an action heroine, partly because of her "Fast and Furious" role and partly because she's more of a sidekick. Oh, that might be a great top 25...25 greatest sidekicks, hmmm?
Oh, and once again (and I despised Panic Room) but Jodie Foster never really impressed me as an action "star," leading lady maybe, but you forgot Silence of the Lambs her closest film to "action heroine" status probably. Foster is a wonderful actress, but I would probably have put Martin Riggs girlfriend from Lethal Weapon first. Rene Russo as I recall.
Who I really wanted to include was Jane Fonda. She was an action heroine before there was such a thing. Excellent comments as always lost, though I might consider changing that name when you comment on my picks, lost indeed *grins.*
25 September 2009
1 year 38 weeks
I also think that Naomi Harris would be qualified to be on the list. She was fantastic in 28 Days Later and the POTC movies. She is also in the upcoming Ninja Assassin which I'm looking forward to watching.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
Sorry, if it's someone I haven't heard of it would be unlikely I would put her on the list, lol. But seriously, I've seen her but really don't know about "action Heroine." There are lots of obscure actresses that could be on the list but if I don't immediately recognize the name and isn't on any list I've seen it's really unlikely she would be on mind. I vaguely remember a female in 28 days later but she didn't strike me as memorable, sorry.
14 November 2007
1 year 39 weeks
I would definitely have included Franka Potente for Run Lola Run and Bourne Identity.
Major Kudos for putting Cynthia Rothrock on the list!! I used to watch her movies back in the 90s (on late night cable) and she kicked *SS!! I wonder if younger people know who she is? I also liked your inclusion of Karen Allen and Anne Parillaud.
Personally I would have left off the X-Men women, Famke Janssen and Halle Berry - they never did anything for me. But at least you didn't put Halle on the list for Catwoman, lol. I could quibble with the order (I'd put Sigourney as #1 and Michelle Yeoh would definitely be in the top 5) but it was a really good list.
Craig, when you said you would've liked to put Jane Fonda on the list, did you mean for Barbarella? That may have been groundbreaking, but does it get any cheesier, lol?
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
More for the film Cat Ballou. Truly an Action film and great fun, but yes Barbarella was part of it. Remember women in action just didn't happen much when Fonda did most of her acting. There was Fun With Dick and Jane and China Syndrome too...all in all I would have loved to include her. Oh, and Weaver was a one movie action heroine...Jolie had several and more to come.
14 November 2007
1 year 39 weeks
With Weaver/Jolie I was thinking quality over quantity (I've disliked a lot of Jolie's stuff, though it's not her fault.) But...if you were to include China Syndrome for Jane Fonda, then for Weaver we could include Copycat, Year of Living Dangerously, Galaxy Quest and if we *really* want to stretch it, Ghostbusters I & II.
27 November 2008
42 weeks 6 days
Nope, we're really talking extreme action and acting...you'll pardon the expression hotness. It's a factor in male action heroes and female action heroines...so shoot me. I love Weaver, but she just doesn't have the over-the-top'ness of Angelina Jolie. Jolie is also going to be in action films for a while, but Weaver will be in Avatar so we'll see.
7 April 2010
1 year 44 weeks
Thats so stoopid,,,anybody who knows anything about film will tell you that the Greatest Ever Action Movie Heroine is Signourney Weaver. No one comes close by a very very very wide margin.
Craig Peters, back to school with you!