50 Greatest Female Movie Characters
Filmsite.org’s Tim Dirks looks at 50 female movie characters. From vamps and tramps to supermoms and women warriors: characters like Scarlett O’Hara, Holly Golightly, and Nurse Ratched keep us coming back for more.
ranktitleyour vote
1Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With the Wind)
Vivien Leigh bested dozens of the best actresses of her day playing the belle and put some steel in Scarlett's spine.13243052THANKS
Vivien Leigh bested dozens of the best actresses of her day playing the belle and put some steel in Scarlett's spine.13243052THANKS
2Ripley (Alien Series)
Sigourney Weaver's Ripley is tough enough to take on the baddest extraterrestrial and doesn't care who knows she's soft on kitties.4791657
Sigourney Weaver's Ripley is tough enough to take on the baddest extraterrestrial and doesn't care who knows she's soft on kitties.4791657
3Clarice Starling (The Silence of the Lambs)
Brilliant, ambitious, and vulnerable, Jodie Foster's Clarice goes will to will with Dr. Lecter and succeeds where others failed.4681540
Brilliant, ambitious, and vulnerable, Jodie Foster's Clarice goes will to will with Dr. Lecter and succeeds where others failed.4681540
4The Bride (Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Kill Bill: Vol. 2)
Uma Thurman's Bride emerges from a five-year coma and slaughters her way to self-discovery and the daughter she didn't know she had.3731515THANKS
Uma Thurman's Bride emerges from a five-year coma and slaughters her way to self-discovery and the daughter she didn't know she had.3731515THANKS
5Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars Series)
Carrie Fisher's Leia is a sci-fi geek's dream, the hottie who can slaughter a super-slug while dressed in a bikini.3671511THANKS
Carrie Fisher's Leia is a sci-fi geek's dream, the hottie who can slaughter a super-slug while dressed in a bikini.3671511THANKS
6Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz)
Judy Garland's Dorothy befriends misfits and defies bullies, proving that loyalty and pluck trump witchery and wickedness.3641640
Judy Garland's Dorothy befriends misfits and defies bullies, proving that loyalty and pluck trump witchery and wickedness.3641640
7Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)
Forget today's super-nannies: Julie Andrews's Poppins was strict and fun, and she also could fly.3531193
Forget today's super-nannies: Julie Andrews's Poppins was strict and fun, and she also could fly.3531193
8Sarah Connor (The Terminator)
Targeted by an assassin from the future, Linda Hamilton's Sarah channels her Mama Grizzly to save her unborn child and the world.2601200THANKS
Targeted by an assassin from the future, Linda Hamilton's Sarah channels her Mama Grizzly to save her unborn child and the world.2601200THANKS
9Marge Gunderson (Fargo)
By virtue of brains, determination, and patience, Frances McDormand's Gunderson unravels a crime without letting its darkness rub off on her.183927
By virtue of brains, determination, and patience, Frances McDormand's Gunderson unravels a crime without letting its darkness rub off on her.183927
10Holly Golightly (Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
The patron saint of self-reinvention, Audrey Hepburn's Holly flees to New York and becomes a party girl with a heart of gold.1561014
The patron saint of self-reinvention, Audrey Hepburn's Holly flees to New York and becomes a party girl with a heart of gold.1561014
11Miss Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz)
Margaret Hamilton's witch is so wicked she threatens pup Toto. But who remembers the good witch, Glinda?120890
Margaret Hamilton's witch is so wicked she threatens pup Toto. But who remembers the good witch, Glinda?120890
12Carrie White (Carrie)
Browbeaten by her religious mother and shunned by classmates, Sissy Spacek turns her gift -- telekinesis -- against her tormenters.117861
Browbeaten by her religious mother and shunned by classmates, Sissy Spacek turns her gift -- telekinesis -- against her tormenters.117861
13Marion Ravenwood (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
Karen Allen plays the daughter of Indy's mentor, and she's pretty, tough, and more than a match for the swashbuckling archaeologist.113861
Karen Allen plays the daughter of Indy's mentor, and she's pretty, tough, and more than a match for the swashbuckling archaeologist.113861
14Bonnie Parker (Bonnie and Clyde)
The moll to Warren Beatty's Clyde, Faye Dunaway's Bonnie was equal parts sensuality and ruthlessness.110750
The moll to Warren Beatty's Clyde, Faye Dunaway's Bonnie was equal parts sensuality and ruthlessness.110750
15Ilsa Lund (Casablanca)
Torn between her husband and her great love, Rick, Ingrid Bergman's Ilsa brings out the best in both.109869
Torn between her husband and her great love, Rick, Ingrid Bergman's Ilsa brings out the best in both.109869
16Juno MacGuff (Juno)
Smart, funky, and pregnant, 16-year-old Juno, played by Ellen Page, upends stereotypes and embodies empowerment.106992
Smart, funky, and pregnant, 16-year-old Juno, played by Ellen Page, upends stereotypes and embodies empowerment.106992
17Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)
Strict, self-important, and sneaky, Louise Fletcher's nurse is every child's nightmare: you can defy her, but you'll be sorry you did.103835
Strict, self-important, and sneaky, Louise Fletcher's nurse is every child's nightmare: you can defy her, but you'll be sorry you did.103835
18Annie Wilkes (Misery)
Kathy Bates plays a writer's nightmare, willing to make the novelist who killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain, wish he were dead.87763
Kathy Bates plays a writer's nightmare, willing to make the novelist who killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain, wish he were dead.87763
19Erin Brockovich (Erin Brockovich)
Julia Roberts's single mom spearheads a successful lawsuit against a group of corporate polluters.78874
Julia Roberts's single mom spearheads a successful lawsuit against a group of corporate polluters.78874
20Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)
Jessica wasn't born bad; she was drawn that way. Kathleen Turner's voice is the icing on the sequins.69897
Jessica wasn't born bad; she was drawn that way. Kathleen Turner's voice is the icing on the sequins.69897
21Blanche DuBois (A Streetcar Named Desire)
Vivien Leigh's southern belle flees scandal at home only to have her brother-in-law destroy her veneer of gentility.68712
Vivien Leigh's southern belle flees scandal at home only to have her brother-in-law destroy her veneer of gentility.68712
22Mrs. Robinson (The Graduate)
A cougar before the term existed, Anne Bancroft's Robinson doesn't so much seduce Benjamin Braddock as bend him to her will.55761
A cougar before the term existed, Anne Bancroft's Robinson doesn't so much seduce Benjamin Braddock as bend him to her will.55761
23Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Some Like It Hot)
Sugar, played by Marilyn Monroe, is sweet and sexy, too kind to be a gold digger and too guileless to realize her pals are guys in drag.37707
Sugar, played by Marilyn Monroe, is sweet and sexy, too kind to be a gold digger and too guileless to realize her pals are guys in drag.37707
24Norma Desmond (Sunset Blvd.)
Casting Gloria Swanson gave a jolt of reality to the role of a diva whose dreams of a comeback cost a screenwriter his life.29617
Casting Gloria Swanson gave a jolt of reality to the role of a diva whose dreams of a comeback cost a screenwriter his life.29617
25Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribbean Series)
Keira Knightley's Swann looks like a lady, but her inner hellion is tough enough to best pirates, monsters, and suitors.231049
Keira Knightley's Swann looks like a lady, but her inner hellion is tough enough to best pirates, monsters, and suitors.231049
26Annie Hall (Annie Hall)
The shiksa of Jewish New Yorkers' dreams, Diane Keaton's Annie reveals that Connecticut Wasps have their tsuris, too.8692
The shiksa of Jewish New Yorkers' dreams, Diane Keaton's Annie reveals that Connecticut Wasps have their tsuris, too.8692
27Margo (All About Eve)
Bette Davis's Broadway star mistakes a she wolf in lamb's clothing for a fan, losing her husband and career.0622
Bette Davis's Broadway star mistakes a she wolf in lamb's clothing for a fan, losing her husband and career.0622
28Martha (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?)
Love is a battlefield, and Elizabeth Taylor's performance as a harridan was a revelation back when movie goddesses didn't drab down.-15621
Love is a battlefield, and Elizabeth Taylor's performance as a harridan was a revelation back when movie goddesses didn't drab down.-15621
29Eve (All About Eve)
Anne Baxter's Eve so loves Broadway star Margot Channing that she wants to be her and hijacks her husband, friends, and career.-45571
Anne Baxter's Eve so loves Broadway star Margot Channing that she wants to be her and hijacks her husband, friends, and career.-45571
30Hermione Granger (Harry Potter Series)
Emma Watson's Hermione loves classmates Harry and Ron dearly while not at all suffering fools.-472961
Emma Watson's Hermione loves classmates Harry and Ron dearly while not at all suffering fools.-472961
31Regan MacNeil (The Exorcist)
Linda Blair's Regan is sweet until the Devil turns her into a vessel for provocation. Pea soup never looked the same.-64620
Linda Blair's Regan is sweet until the Devil turns her into a vessel for provocation. Pea soup never looked the same.-64620
32Madeleine Elster / Judy Barton (Vertigo)
Kim Novak's Madeleine may be insane. Judy is a party girl. They're two sides of one plot, and the same man loves both.-69571
Kim Novak's Madeleine may be insane. Judy is a party girl. They're two sides of one plot, and the same man loves both.-69571
33Hildy Johnson (His Girl Friday)
Ex-reporter Hildy, played by Rosalind Russell, thinks she wants to be a housewife, but one hot story and she's off like a shot.-70554
Ex-reporter Hildy, played by Rosalind Russell, thinks she wants to be a housewife, but one hot story and she's off like a shot.-70554
34Mildred Pierce (Mildred Pierce)
Joan Crawford's Mildred pulls herself out of poverty for the sake of daughter Veda, who repays her mom by stealing her man.-72522
Joan Crawford's Mildred pulls herself out of poverty for the sake of daughter Veda, who repays her mom by stealing her man.-72522
35Joan Crawford (Mommie Dearest)
Faye Dunaway played the star -- a control freak -- as a gargoyle in designer duds, providing drag queens with material.-74576
Faye Dunaway played the star -- a control freak -- as a gargoyle in designer duds, providing drag queens with material.-74576
36Phyllis Dietrichson (Double Indemnity)
A social climber masquerading as an abused wife, Barbara Stanwyck's Phyllis almost gets away with having a swain kill her husband.-74522
A social climber masquerading as an abused wife, Barbara Stanwyck's Phyllis almost gets away with having a swain kill her husband.-74522
37Sally Bowles (Cabaret)
Liza Minnelli, as the Berliner Bowles, hides her vulnerability, distracting herself with parties, men, and a cabaret as the Nazis come to power.-79549
Liza Minnelli, as the Berliner Bowles, hides her vulnerability, distracting herself with parties, men, and a cabaret as the Nazis come to power.-79549
38Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster’s Bride (Bride of Frankenstein)
Elsa Lanchester's screamer with lightning-bolt hair is born with a mind of her own: no one can make her marry a monster.-79505
Elsa Lanchester's screamer with lightning-bolt hair is born with a mind of her own: no one can make her marry a monster.-79505
39Susan Vance (Bringing Up Baby)
When Katharine Hepburn's Susan sets her sights on something -- a paleontologist, a leopard -- she gets it in her own way.-81527
When Katharine Hepburn's Susan sets her sights on something -- a paleontologist, a leopard -- she gets it in her own way.-81527
40Bridget Jones (Bridget Jones’s Diary)
Does Renee Zellweger's Bridget want a career, a thin figure, love, or marriage? Dear reader, she wants it all.-90762
Does Renee Zellweger's Bridget want a career, a thin figure, love, or marriage? Dear reader, she wants it all.-90762
41Alex Forrest (Fatal Attraction)
Dumped by her lover, Glenn Close's she devil turns her fury on his wife and daughter and the family bunny. Hell hath no fury!-93581
Dumped by her lover, Glenn Close's she devil turns her fury on his wife and daughter and the family bunny. Hell hath no fury!-93581
42Mrs. Danvers (Rebecca)
When a widower remarries, the devotion of his housekeeper, played by Judith Anderson, to his late wife means trouble for her successor.-101483
When a widower remarries, the devotion of his housekeeper, played by Judith Anderson, to his late wife means trouble for her successor.-101483
43Mrs. Eleanor Shaw Iselin (The Manchurian Candidate)
Angela Lansbury, as Eleanor, engineers her husband's political rise and nearly manipulates her son into becoming an assassin.-103485
Angela Lansbury, as Eleanor, engineers her husband's political rise and nearly manipulates her son into becoming an assassin.-103485
44Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct)
Sharon Stone plays a killer beauty -- literally -- who knows what men want and how to reach her amoral ends.-112604
Sharon Stone plays a killer beauty -- literally -- who knows what men want and how to reach her amoral ends.-112604
45Matty Walker (Body Heat)
"You're not too bright. I like that in a man," purrs Kathleen Turner's Matty to saps who realize why only after the trap is sprang.-154482
"You're not too bright. I like that in a man," purrs Kathleen Turner's Matty to saps who realize why only after the trap is sprang.-154482
46Vicki Lester / Esther Blodgett (A Star Is Born)
Judy Garland poured 25 years of Hollywood unhappiness into playing a singer-actress whose star is rising as her husband's falls.-167475
Judy Garland poured 25 years of Hollywood unhappiness into playing a singer-actress whose star is rising as her husband's falls.-167475
47Carmen Jones (Carmen Jones)
Shaped by circumstance, Dorothy Dandridge's Carmen lives every moment like her last and destroys the men drawn to her.-173491
Shaped by circumstance, Dorothy Dandridge's Carmen lives every moment like her last and destroys the men drawn to her.-173491
48Emma “Billie” Dawn (Born Yesterday)
Educated in the school of hard knocks, Judy Holliday's Billie blossoms after her boyfriend hires a tutor to give her couth.-198480
Educated in the school of hard knocks, Judy Holliday's Billie blossoms after her boyfriend hires a tutor to give her couth.-198480
49Miss Giddens (The Innocents)
Deborah Kerr's governess believes her charges are possessed. Is she right or deluded by her inner demons?-199463
Deborah Kerr's governess believes her charges are possessed. Is she right or deluded by her inner demons?-199463
50Baby Doll Meighan (Baby Doll)
A nymphet with an iron will, Carroll Baker's Baby Doll is no match for the seducer who succeeds where others failed.
A nymphet with an iron will, Carroll Baker's Baby Doll is no match for the seducer who succeeds where others failed.
No comments:
Post a Comment