Total Recall: The 25 Best Action Heroines of All Time

Who?s the toughest of them all? We count down to the best rock ?em, sock ?em lady of all time.

In this week's Wanted, Angelina Jolie returns to heat-packing form as an assassin named Fox, but how does she measure up against the likes of fellow fatal femmes like Sigourney Weaver (Aliens), Uma Thurman (Kill Bill), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and Pam Grier (Foxy Brown)? We count down through 25 of the baddest chicks in movie history and name the number one best action heroine of all time.

Our criteria: each lethal lady should make you think twice before challenging her to a fight. (Which is why two of three Charlie's Angels didn't make the cut. Sorry, Drew and Cameron.) Kicking many butts in multiple action films improves a nominee's stock, but so too can a single, iconic performance. We think you'll agree that our #1 Best Action Heroine of All Time (by unanimous decision) can best the rest of the list in our fantasy showdown, but start here and see for yourself! Our list begins with...





more info...

25. Famke Janssen

Before starring as telepathic super heroine Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise (and shredding the world to bits as the destructive Phoenix in X-Men: The Last Stand), Famke Janssen scored the coup of every aspiring femme fatale in Hollywood when she landed the role of Xenia Onatopp in 1995's GoldenEye. Not your regular Bond girl, Onatopp earned a special place in the already-cheeky history of James Bond for her unique signature move: death by thighs. The pleasure, Ms. Janssen, is all ours.







more info...

24. Demi Moore

While she provided a fabulous foil to the 21st century Charlie's Angels in McG's second flick, we know there's tougher stuff within Demi Moore than a deranged gymnastic villainess with a fetish for gold plated guns. Hark back to 1997's G.I. Jane, when Moore embodied toughness by shaving her head, becoming a NAVY Seal, and withstanding a brutal beat down by Viggo Mortensen while landing a few of her own blows to boot. Femine brawn never looked hotter.

(Video NSFW)



Comments

jokerboy1991

jack giroux

Good list but there are some duds, I think the list should also deal with men I mean not to sound sexist but the coolest action stars to me are guys, no offens Jen lol, I mean Bruce Willis, Arnold, Harrison Ford (#1), Christain Bale, Will Smith is good, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, and duh Matt Damon. The only ones I will say here are amazing is Uma Thurman, Carrie Ann Moss, Pam Gries, not Demmi Moore, and I am sure I will think bot MaCovoy and Jolie will be the coolest action stars after this weekend. Still a pretty cool list, I got add some of these to my netflix.

Jun 25 - 09:13 PM

juice3335

Louis Arreola

its called top 25 action heroin's so @ joker no there shouldn't be any guys on this list duh!

Jul 3 - 04:24 PM

Hyphen Cide

Nicholas Duncan

That is why this is a list of the best action female stars. Heroines not heroes.

Jul 5 - 12:01 PM

ScottHodgins

Scott Hodgins

This list is called "The 25 Best Action Heroines of All Time" where the keyword is "Heroines" which means female heroes.

Jul 9 - 09:16 PM

Brent Thomas

Brent Thomas

keyword here 'heroine' were you so eager to leave your opinion but you forgot to read the title? haha

Jun 10 - 02:51 AM

jokerboy1991

jack giroux

Also where's Rose McGowan, I mean come on Plannet Terror! With that machine gun leg she was a fully loaded woman! Also for the guys a forgot Russel Crowe I mean Gladiator and 3:10 to Yuma, oh and Kurt Russel.

Jun 25 - 09:15 PM

wafflesdiary

mike k

"Heroine" means women. You're very smart.

Jul 6 - 06:01 PM

sovietbagpipes

dmetri myers

Like most lists on here it's a mixed bag.

And joker, Arnold and Ford wouldn't be near #1

Jun 25 - 09:38 PM

jokerboy1991

jack giroux

Oh lol yeah Arnold wouldnt be no #1, but in my opinion I consider Ford the best action hero. I mean Star Wars, Indy, and the Jack Ryan movies.

Jun 25 - 10:12 PM

blsinner

Uver Pena

Linda Hamilton is WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY too low on the list!

Jun 25 - 09:43 PM

genxorcist

Ren Hayes

I second that. She should be in the top 5 ... as should Sigourney Weaver. Ellen Ripley and Sara Conner both redefined the woman action hero. Many of the women on this list wouldn't be on this list if not for those two.

Jun 26 - 05:13 AM

Koli Mitra

Koli Mitra

My thought exactly! Before I started reading the list, I assumed Ellen Ripley and Sara Conner would be number 1 and 2!

Jul 27 - 04:03 AM

sunsaz

Chris Moore

Pretty good list. A lot of the names on the list were "one-hit wonders" as far as good movies are concerned, but action films aren't exactly poetic from an acting standpoint. No argument on #1 at least.

Jun 25 - 09:58 PM

tomwaitsjrHAPPYICONOCLAST

Greg Guro

I was happy to see Ziyi Zhang and Milla!

Some I'd like to see, but maybe aren't strict heroines.

Obviously Missed: Franka Potente in Run Lola Run

maybe Irene Jacob in RED

Keira Knightly as Domino (we see her boobs!)


1. Jodie Foster for Silence of the Lambs
2. Carrie Fisher in Star Wars
3. Gillian Anderson
4. Elizabeth Hurley in Austin Powers
5. Jennifer Jason Leigh in ExisTenZ
6. Lori Petty in Tank Girl
7. Meg Ryan in Courage Under Fire
8. Katherine Hepburn in The African Queen
9. Charlize Therone in that God Awful MTV movie . . .forgot name
10. Jane Fonda in Klute/Barbarella
11. Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby
12. Meryle Streep in Silkwood
13. Sarandon and G. Davis in Thelma and Louise
14. The girl from Whale Rider
15. Parker Posey as Fay Grimm
16. Mary Stuart Masterson in Fried Green Tomatoes
17. Pocahantos girl in The New World
18. Halle Berry X Men


I love Famke J, but I don't think she is even the best Bond girl, let alone someone who should make the list.

I'm sure I forgot a ton.

Oh well.




Jun 25 - 10:03 PM

Jaycee Caramsalidis

Jaycee Caramsalidis

RE: #9 - I think you mean Aeon Flux.

Nov 4 - 04:06 AM

tomwaitsjrHAPPYICONOCLAST

Greg Guro

FRANCES McDormand in FARGO


Natassja Kinski in Cat People
Jennifer Lopez in Out of Sight
Theresa Russel in . . . err, i forget. Someone help me.
Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins
Whoever played Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. . .
Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc
Audrey Hepburn in Wait until Dark

Sissy Spacek as Carrie
Julia Roberts as Erin Brokavich
Renee Zellweger in COld Mountain

Judy Garland as Dorothy in OZ
Sally Field as Nora Rae
Angela Basset as Tina Turner
Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (BUt no way the awful awful sequel)

Selma Blair in Hellboy I/II

Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity



*Diane Lane in Streets of Fire

OK. As you can tell, I'm putting off doing something by coming up with names. . .

Jun 25 - 10:33 PM

Silverevilchao

Silver The Evil Chao

This list is FAIL. Sigourney Weaver should be #1 for Alien ALONE.

Jun 25 - 10:44 PM

mustard_tree

Moe Martínez

I totally agree dude... This list sucks... Hey, where's Carrie Fisher?

Jun 26 - 12:08 AM

outis

Alex Outis

Yes, obviously our listmakers have very short memories. Ripley is not only one of the great action heroes of ANY sex, she's one of the great female leading roles of all time. How many on this list can boast four huge movies, including the classics by Mssrs. Scott and Cameron. I'm no sci fi fanboy, but her character was not only physically strong, but mentally tough and a leader. Many of these others who made it higher on the list (ehem Lara Croft? gotta get that plug in for the advertisers, no?) were merely posing action dolls in expensive effects sequences. No exploration of the tough decisions or sacrifices a hero must make.

Yeah, yeah, taking it way too seriously... Slam away you bastards! I guess I'm just one of those nerds who still loves film enough to think it is a modern art form and can tell stories about fully realised characters--even when they are captains of spaceships and carry a really big gun. Silly me.

Jun 27 - 01:38 PM

JimmyLegs

John Wray

I agree with Outis 1000%. It takes a lot more than guns, kung fu, and a green screen to be a hero(ine). And one last point - one of the things that makes Ripley and Sarah Connor such marvelous heroines is that their heroism is directly tied to their womanhood. Sarah kicks butt not because she's a trained CIA assassin or random butched-out gun-toting babe, but as a way to protect the life of her son, John. And the climactic showdown with the queen in Aliens is a clash of not one but TWO mothers each trying to protect their children (Newt being Ripley's surrogate daughter in this case). Men could NOT have played those roles - and that's not something that can be said about most of the other roles on this list.

Jun 29 - 04:19 PM

tomwaitsjrHAPPYICONOCLAST

Greg Guro

Juliet Lewis as Mallory in Natural Born Killers

Neve Campbell in Scream?

female main actor in first Nightmare on Elmstreet.


I agree about McGowan in Planet Terror.

I think this category is TOO BROAD for my simple mind.

BROAD. he heh.

Jun 25 - 11:15 PM

CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe

Shawn Amoroso

Another dissapointing list, R.T. Seriously, Demi Moore? And how

the hell is Weaver not in the top five? Also, is it too much too ask for you

to list the best action heroines on good movies. Seriously, any list that

includes a McG movie makes it an invalid list, just saying RT staff. Also, I

hope these lists are not being determined by how good of an YouTube video

you can find.

Jun 25 - 11:48 PM

tomwaitsjrHAPPYICONOCLAST

Greg Guro

Yah! Carrie Fisher!

Jun 26 - 12:55 AM

bsideleau

Brandon Sideleau

Sigourney Weaver should be #1 hands down, no argument. And 90% of the ladies in this list shouldn't even be there....lots of 80's one-note punchlines and even a couple modern flavor of the months.

Jun 26 - 06:11 AM

'Stache-Attack

Nick Esser

How 'bout Kiera Knightly. Three 'Pirates' movies, plus an interesting role in 'Domino'. Not great movies, but pretty strong action/heroine roles. At least better than some of others listed. (I mean come on waitsjr, seriously, Erin Brakovich??? To each their own I guess.)

Jun 26 - 07:29 AM

tomwaitsjrHAPPYICONOCLAST

Greg Guro

Stache Attack,

Man. I haven't slept in 30 hours. I'm entitled to mention Erin Brokavich. I mean, they had some listed that I thought Brokavich would be a better hero, what with her hotness as her weapon. . .

But, remember, I was the first to bring up


CARRIE FISHER!!!!!


So, please, remember me for that.


Oh, and the person who mentioned Pirates of the Carribean with Knightly, that's so true, that and domino and that King Arthur movie.

Jun 26 - 10:08 AM

opTIMus Nerd

Tim Ahlberg

I enjoyed the list but agree Ripley and Sarah Connor are far too low. I would vote for Uma to be in top 2, if not 1, I have never seen any woman kick more *** then in the Kill Bill flicks. I appreciate the kung-fu ladies I have never heard of but there are plenty of better know heroines that are not on the list (see above comments). I also was not aware The Fifth Element is now a cult classic...I just thought is was cheap to put on syndication as it is on TV all the time.

Jun 26 - 07:39 AM

Soundwave2008

neal white

This list is total BS! How can anyone beat out Sigourney Weaver for Alien and Aliens? No offense to any other female characters but Ellen Ripley kicked total *** in both movies. She should be number one hands down.

Jun 26 - 08:18 AM

Derbeste

Rob Beste

I don't normally criticize RT lists. I know most of them have formulas and every list is HIGHLY subjective anyway......

But I have to agree with many of my peers on this one:

- Linda Hamilton is BEYOND too low.

- Sigourney Weaver should be top 3 at the very least IMO.

- It seems like knowing Kung Fu will get you a much higher spot....but you don't see martial artists kicking the sh** out of robots and aliens.

Glaring absences:

- Carrie Fisher (as many have said). Just....WOW.

- Jamie Lee Curtis. Mike Myers is cultural folklore now because of her.

- Sarah Michelle Geller. Ok...not a movie heroine, but you can't deny the badassery of Buffy.

- Jodie Foster. Silence of the lambs is now Iconic.

- Halle Barry. Yeah...I'm joking. But I do like Storm. :)

Jun 26 - 08:48 AM

Derbeste

Rob Beste

oh....and though she's not real....

I think Elastigirl should get an honorable mention. :)

Jun 26 - 08:50 AM

3263827

Scott Berkey

Karen Allen - if you don't know what I'm talking about then it's time you learned.

Jul 3 - 05:28 AM

DEMCAD

REGINALD KAIGLER

Why isn't Peta Wilson (from the V show "Le Femme Nikita") not on this list?

And why is Kate Beckinsale ranked higher than Linda Hamilton?

Jul 9 - 12:20 PM

dougkip

Doug Ray

hehe, michelle yeoh. i can see this. i loved her in tomorrow never dies.

Jun 26 - 09:50 AM

JinFei3

Winston Zhang

The fact that Rotten Tomatoes included so many Asian women on its list is much appreciated.

Disclaimer: Rant Ahead

Asian action films (both kung fu and non) are underrated and underwatched, due to datedness, limited promo, and cultural tastes.

Martial arts sequences, while admittedly requires less acting like the roles of Ridley, demands tons of physical work from its performers. Yet Michelle Yeoh did her own stuntwork in her heyday(perhaps insignificant because her countless, amazing feats haven't been seen by too many western audiences), is no slouch with firearms, and has proven she is no acting-lightweight.

Yeoh has also managed to become prominent largely by her own means, wading through mediocre films in her early HK career; shining at every chance she's given. She rose to stardom not through great directors like Cameron or Scott, or behemoth Hollywood budgets, but by her presence and physical prowess.

She's made way for the Western appreciation for earlier, often trivialized actresses like Angela Mao, who deserves to be on the list as much as Linda Hamilton.

End of Rant.

Jun 26 - 10:15 AM

zetabosio

Jorge Gonzalez

I agree with you. I thought Sigourney Weaver would be ranked as #1, not only for the terrific job she has done, but also because what her role represents in worlwide cinema. Ridley's character stands at the culprit of most influential feminine roles like Silence of the Lamb's Clarice, Gorillas in the Mist's Dian Fossey (also of Ms. Sigourney Weaver), Beauty and the Beast's Belle, The Color Purple's Celie Johnson and Sophie's Choice Sophie.

But, when talking about kicking ***, at the end I can't help but think Michelle Yeoh has to be at top spot.

Jun 30 - 05:15 PM

TombstoneLawDog

Daniel Klein

culprit = 'bad guy'

not 'center'


..just trying to help

Jul 1 - 10:47 AM

TombstoneLawDog

Daniel Klein

I am VERY curious what was the formula for determing placement. Seems kind of random, to me.

And 'yes' I agree that Ripley should be top 5 easy.

Personally, I think Linda Hamilton, for T2 alone, should be top 5. That was the coolest, most real kick-your-***-and-make-you-squeal-like-the-scared-*****-you-are-and-she's-not in years.

As I've mentioned before, I think James Cameron should get an honorable mention for being the only director, male OR female, who can consistently cast women in action roles and have it not suck

>Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Aliens
>Linda Hamilton as Sarah Conner in T2
>Jeanette Goldstein as Lt. Vasquez in Aliens
Great f#cking scene:
Vasquez the space marine is doing pull-ups
Hudson: "Hey Vasquez, you ever been mistaken for a man?"
Vasquez: "No (does another pull-up). --Have you?"
(Assembled marines laugh)

and
>Jamie Lee Curtis as Helen Tasker in True Lies.

Jun 26 - 10:48 AM

What's Hot On RT

24 Frames
24 Frames

Pictures from a zombie nation

Blue Jasmine
Blue Jasmine

Woody Allen in San Francisco

<em>The Hobbit</em>
The Hobbit

See the Desolation of Smaug trailer!

Summer Scorecard
Summer Scorecard

Where does This Is the End rank?

Help | About | Jobs | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Mobile