
Let’s be real—Catwoman is not only a character, she’s a legend. Across the years, Selina Kyle has gone from being a comic book burglar to being one of the most intriguing and reimagined characters in the history of superheroes. From high camp to gritty realism, she’s had on many masks, but some left a larger paw print than others. Here’s a summary of eight live-action Catwomen—from forgettable to ferocious.

8. Halle Berry – Catwoman (2004)
You knew this was coming. It’s practically a rite of passage to mention the 2004 Catwoman—a movie that’s not even really about Selina Kyle so much as it is about. Makeup and basketball? Halle Berry, for her part, went all in on it. The dedication was there. The costume? Not so much. The plot is famously unhinged, and the effects haven’t aged well—but Berry took it all in stride, even showing up to accept her Razzie with a smile. Respect for the attitude, even if the movie itself remains the ultimate cautionary tale.

7. Lee Meriwether – Batman: The Movie (1966)
When Julie Newmar wasn’t able to reprise her role for the film version, Lee Meriwether took on the suit. She introduced some charm and sleaziness to the character, particularly in her “Miss Kitka” disguise, but never quite achieved the same level of spark. That being said, her chemistry with Adam West was still fun, and her interpretation of the role brought another dimension to the already colorful world of the ’60s Batman series.

6. Camren Bicondova (and Lili Simmons) – Gotham
While a show that became more and more out-there, Camren Bicondova’s young Selina Kyle remained grounded. Her work was gritty and full of heart, and she provided us with a version of Selina still finding herself. Her parkour, her wisdom born of living on the streets—it all played.

When the show leaped into the future during its series finale, Lili Simmons played the character. And although she didn’t get much screen time, the torch-passing seemed organic. Not all versions of Catwoman need to be complete, and Gotham’s reminded us of that.

5. Anne Hathaway – The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Christopher Nolan doesn’t work camp, and Hathaway’s Catwoman is perfectly at home in his real-world Gotham. She’s intelligent, suave, and a capable fighter. There isn’t a whip, there’s no purring, but lots of bite. Her performance doesn’t shout “iconic,” but it’s understatedly strong, and her Selina is thoroughly a woman attempting to redefine her history. Understated, sleek, and quite capable.

4. Zoë Kravitz –The Batman (2022)
Zoë Kravitz provided us with a new-generation Catwoman—fashionable, confident, and seething with feeling below the surface. She had undeniable chemistry with Robert Pattinson’s Batman, but equally held her ground. This Selina Kyle is rough around the edges, emotionally textured, and motivated by her code. Kravitz injects genuine soul into the character, showing that you don’t require a shiny costume or one-liners to be compelling.

3. Eartha Kitt – Batman (1966–1968)
Eartha Kitt didn’t merely walk into the part—she redefined it. Her voice, her presence, her unapologetic boldness—there’s nobody like her. At a moment in time when diversity on the screen was unheard of, Kitt made a powerful statement simply by being unforgettable. Her work was crisp, sexy, and entirely new. She transformed a character already in vogue and made her purr with a new kind of strength.

2. Michelle Pfeiffer – Batman Returns (1992)
There’s Catwoman, and then there’s Catwoman. Michelle Pfeiffer didn’t so much play the character as unleash it. From timid secretary to leather-wrapped terror, Selina Kyle is the embodiment of a character arc. She brought vulnerability, fury, sex appeal, and anarchy—all in one act. The whip choreography, the stunts, the crazed one-liners—every moment is seared into the brain. Pfeiffer didn’t so much steal scenes as abscond with the entire film.

1. Julie Newmar – Batman (1966)
The original Catwoman remains the best. Julie Newmar owned the part with an ideal balance of flirtation, flash, and feline subtlety. She was sly and playful, cool and self-assured, and her banter with Adam West’s Batman was a gem of the original series. No special effects, no complex history required—simply a sly smile and that inimitable charm. To many, she is the ultimate Catwoman.

Catwoman has existed in many incarnations since she first appeared, each a product of the period in which she emerged, and each actress brought something unique to the role. Whether you’re in the mood for the campy isle of the ’60s or the gritty realism of modern takes, there’s a Catwoman for you out there. And I’m willing to bet we have yet to see her ultimate iteration.