Let’s get real: there are few things in pop culture more gratifying than seeing a fierce, fearless woman rock the screen. Whether she’s saving the world, outwitting bad guys, or punching with panache, these leading ladies do more than entertain them—they inspire. And for generations of girls (and adults) who haven’t always had themselves as the hero in mind, these characters have smashed down the door and said, “Watch me.” So, in dramatic countdown style (because drama is important), below are 10 of the most iconic and unapologetically cool women to ever hit the screen.
10. The Warriors of The Woman King
Who needs fantasy when real history is this epic? Viola Davis spearheads an all-star cast in The Woman King, a movie based on the Agojie—the top-secret all-women’s army unit from West Africa. These women battle with passion, pride, and untamed ability, defending their people with each swing of the sword. As Variety points out, they’re not only powerful—they’re redefining power on screen.
9. Coffy (Pam Grier)
Years before the era of superheroes and billion-dollar franchises, Pam Grier was rewriting the script in Coffy. Armed and deadly, this nurse vigilante took justice into her own hands—literally, many times. Her pioneering work in 1970s Blaxploitation films paved the way for unapologetically powerful Black women on-screen. As Variety declared, Coffy wasn’t a character so much as a cultural revolution.
8. Letty Ortiz (Fast & Furious)
In a horsepower-hungry, high-octane franchise, Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) is not about to let it all pass her by. Whether getting through perils by drifting or taking out opponents with a punch, Letty is holding her own in a universe where the rules are speedy, and the danger is raging. Variety says that she’s the franchise’s emotional rock—and its toughest warrior.
7. Harley Quinn
You never know what you’re going to get with Harley Quinn—and that’s the fun of it. From Margot Robbie’s chaotic queen of Gotham to the animated versions voiced by Tara Strong and Kaley Cuoco, Harley brings a mix of mischief, madness, and independence. As Variety highlights, she’s turned the typical sidekick role upside down and made it her own. She’s wild, brilliant, and totally in control of her narrative.
6. Éowyn (The Lord of the Rings)
Prophecy and tradition may overfly Middle-earth, but Ëowyn had other ideas. She ventured into battle in The Return of the King, killed the Witch-king—the ultimate casualty no man could ever slay—and delivered one of cinema’s greatest lines: “I am no man.” Said Variety, “Her moment is a high point in fantasy cinema—and proof that valor knows no gender.”.
5. Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)
She’s the Marvel universe’s quiet storm—deadly, devoted, and complex. As one of the original Avengers, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) has battled aliens, assassins, and her demons. No superpowers? No issue. Variety applauds her as a standout in a world of monsters and gods. And she never had to don a cape to leave an impact.
4. Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Let’s be upfront: Fury Road may have Mad Max in the title, but it’s Furiosa’s film. Charlize Theron’s one-armed warrior freedom fighter is an icon of rebellion and determination. Her quest to free the women enslaved by Immortan Joe is gripping, emotional, and indelible. As Variety observes, Furiosa doesn’t merely survive—she leads, she liberates, she conquers.
3. Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)
From the opening scene in A New Hope, Leia Organa establishes one thing: she’s no damsel in distress. As a rebel commander in both the Rebellion and the Resistance, Leia combines diplomacy with boldness, strategy with attitude. Variety declares her one of the smartest minds in sci-fi—and Carrie Fisher’s enduring performance made Leia the kind of role model that would be emulated for generations.
2. Ellen Ripley (Alien Series)
Ripley raised the bar—and nobody’s cleared it yet. Sigourney Weaver’s acting in the Alien series provided us with a heroine who was tough without being toughened, intelligent without being flawless, and unflinchingly human. At Rotten Tomatoes, she is cited as the greatest model for the grace under pressure concept, demonstrating that survival is not a question of strength but of will.
1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
She may not punch aliens or drive through raging firestorms, but don’t think for a moment—Hermione Granger is one of the toughest female figures in popular culture. Across eight movies, Emma Watson brought to life a heroine who was smart from the books, courageous, and always three steps ahead. As Rotten Tomatoes adds, Hermione is a great role model for girls who want to pursue STEM—and a reminder that brains are a power unto themselves.
Why It Matters
These women do more than illuminate the screen—they influence how we view the world and ourselves. As writer and teacher Shetal Shah has noted, the absence of a wide range of female representation in media places restrictions on what girls envision their futures to be. These television heroines defy that by demonstrating what can be.
But let us not forget this. Behind the lens, women are still outnumbered as directors, cinematographers, composers, and beyond. Women are still minorities in film production professions—often as part of teams dominated by men, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory. So here’s to the women who steal scenes, defy stereotypes, and make history with every role. And here’s hoping we’ll soon see just as many writing the scripts, calling the shots, and composing the scores behind them.