Let’s get real here: seeing a woman kick butt in an action hit harder when you know she’s the one doing it. No doubles, no special effects—just cold skill, toughness, and perhaps a couple of bruises. You don’t see women characters as sidekicks or just eye candy anymore. They’re out there front and center, jumping off skyscrapers, getting punched around, and showing they can match up with the boys. Here are 8 of the bravest female action heroes who perform their stunts—and trust me, they’ve got the title “badass” all to themselves.
8. Gal Gadot
Before grabbing the Lasso of Truth, Gal Gadot was a combat instructor-trained veteran while serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. That training is evident in her Wonder Woman work. She’s forthcoming about how much she depends on her stunt crew, but then goes headlong into fight choreography herself—particularly hand-to-hand combat, which she’s stated is her favorite. Diana Prince would approve.
7. Scarlett Johansson
For over a decade, Scarlett Johansson portrayed Black Widow, and she didn’t merely pose in leather coolly—she sweated. With extensive martial arts training under her belt, Scarlett learned much of her fight choreography, getting even her co-stars to dig deeper. Natasha Romanoff was all about danger and precision, and Johansson ensured it never seemed phony.
6. Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie is not only Harley Quinn—she is anarchy. From staying underwater for minutes without breathing to executing a mind-blowing leg choke in The Suicide Squad, Robbie lives for testing limits. Director James Gunn confessed he couldn’t get over the fact that she did the choke stunt herself. Perhaps it’s in the genes—her stuntman brother does them too. Either way, Margot doesn’t simply act crazy… she goes all the way.
5. Milla Jovovich
No one pulls off the action heroine crown like Milla Jovovich. As the star of the Resident Evil franchise, she pushed herself to drill in martial arts and wirework. For Jovovich, discomfort is all part of the job—because the payoff is getting to soar through the air, for real. Whether slicing zombies or battling supervillains, danger has become Jovovich’s second language.
4. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence may not yell “action star” at initial glance, but her history tells a different story. From tree climbing and arrow firing in The Hunger Games to full-on battle in X-Men, she never coasted. She even damaged her eardrum so severely during a stunt in Catching Fire that she lost hearing for a time. Katniss Everdeen does not mess around, and neither does Lawrence.
3. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is, quite simply, a beast in the realm of action. In Atomic Blonde, she did nearly all the stunts herself—long, vicious fight scenes that left her bruised but unbreakable. Her dance training equipped her with the control and precision to execute it, and directors were singing about how unusual it was to witness an actor get 20 moves right on a single take. With Mad Max: Fury Road and The Old Guard under her belt, she’s proven she’s in a league of her own.
2. Angelina Jolie
Years before the rest of Hollywood was considering female action seriously, Angelina Jolie was performing her high-octane stunts in Tomb Raider and Salt. Her coaches have labeled her fearless—to the point of being reckless at times. In one movie, she banged her head and insisted on not visiting the hospital. Heights, falling, and pain don’t faze her, which is precisely why she’s among the greatest action stars of all time.
1. Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh is not only an action heroine—she’s a legend. Beginning in Hong Kong films, she became known for doing her own death-defying martial arts and wire stunts. From Supercop to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and even Everything Everywhere All At Once, Yeoh has demonstrated unchallenged dedication and expertise. Physical combat on the screen comes as second nature to her, and fans worldwide are still amazed.
Behind the glamour and glory of on-screen action lies an existence of bruises, sweat, and pure willpower. Stunt artists (and stars who dare to do their own) expose themselves to terrifying risks for our amusement.
These women are not acting tough—they’re redefining what toughness is, that power, grit, and beauty are not gender-specific. They’re not just leading action films. They’re making history, stunt by stunt.