Catwoman’s been swiping more than just jewels since her 1940 comic book debut—she’s pilfered scenes, spotlights, and many a heart. Through the years, Selina Kyle has transformed through decades and fashion: sometimes a cunning villain, other times an antihero, and always Batman’s most complex love interest.
Every actress who’s worn the catsuit has put their stamp on the role, making Catwoman one of pop culture’s greatest lasting figures. Let us take a look at eight of the most iconic live-action Catwomen, from campy retro to noir gritty.
8. Zoë Kravitz (The Batman, 2022)
Zoë Kravitz supplied a raw, vulnerable, but fierce vitality to Selina Kyle in The Batman. She collaborated with stunt crews to develop a fighting technique that prioritized speed and agility above raw strength, observing the movements of cats and even quipping about lapping milk from a bowl in search of Selina’s spirit. This was Selina’s origin story for Kravitz, a survivor molding her way into the femme fatale we have today. She referred to the movie as “the first time I felt like I was in something undeniable.”
7. Camren Bicondova (and Lili Simmons) (Gotham)
Gotham reimagined Selina Kyle as a tough street kid who grows up in a city teetering on the brink of collapse. Camren Bicondova portrayed her in five seasons, bringing out the character’s calculating instincts and vulnerable side. In the series finale, Lili Simmons stepped in as the adult Catwoman, but Bicondova’s youthful interpretation left the greatest impact. Looking back on the role, she described it as “an honor” and felt “pretty special” to leave her mark on Catwoman’s origin.
6. Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises, 2012)
Anne Hathaway went for elegance and wily flair in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy finale. Fun fact: she assumed she was up for Harley Quinn and donned quirky “Joker-like shoes” before Nolan surprised her by saying it was Catwoman. To get ready, Hathaway learned martial arts and emulated the delivery of Hollywood icon Hedy Lamarr, who helped partly inspire the character in the comic books. Her Selina was a shrewd burglar caught between self-interest and morality.
5. Halle Berry (Catwoman, 2004)
Halle Berry’s Catwoman was a departure—her character wasn’t Selina Kyle, but Patience Phillips. The film bombed critically but continued to push boundaries as the highest-grossing female-led superhero film before Wonder Woman. Berry, who had recently won an Oscar, took it as a chance to put a woman of color into the spotlight as a superhero. She subsequently admitted that the script wasn’t what she’d envisioned but defended her decision: “I was just the actor for hire.”
4. Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns, 1992)
Michelle Pfeiffer’s whip-cracking, latex-wearing Catwoman is one of the most iconic superhero performances. She wasn’t the original choice—Annette Bening had been cast but backed out after discovering she was pregnant—but Pfeiffer soon made the role her own. The fans are still raving about her unhinged yet compelling performance, and Pfeiffer has conceded she’d happily do the role again. She reminded everyone in 2021 that she still has the tricks with a viral whip demo.
3. Eartha Kitt (Batman TV, Season 3)
Eartha Kitt infused Catwoman with her unique voice and fierce demeanor during the third season of the 1960s show, the first Black actress to don ears and claws. Her purrs, playfulness with menace, and charm have made her unforgettable. Reflecting on the experience, Kitt stated, “That character was so much fun… it was one of the most wonderful bones ever thrown to me.”
2. Lee Meriwether (Batman: The Movie, 1966)
With Julie Newmar unavailable to make the film adaptation of the 1960s series, Lee Meriwether took on the role of Catwoman in a feature film, thus making her the first actress to ever play Catwoman in a movie. She went on to refer to herself as “the luckiest of all the Catwomen” since she was able to act with legends such as Cesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, and Burgess Meredith.
1. Julie Newmar (Batman TV, 1966–1967)
The first live-action Catwoman, Julie Newmar, established the template for all that came afterwards. Her saucy wit, statuesque beauty, and impish menace made Selina Kyle irresistible. Newmar herself frequently said the catsuit allowed her to “tell the story through my body,” embodying a combination of sensuality and menace that continues to define Catwoman to this day.
From campy television nemesis to complex antihero, Catwoman embodies changing concepts of independence, strength, and womanhood. She’s a fashion icon, a cosplayer favorite, and one of Batman’s best foils. Stealing diamonds or hearts, Catwoman is an ever-changing character who won’t be domesticated—and that’s why with each new actress to play her, she grows larger than life.