Hollywood has been making movies for over a century now. These movies are of different genres like drama, romance, suspense, horror, thriller and action. Action-type film is one of the most beloved genres among the masses, it is also a genre highly predominated by men for decades before a female action star could appear to take charge. Here is the list of best action heroines of all time.
Looking back at film history, the first Hollywood movie came out in 1908, and it wasn’t until the 1970s that women got a chance to show their lethal movies on the big screen. These action movies took some time to resonate with the masses but in 2022, the genre and its audience are in a much better place.
Back in the day action heroines in action films weren’t in the leading role. So, when we converse about female action stars, it doesn’t mean she is the main protagonist but a capable action figure in action movies. These action movies would still have a lead action hero but these action actresses would sometimes shine and other times outshine them.
Predominant Male Action Genre
It would be the rarest of the rare people who haven’t grown up watching exciting action films, I remember very vividly watching Jackie Chan movies with my dad, laughing out loud at his hilarious action choreography.
Impossible action films by Tom Cruise where he did his action scenes or Michael Fassbender with his Alien and X-Men movies, fascinated the audience with this new subgenre in the action films.
What is also rare is watching female action stars fighting a great fight not just on screen but also struggling behind the scenes to get to a point where female action stars are not scarce in the industry.
Although imperfect we finally have a few female action films and stars. Let’s have a look at the best action actresses in the industry who have truly created a landmark and legacy for other future female action stars to follow.
Female Action Stars
When you think of a female action hero, many ladies come to mind. Best female action stars have been quite a few over these five decades. Here are the Top female action stars:
25. Tura Satana
Best Character: Varla in the movie “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”
The toughest B-movie bitch of all time is Tura Satana. Her beauty is more notable than her snarling delivery: She exudes high-class, cruel glamour with cat eyes, Spock brows, jet-black bangs, and skin-tight biker drag.
It’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that the devilish temptress is playing herself while watching Ms. Satana. The remarkable facts of Satana’s life support this impression.
24. Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Best Character: Ramona Flowers in the movie “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”
Ramona Flowers, the all-American delivery girl who roller skates across subspace, would probably take first place if you had to pick just one genuinely “iconic” Mary Elizabeth Winstead performance.
Ramona may initially be the object of Scott Pilgrim’s (Michael Cera) affections in the Edgar Wright-directed adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comic novel series, but the film eventually becomes about her and her transformation from her past just as much as it is about Scott’s formative journey.
Yes, the plot of the movie revolves around Scott fighting Ramona’s seven terrible ex-boyfriends, but as each battle is won, we discover more about Ramona and how she came to be the way she is.
23. Zoe Saldana
Best Character: Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy
Zoe Saldana is amongst the most underrated stars, who have been in so many famous movies over the years but only now is she getting the recognition she deserves.
She made her film debut in 2000 with Center Stage. Zoe has been in some of the biggest Hollywood projects of all time like Avatar 1 and the Ways of Water by James Cameron, Guardians of the Galaxy movie series, Star Trek, Avengers Infinity War and Endgame, Columbian (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) and The Adams Project (2022), etc.
Zoe is a badass action heroine and proves that one movie at a time.
22. Halle Berry
Best Character: Leticia Musgrove in the movie “Monster’s Ball”
For her tremendous talent, sensual appeal, and variety as an actor, Halle Berry is adored in Hollywood. Five of Berry’s cinematic classics from her groundbreaking performance in “Monster’s Ball” are examined to examine her long-lasting influence on Hollywood.
21. Zhang Ziyi
Best Character: Jen Yu in the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
An internationally recognized actress from China, Zhang Ziyi is known for her breakout performance in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Critics and spectators alike have praised Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, describing it as a timeless love story concealed in an action film.
The character of Jen is portrayed by Zhang as passionate and conflicted, hungry for adventure yet torn between social expectations and her own goals. She received a lot of praise for her work in the movie, which helped establish Zhang as a global superstar.
20. Carrie-Anne Moss
Best Character: Trinity in The Matrix
This Canadian actress is part of a worldwide phenomenon, the Matrix series. Carrie plays the role of Trinity, a leather-clad, action hero who fights alongside Neo.
Carrie has been in all four Matrix movie series. While most known for The Matrix, she is also known for Unthinkable (2010), Memento (2000), Pompeii (2014) and Sabotage (1996), etc. Even though seen less than most actors and actresses, Carrie has a way of leaving an impression on the audience.
19. Daisy Ridley
Best Character: Rey in Star Wars
Daisy Ridley is a British actress and voice artist. Daisy is best known for her badass role in the Star Wars series. Her action role as Rey in movies like the Star Wars sequel trilogy: The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Daisy as Rey is easily one of the most powerful women in the Star Wars universe. With a riveting journey that lies in front of Rey and Daisy, all we can say is, may force be with her.
18. Demi Moore
Best Character: Jorden in G.I. Jane
Demi Moore is an American actress who made her film debut in 1981. Moore is known for her action roles in movies like G.I. Jane (1997), Demi went bald for this role and was an action rock star thorough and thorough and continued to do so in movies like Charlie’s Angels and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, etc.
Demi shared how difficult it was for her to be Jorden in G.I. Jane and coming out of it was the worst and yet she’s here proving how badass she is.
17. Sigourney Weaver
Best Character: Officer Ripley in Alien
Alien (1979) could be arguably the first female-driven Hollywood movie with Sigourney playing Ellen Ripley.
This exceptionally smart and kickass character was continued for three more movies after Alien, with Alien 2; On Earth (1980), Alien 3 (1992), and Alien Resurrection (1997) along with Aliens in 1986.
Sigourney is an influential American actress who is nothing less of an icon for sci-fi and pop culture. She would be next seen in James Cameron’s heavily star-studded Avatar: The Way of Water.
16. Gina Carano
Best Character: Mallory Kane in Haywire
This insanely talented fighter is an American actress and a mixed martial artist. Gina who is a fitness model, TV personality, actress, and retired MMA fighter, has done a multitude of absolutely wicked action films.
This action star is best known for her work in Haywire (2011), Deadpool (2016), In the Blood (2014), Furious 6 (2013), Daughter of the Wolf (2019), Terror of the Prairie (2022) and the tv series Mandalorian. Gina competed in EliteXC and Strike Force from 2006 to 2009 and is a successful MMA fighter.
15. Kate Beckinsale
Best Character: Selena in the Underworld
Kate is a British actress and model who has a track record of some utterly action-packed fancy movies. Kate Beckinsale is best known for her roles in the Underworld series with movies like Underworld (2003), Underworld: Blood War (2016),
Underworld: Evolution (2006), Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009), Underworld: Awakening (2012) along with Van Helsing (2004) and Total Recall (2012), etc.
This action star has been working for a long time in the entertainment industry and has also worked in multiple costume dramas, talk about range, right?
14. Jennifer Lawrence
Best Character: Katniss Everdeen in Hunger Games
J. Lo is one of the best female action stars in the industry and also the most well-known and loved. Jennifer has been in some pop culture gems over the last few years, maybe even the decade, leaving a lasting impression with her action film and multiple Academy Award-winning movies.
Jennifer is best known for her roles in movies like the X-Men series where she plays a shapeshifting mutant Mystique. And who can forget the pop fiction queen Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games series?
Aside from making dynamic action movies and collecting Oscars every other day for her stellar work, Lawrence is also a feminist and a social activist.
13. Jennifer Garner
Best Character: Electra in Marvel Universe
Another A-list actress with tons of action-adventure and award-winning dramas. Jennifer Garner is a much beloved American actress whom we all fell in love with in movies like 13 going on 30.
The Adams Project, etc. But Jennifer is a different type of badass altogether in movies like Electra and Daredevil. Her character of Electra made the whole Marvel comic fans crazy and even though it could not perform well at the box office, it had other factors weighing it down and not Garner’s badass Electra.
Jennifer is also wildly famous for her role as Sydney, an action spy in the TV show Alias is also nothing short of epic.
12. Milla Jovovich
Best Character: Alice in Resident Evil
This actress is arguably one of the best action actresses out there. She is one of the very few female actresses in the early 2000s that brought these lead females annihilating mystic creatures like zombies, vampires, and demons. Milla is best known for her iconic role of Alice in Resident Evil. These Resident Evil movie series are adapted from the Resident Evil series of books.
Milla has been part of about six Resident Evil movies for the last two decades. She is also known for her awesome roles in movies like The Fifth Element (1997), Hellboy (2019), Ultraviolet (2006) and Monster Hunter (2020).
11. Michelle Rodriguez
Best Character: Letty Ortiz in The Fast and the Furious
Michelle Rodriguez, an action actress is a part of one of the world’s most famous movie series Fast and the Furious, starring brilliant male action stars like Vin Diesel, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, Paul Walker, John Cena, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson and so many others who are known for their benchmarks in action movies and yet Letty is never overshadowed.
Part of the family since day one, people have come and people have gone but Letty, played amazingly by Michelle Rodriguez, has proven throughout all these years that there are not many as badass as her. Michelle Rodriguez has also shown her action moves in movies like Resident Evil (2002) and The Assignment (2016), etc.
Related: The Greatest Action Actors Of All Time
10. Angelina Jolie
Best Character: Lara Croft in Tomb Raider films
Now talk about a lethal beauty, with emphasis on lethal. Angelina Jolie who is an American actress, model, filmmaker, and humanitarian, has managed to become an icon for much more than few a years now.
Angelina Jolie is known best for her action roles in movies like The Tomb Raider films, her role of Lara Croft is nothing short of awesome as the tomb raider.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider wasn’t the only movie where Angelina Jolie was her badass action self, movies like Wanted, Salt, and most recently her Marvel cinematic universe appearance in Eternals as a Badass epitome of goddess of war herself, Thena. Angelina Jolie was married to Brad Pitt with whom she did a massive hit action movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
9. Uma Thurman
Best Character: The bride in Kill Bill
The Bride is one of the most legendary characters in the history of cinema. The list would be incomplete without having Uma Thurman in it.
Uma is the epitome of a badass action lady in the kill bill movie series, she was also a part of many other action movies such as Pulp Fiction (1994), Batman and Robin (1997), The Avengers (1998), Gattaca (1997) and Percy Jackson and the lightning thief (2010).
Uma is also seen in some great TV shows such as Smash, Suspicion, The Slap, Imposters, Super Pumped, etc.
8. Lucy Liu
Best Character: Alex Munday in Charlie’s Angels
A highly underrated action star is this badass actress Lucy Liu. Lucy has shown her action moves in multiple hit movies such as Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2 along with her most known role as Alex Munday in the most successful and honestly best Charlie’s Angels movie of 2000 along with equally badass Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz.
She is also known for her roles in movies like Shanghai Noon (2000), Lucky Number Slevin (2006), Charlie’s Angles: Full Throttle (2003), and shows like Why Women Kill and Elementary.
7. Michelle Yeoh
Best Character: Yu Shu Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Michelle could be the female Jackie Chan in Hollywood as her action is so exciting to watch. Michelle is best known for her role as Yu Shu Lien in the 2000 movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This talented action star has been in many famous movies other than Crouching Tiger, and Hidden Dragon, she has been in movies like Shang Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Super Cop, and Police Story.
Everything Everywhere all at once and Crazy Rich Asians, etc. Don’t think it surprises anyone that Michelle is also one of the Bond Girls, appearing in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). She is also in the Star Trek: discovery tv show.
6. Linda Hamilton
Best Character: Sarah Connor in Terminator
Talking about badass and not counting in Sarah Connor would be blasphemy to the genre. A Sixty-five-year-old actress who continues to fight baddies is something inspiring.
Linda Hamilton plays the coolest Sarah Connor in the Terminator movie series. Linda Hamilton has been part of Terminator movies since the beginning in 1984 and the second installment in 1991, she then disappeared for a while to do other action movies.
She returned later reprised her role as Sarah Connor in The Terminator: Dark Fate in 2019.
5. Pam Grier
Best Character: Jackie Brown in and as Jackie Brown
Pam is one badass actress who has a long list of solid action films under her belt. Every single role of hers is more badass than others. She is known for movies like John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars (2001), Foxy Brown (1974), Coffy (1973), ‘Sheba, Baby (1975), Above the Law (1988), Black Mama White Mama (1973), Escape from LA (1992), Class of 1999 (1990), Original gangstas (1996), etc.
Pam’s collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, a movie called Jackie Brown in 1997 was a great hit among the masses.
4. Charlize Theron
Best Character: Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road
If Charlize Theron is not one of the best action actresses, then nobody is. Charlize is known for so many kickass roles that it should be a crime. Her most famous role is that of Imperator Furiosa, which is nothing short of legendary in Mad Max: Fury Road. She’s also praised for her action work in movies like Atomic Blonde (2017) another iconic action role by Charlize.
She is also in movies like Monster (2003), Old Guard (2020), Prometheus (2012), Æon Flux (2005) and Fast and Furious movies. Charlize recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Wizard Clea, another magnificent action character that everyone is looking forward to.
3. Gal Gadot
Best Character: Diana in Wonder Woman
Gal is an Israeli actress and model who has taken over Hollywood, especially in the last few years. Gal Gadot is known for many action roles in movies like Red Notice, Fast and Furious movie series, etc.
But her most iconic and one-of-a-kind role is as DC comics, Wonder Woman. Gal first took upon the role of Diana, Princess of Themyscira, a goddess herself and daughter of Zeus.
The Wonder Woman film (2017) was the first female-led superhero movie after a long time and did spectacularly at the box office.
This film more or less resurrected this female-led superhero movie genre and paved the way for many more such movies to come.
Gal’s charm and screen presence resonate with people. She was first seen in the Warner Bros. DC’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.
2. Zoe Saldana
Best Character: Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy
Zoe Saldana is amongst the most underrated stars, who have been in so many famous movies over the years but only now is she getting the recognition she deserves.
She made her film debut in 2000 with Center Stage. Zoe has been in some of the biggest Hollywood projects of all time like Avatar 1 and the Ways of Water by James Cameron, Guardians of the Galaxy movie series, Star Trek, Avengers Infinity War and Endgame, Columbian (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) and The Adams Project (2022), etc.
Zoe is a badass action heroine and proves that one movie at a time.
1. Scarlett Johansson
Best Character: Natasha Romanoff in Marvel Cinematic Universe
Hollywood’s highest-paid actress, Scar. Jo is an extraordinary actress, singer, producer, and businesswoman, who is in some of the most successful movies of all time and Oscar Worthy movies.
This Oscar-nominated actress presents a deeply flawed, utterly talented, and badass inside-out character, Natasha Romanoff. Known as Black Widow, Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first female superhero is so perfectly imperfect, and yet so humble.
I remember quite clearly as I went to watch my first MCU movie ever, The Avengers (2012), and then Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), and being in awe of Natasha on the big screen. In a universe full of superheroes with superpowers most of them men, Natasha taught me a lesson, you don’t have to have powers to be a hero, you don’t have to be special to be a hero.
Natasha is not a superhero, she’s just a hero. She used hand-to-hand combat This iconic character was played gracefully by Scarlett for over a decade with 9 movies and ended this phase with her solo movie in 2021. Scarlett’s awesomeness goes beyond Black Widow and her kickass action movies like Lucy (2014), Ghost in the Shell (2017), Under the Skin (2013), and The Island (2005), etc.
