March is Women’s History Month and with that we celebrate a lot of women-oriented things. Besides achievements, inventions, female empowerment, and scholars, we also look at heroes. Watching women in action films is a fantastic way to do this. We have a multitude of actresses, or female actors, who have stepped into the role of savior – or those who have forged a path to become a heroine.
Checking Out Top 5 Women in Action Films for Women’s History Month
Batgirl to Batman, Supergirl to Superman, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Yeah, these women shined, but they also worked in tandem with male action heroes. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but what about when women in action film are outstanding on their own? Let’s check out some of the strong women in action films who have made an impressionable mark on cinema.
Pam Grier – “Jackie Brown”
Playing the titular character in this movie, Grier is incomparable as Jackie Brown. She and Robert Forster engage in a cat-and-mouse game, along with the likes of Samuel L. Jackson. In the end, she recruits Max Cherry, Forster‘s character and outwits all of the bad guys. We absolutely love her in this Tarantino flick! She also is amazing in 1974’s “Foxy Brown.” if you’re not familiar with Grier, you need to check out one of her films.
Jamie Lee Curtis – “True Lies”
From scream queen to power queen, Curtis is exemplary in action thriller, “True Lies.” She holds her own against Arnold Schwarzenegger. Embracing the role as wife Helen, Curtis goes to great lengths to “show him up” then ultimately work with her husband Harry, played (of course) by Schwarzenegger. Between “Trading Places,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “Perfect,” and the taut “Blue Steel,” amongst many other roles, what can’t Curtis do?
Franka Potente – “Run Lola Run”
You might know her as Marie from the Bourne films, but Potente has been around for a while. Starring in the 1998 German action film. “Run Lola Run,” as Lola, (which marked her breakthrough in American film), she shies away from weak women characters. Known for her choice of complicated and even unlikeable roles, Potente has made a name for herself. You can currently see her as antagonist Irene on this season of “Dark Winds.”
Emily Blunt – “The Adjustment Bureau”
British actress Blunt was known for period pieces – and then a fun comic turn as Emily Charlton in “The Devil Wears Prada” earned her acclaim in 2006. An actress who can easily portray any kind of character, she was excellent as Elise in “The Adjustment Bureau.” Playing opposite Matt Damon, she and Damon‘s character navigate a complicated web of seemingly insurmountable challenges in this politically charged sci-fi thriller.
Rachel Weisz – “The Mummy”
Award winning actress Weisz is known for many roles, but her portrayal of Evelyn in both The “Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns” puts her on our top five women in action films list. Intelligent, sharp, and strong are the qualities Evelyn possesses to save her and beau Rick from evil forces. Weisz also did an amazing job in her portrayal of Kathryn in 2010’s “The Whistleblower,” a biographical drama about a woman who fought sex trafficking.
Women’s History Month Women in Action Films: Some Honorable Mentions (You Know It!)
Too many women… too small of a list. We picked five women action roles here because their characters have shown adaptability, inner strength, and calmness under pressure. We do have a few honorable mentions. Alicia Vikander was ideal as Lara Croft. We loved Charlize Theron as Furiosa, and Hera Hilmar fought bravely against gross, immense, and movable cities in “Mortal Engines.”
We would be remiss if we did not mention Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in “The Terminator” franchise. We watched Hamilton portray Connor as a regular 20-something, just trying to live life in LA to a super sculpted and brave fighter in “Terminator 2: Judgement Day.” Hamilton‘s performance set the bar for many future women action stars to come.
So while we celebrate women in action films, take some time to watch your favorite action flick. Watching heroic women characters in these motion pictures is a perfect way to honor Women’s History Month. There’s nothing like seeing the intelligence and cunning of remarkable women fighting the good fight.
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