The following is a list of female action heroes and villains who appear in action films, television shows, comic books, and video games and who are "thrust into a series of challenges requiring physical feats, extended fights, extensive stunts and frenetic chases."
Elizabeth Abele suggests that "the key agency of female action protagonists is their ability to draw on the full range of masculine and feminine qualities in ever-evolving combinations."Abele, Elizabeth. Home Front Heroes: The Rise of a New Hollywood Archetype, 1988–1999. McFarland, 2013:132
Films Animated theatrical films
Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars Elsa and Anna from Frozen series and Once Upon a Time Princess Fiona from the Shrek series (2001–2010), Queen Lillian and the Fairy Godmother from Shrek 2, and Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty from Shrek the Third (2007)Diaz, Poehler and More: A Magical Q&A with Shrek the Third's Fab Five Princesses Elastigirl and Violet (2004)Meinel, Dietmar. Pixar's America: The Re-Animation of American Myths and Symbols. Palgrave Macmillan, 2016: 173. from The Incredibles (2004) Iria from Iria: Zeiram the Animation Judy Hopps from Zootopia (2016) Karai from TMNT Kay from Akira Kida and Helga Sinclair from Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) Merida from Brave (2012) and Once Upon a Time Moana from Moana Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the ShellA Beginner's Guide to Ghost in the Shell Mulan from Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004) Nausicaä from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon (2020) Ryôko Kadoma from Goku Midnight Eye Sabine Wren from Star Wars Rebels and Ahsoka San from Princess Mononoke Susan Murphy/Ginormica from Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) Saya from Blood: The Last Vampire Saki Asamiya from Sukeban Deka (Original video animation) Taarna from Heavy Metal (1981) April O'Neil from TMNT Liz Sherman from Hellboy: Sword of Storms, Hellboy: Blood and Iron Astrid Hofferson, Ruffnut Thorston and Valka from How to Train Your Dragon. Tigress, Viper and Zhen from Kung Fu Panda
Live-action theatrical films
Æon Flux from Æon Flux (2005) Abigail Whistler from Blade: Trinity (2004) Alex Munday from Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) Alice Kingsleigh from Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass Alice Monaghan from Hellboy Alice, character from Resident Evil Angelica Teach from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Ann Lewis from RoboCop April O'Neil from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Arwen from The Lord of the Rings trilogy Artemisia from 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) Ava from In the Blood (2014) Babydoll from Sucker Punch (2011) Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill (2003–2004) Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) Black Whip from Zorro's Black Whip (1944) Blue from Jurassic World (2015), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (2020–2022), and Jurassic World Dominion (2022) Bugs from The Matrix Resurrections (2021) Carly Spencer from Transformers: Dark of the Moon Captain Frankie Cook from Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) Charlene "Charly" Baltimore/Samantha Caine from The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996 film) Charlie Watson from Bumblebee Cherry Darling from Grindhouse (2007) Coffy from Coffy (1973) Daphne Blake from Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) Dylan Sanders from Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) Dominika Egorova from Red Sparrow (2018) Domino from Domino (2005) Elena Santos from Battle: Los Angeles (2011) Elizabeth "Liz" Sherman from Hellboy (2004) Elizabeth Swann from the Pirates of the Caribbean series (2003–2017) Ellen "The Lady" from The Quick and the Dead (1995) Ellen Ripley from the Alien series (1979–1997) Ellie Sattler from Jurassic Park series Etain from Centurion (2010) Everly from Everly (2014) Evelyn Carnahan from The Mummy and The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) Evelyn Salt from Salt (2010) Fox from Wanted (2008) Foxy Brown from Foxy Brown (1974) Foxxy Cleopatra from Austin Powers in Goldmember G2 from Inspector Gadget 2 Gloria Swenson from Gloria (1980) Gracie Hart in Miss Congeniality Guinevere from King Arthur (2004)Rowland, Robin (2004). "Warrior queens and blind critics." CBC News Hanna from Hanna (2011) Ilsa Faust from Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) and Fallout (2018) Imperator Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Ingrid Cortez from Spy Kids series Inspector Jessica Yang from Supercop (1992)Supercop as Woman Warrior Iria from Zeiram (1991) Jane Smith from Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) Jackie Brown from Jackie Brown (1997) Jen Yu from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)Kim, L. S. "Making women warriors: a transnational reading of Asian female action heroes in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media. No. 48, Winter, 2006. "Jinx" Giancita Johnson from Die Another Day (2002) Jordan O'Neil from G.I. Jane (1997) Julie Pierce from The Next Karate Kid (1994) Jyn Erso from Rogue One (2016) Karai from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Kate Macer from Sicario (2015) Leeloo / The Fifth Element from The Fifth Element (1997) Letty Ortiz, Gisele Yashar, Elena Neves, Riley Hicks and Kara from The Fast and The Furious (2001–present) Lieutenant Colonel Violet van Patten and Lady Lisa from Pixels Lorraine Broughton from Atomic Blonde (2017) Lucy from Lucy (2014) Madame Desdemona from Machete Kills (2013) Mai Linh from Live Free or Die Hard (2007) Major Eden Sinclair from Doomsday (2008) Mallory Kane from Haywire (2011) Marie from Innocent Blood Mathilda from The Professional (1994) Mako Mori from Pacific Rim (2013) Madison Lee from Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Marique from Conan the Barbarian (2011) Mei from House of Flying Daggers (2004) Mikaela Banes from Transformers Monica "Darling" Costello from Baby Driver (2017) Mira Killian from Ghost in the Shell (2017) Ms. Perkins from John Wick (2014) Natalie Cook from Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) Newt from Aliens (1986) Neytiri from Avatar (2009) Nikita from La Femme Nikita (1990) Niobe from The Matrix series (2003–2021) Padmé Amidala from the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005) Pauline Hargraves from The Perils of Pauline movie serial (1933) Phryne Fisher from Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (2020) Princess Leia Organa from the Star Wars original trilogy (1977–1983) Qi'ra from Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Quorra from Tron: Legacy (2010) Rey from Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015–2019) Ria Khan / The Fury from Polite Society (2023) Rosie Carver in Live and Let Die (1973) Riley North from Peppermint (2018) Ruby Roundhouse from Jumanji series Sarah Bailey from The Craft (1996) Sarah Connor from the Terminator series (1984–2019) Saki Asamiya from Sukeban Deka Saya from Blood: The Last Vampire Selene from the Underworld series (2003–2016) Sgt. Rita Rose Vrataski from Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Sook-hee / Chae Yeon-soo from The Villainess (2017) Tank Girl/Rebecca from Tank Girl (1995) Tauriel from The Hobbit Trilogy Tiger Woman from The Tiger Woman (1944) Tong Li from Operation Red Sea (2018) Torchy Blane from the Torchy Blane series (1937–1939) Trinity from The Matrix series (1999–2021) Trudy Chacón from Avatar (2009) Vanessa Kensington from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Yōko Godai from Sukeban Deka The Movie Yu Shu Lien from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Yuki Kashima from Lady Snowblood (1973) and Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974) Yui Kazama from Sukeban Deka the Movie 2: Counter-Attack from the Kazama Sisters Zen from Chocolate (2008) Zoë Bell from Grindhouse (2007) The females ghostbusters from Ghostbusters The granddaughter of Egon and youngs females from Ghostbusters: Afterlife The protagonist female of The Princess
Films based on comic books
Alice Monaghan from Hellboy (2019) Alita from Alita: Battle Angel (2019) Judge Anderson from Dredd (2012) Knives Chau from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) Liz Sherman from Hellboy (2004) Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass (2010) Any females super heroes in Sky High (2005 film) Silk Spectre from Watchmen (2009) Tank Girl from Tank Girl (1995)
DC
Amazons from Wonder Woman and the DC Extended Universe Antiope from Wonder Woman and the DC Extended Universe Atlanna from Aquaman (2018) and the DC Extended Universe Batgirl from Batman and Robin (1997) Catwoman from Batman Returns (1992), Catwoman (2004), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and The Batman (2022) Faora from Man of Steel Queen Hippolyta from Wonder Woman and the DC Extended Universe Mera from Aquaman (2018) and the DC Extended Universe Kara Zor-El from Supergirl (1984) Wonder Woman from Wonder Woman and the DC Extended Universe
Marvel
Angel Dust from Deadpool (2016) Angel Salvadore from X-Men: First Class (2011) Antonia Dreykov (Taskmaster) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Ava Starr (Ghost) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Cassandra Nova from Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Elektra Natchios from Daredevil (2003), Elektra (2005), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Emma Frost from X-Men: First Class (2011) Gamora from Marvel Cinematic Universe GoGo Tomago from Big Hero 6 (2014) Hela from Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Honey Lemon from Big Hero 6 (2014) Hope van Dyne (Wasp) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Jane Foster (Mighty Thor) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Jean Grey (Phoenix) from the X-Men films Jubilation Lee (Jubilee) from the X-Men films Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Kitty Pryde from the X-Men films Lady Deathstrike from X2 (2003) Laura Barton from Marvel Cinematic Universe Mantis from Marvel Cinematic Universe Maria Hill from Marvel Cinematic Universe Monica Rambeau from Marvel Cinematic Universe Mystique/Raven from the X-Men films Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Nebula from Marvel Cinematic Universe Peggy Carter (Captain Carter) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Red Sonja from Red Sonja (1985) Rogue from the X-Men films Sharon Carter (Agent 13) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Sif from Marvel Cinematic Universe Storm from the X-Men films Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) from Fantastic Four films and Marvel Cinematic Universe Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Valkyrie from Marvel Cinematic Universe Viper from The Wolverine (2013) Shuri, Okoye, and Nakia from Marvel Cinematic Universe Yelena Belova (Black Widow) from Marvel Cinematic Universe Wasp (character) from Ultimate Avengers and Marvel Animated Features
Films based on novels
Beatrice "Tris" Prior from The Divergent Series Éowyn from The Lord of the Rings series (2001–2003) Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games (2012–2015) Florence Zimmerman from The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) Hermione Granger from Harry Potter series (2001–2011) Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter series (2001–2011) Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter series (2001–2011) Hester Shaw from Mortal Engines (2018) Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Films based on video games
Alice from the Resident Evil series (2002–2016) Cammy from Street Fighter (1994) Chun-Li from Street Fighter and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009) Claire Redfield from the Resident Evil series (2012) Jill Valentine from the Resident Evil series (2004–2012) Kitana and Sonya Blade from Mortal Kombat (1995) and Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997)