Female action heroes: 8 women who redefined courage long before ‘Ballerina' pirouetted in

Tatler Asia

5 days ago

Geena Davis as Samantha Caine/Charly Baltimore in 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' (1996)
In The Long Kiss Goodnight , Geena Davis showcased how seemingly contradictory identities can coexist within one complex woman. Her transformation from a sweet suburban schoolteacher into a lethal CIA assassin explored themes of identity and self-discovery through explosive action, predating the amnesia-spy thriller trend by years.
Her character's journey from inexplicable knife skills to full assassin mode, culminating in the explosive Niagara Falls finale, showed that female action heroes could be simultaneously nurturing and deadly, domestic and dangerous. Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991)
Linda Hamilton's transformation of Sarah Connor remains one of cinema's most dramatic character evolutions. From targeted waitress to hardened warrior, Sarah redefined what maternal protection could look like when the stakes involve preventing humanity's extinction.
The character's strength lies in her complete commitment to an impossible mission: her escape from Pescadero State Hospital and assault on Cyberdyne Systems showcase not just physical prowess, but also strategic thinking and determination. Sarah embodies the terrifying power of maternal love channelled into relentless action, proving that mothers can become the most formidable protectors imaginable. Zhang Ziyi as Jen Yu in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' (2000)
Zhang Ziyi's breakout performance in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a masterclass in playing a character who is equal parts captivating and infuriating, which is exactly what made Jen Yu so unforgettable.
Jen is the ultimate rebellious prodigy: a young woman who refuses to be confined by society's expectations and has the martial arts skills to back up her defiance. Ziyi brought an incredible mix of grace and determination to the role, making every fight scene feel like a dance and every emotional moment hit like a punch. She wasn't just leaping rooftops or slicing through a bamboo forest for spectacle—every move was a fight for the right to choose her destiny. Uma Thurman as Beatrix 'The Bride' Kiddo in 'Kill Bill: Volume 1' (2003)
Uma Thurman's Bride transformed personal tragedy into a masterpiece of vengeance. Waking up from a four-year coma to discover the massacre of her wedding party and the loss of her unborn child, Beatrix Kiddo channels her grief into the most stylishly brutal quest for justice ever captured on film.
The Bride's iconic yellow tracksuit and Hattori Hanzō sword became symbols of determination. Her single-handed destruction of the Crazy 88 at the House of Blue Leaves delivered spectacular action and illustrated how personal loss can fuel extraordinary strength. The performance is pure cinematic magic—violent, beautiful and unforgettable. Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa in 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015)
Charlize Theron's Imperator Furiosa commandeered Mad Max entirely. In a franchise literally named after its male protagonist, Furiosa became the true driving force, both behind the wheel of her War Rig and as the heart of the story.
Furiosa represents defiance in its purest form. Her rebellion against Immortan Joe's tyrannical regime to liberate his 'Five Wives' transforms her from war captain to freedom fighter. Her prosthetic arm isn't portrayed as a limitation but as a testament to her resilience, challenging conventional depictions of disability in action cinema while delivering some of the most spectacular vehicular combat ever filmed. Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt in 'Salt' (2010)
Angelina Jolie gives life to Evelyn Salt, a CIA operative who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent and goes on the run to try to clear her name. What makes Jolie's Salt fascinating is that the role was originally written for a male protagonist, with Tom Cruise initially secured for the lead, before the script was ultimately rewritten for the actress.
The film's central question—is Salt truly loyal or is she the perfect double agent?—keeps audiences guessing until the end. But it's Jolie's committed performance and those brutal action sequences that make the movie work. She took a role designed for a male action star and made it completely her own, proving that great characters transcend whoever they were originally written for. Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' (2022)
Michelle Yeoh's Oscar-winning performance as Evelyn Wang revolutionised the action hero archetype by proving that extraordinary power can emerge from the most ordinary circumstances. This stressed laundromat owner's journey from mundane family struggles to multiverse-saving hero redefined what strength looks like.
Evelyn's greatest battles aren't won through violence but through radical empathy. Her famous 'fanny-pack fight' and culinary combat skills showcase inventive action choreography, but her ultimate victory comes from choosing kindness over destruction. She represents the evolution of female action heroes from warriors to healers, proving that sometimes the greatest strength is knowing when not to fight. Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro in 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina' (2025)
Brought to life by Ana de Armas, Eve Macarro in Ballerina promises to be the most elegant yet deadly addition to the action hero pantheon. The ballerina-assassin, trained by the secretive Ruska Roma organisation, isn't just stepping into the John Wick universe—she's poised to steal it entirely.
What makes Eve extraordinary is her unique blend of grace and lethal precision. Driven by a deeply personal quest to avenge her father's murder, she represents the evolution of the female action hero: technically skilled, emotionally driven and so formidable that even John Wick himself is sent to hunt her down. Ballerina 's narrative twist positions her not as a sidekick or love interest, but as a force so powerful she becomes the hunted protagonist in her own right.
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This article was created with the assistance of AI tools