Theactiongenre is one of the most popular genres on the market. With massive franchises like theX-Menseries to iconic films likeInglorious Basterds, action films have been a dominant force in the industry. One issue that has come up with the action genre, however, is the hyper-masculinity displayed, representing a toxic level of masculinity that often overrides everything else. Over the years, more and more women have begun to make their way into the action genre without falling into unfavorable stereotypes.
The month of March serves asWomen’s History Month, a great time to reflect on the achievements women have made over the course of history. One such achievement that often goes overlooked is better representation in media, particularly on-screen. Considering that the action franchise has historically been targeted towards men, women have traditionally been hyper-sexualized for entertainment’s sake, without their heroines having real substance. Thankfully, the standards have changed. Here are the 15 all-time best action heroines to ever appear on television.
15The Last of Us — Ellie
Despite her young age, Ellie proves herself a worthy adversary to anyone who chooses to cross her. Fans of the video game franchise already know Ellie’s future, but to those watching the series, it has only recently been revealed how she was bitten and discovered her immunity. At only 14 years old, she has the maturity of an adult and is very capable of handling a crisis.The Last of Usis far from over, and Ellie is arguably one of the strongest heroines to ever hit the screen in recent times.
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The Walking Deadhas brought avariety of charactersto the screen, but none as complex as Carol. In the beginning, Carol is a beaten woman, who is only trying to protect her child from the new dangers of the infected world. Eventually, she proves herself a force to be reckoned with. Unafraid to kill when she must, Carol is a truly horrifying person, but she never loses her humanity among all the death and destruction around her. Much like the others, she experienced some devastating trauma that changed her from a timid woman to a force of nature.
13Vikings — Lagertha
Lagertha is the wife of Ragnar Lothbrok, Queen Kattegat, an Earl and a formidable shield-maiden inVikings. She is a fierce warrior with an unwavering sense of honor. Her ruthlessness and strong desire to rule makes her an intimidating force, but she is also a doting parent who cares for her son with all her heart. Lagertha is especially protective of those who are unable to defend themselves, with special hatred for rapists and abusive husbands. She is the ultimate shield-maiden, who is unafraid to kill those she feels are deserving.
12Nikita — Nikita Mears
Maggie Q starsin the action series,Nikita, that revolves around the eponymous heroine, a death row inmate who was rescued by Division who faked her execution so that she may use her skills to serve her country. Based on the French filmLa Femme Nikita, Nikita escapes from Division and comes out of hiding to take down the government agency. She received special training from the government, which gives her a special advantage in taking down Division. Nikita’s government training combined with her lack of emotional attachment make for a deadly combination.
11The 100 — Clarke Griffin
The 100is a dystopian TV series that follows the lives of 100 juvenile prisoners who are brought back to the planet to test its habitability. One of the 100 is Clarke Griffin, a determined individual who serves as a phenomenal leader. Clarke is quick to call people out for bad behavior, but also wishes to save the people around her even if they don’t deserve saving. Her strong moral compass combined with her idealistic nature make her a perfect heroine for girls and boys to look up to.
10The Book of Boba Fett — Fennec Shand
TheStar Warsfranchise has unfortunately fallen victim to the overwhelming over-representation of men in the science fiction genre. One heroine that proves herself a ruthless adversary, worthy to walk with the greats, is Fennec Shand. First introduced to us inThe Mandalorian, we see the best of Shand inThe Book of Boba Fett, where we see how the two series connect, and, more significanly, how Shand owes Boba for saving her life. Not only does Fennec bring more strong women fighters into the mix, but she is over the age of 40, not a common trait of many action heroines given the spotlight.
9The Peripheral — Flynne Fisher
The Peripheralis a new Prime Video series set in a future when technology has altered society as a whole and the way it functions. Main character Flynne Fisher makes the discovery of an alternate reality and discovers the hidden connection between them. She is a formidable fighter and has a special talent for virtual reality video games and simulators. Not only is Flynne tough, but she is also highly intelligent and is willing to go to extreme lengths to protect her family from harm, even if that means putting herself in immediate danger.
8Marvel’s Jessica Jones — Jessica Jones
In recent years, Marvel has stepped up to the plate and delivered us quite a few heroines to set new standards for the girls of today. The titular hero ofMarvel’s Jessica Jonesbroke new ground as the tough private investigator with super strength. While Jessica is not exactly the ideal role model, she is still one of the best action heroines that Marvel has ever introduced. Not only does she keep herself away from her loved ones to keep them out of danger, but she also helps to protect the innocent from harm.
7The Boys — Starlight / Annie January
The Boysis one of Prime Video’s most successful series, revolving around superheroes who dominate the world despite their deep-seated greed, racism, and corruption. The main team of “Supes,” who work for Vaught bring on Starlight after she auditions. Starlight is the epitome of feminism as she struggles against everyone around her forcing her into a role she wasn’t meant for. Between speaking about being sexually assaulted by a fellow Supe to helping the Boys to bring Vaught down, Starlight is a force of nature that is not to be trifled with.
Related:10 Best Heroines From the Alien Franchise
6Hawkeye — Kate Bishop
Kate Bishop serves as Clint’s apprentice inHawkeye, whom he is training with the hopes of her eventually taking over. She is confident and intelligent, often being able to see what others cannot. Her loyalty is unmatched by any other as proven when she refuses to disclose her friend’s involvement in the destruction of the bell tower early on in the series. Despite her lack of experience compared to Clint, Kate proves to have a natural knack for the bow, showing how truly worthy she is to carry on his name.
