Because we all want to go out there and kick some butt.
1. Some Kind of Wonderful: Amanda Jones
Amanda was initially portrayed as the beautiful girl that the rich guy wanted and used to his advantage. They make out and the guy loves his eye candy, but he treats her like total crap and seems to enjoy it—while Amanda seems to not know how to do anything else. Through the movie, however, she grabs hold of the confidence she never had and not only humiliates said rich boy in front of his friends (a good smack across the face) but encourages another boy to go after his true love, instead of her.
2. Saved by the Bell: Jessie Spano
Jessie is the woman’s right advocate that always muttered, “pig” whenever her male counterparts disgusted her. Writers seemed to portray her as more of an overbearing girl, but every issue she raged about—feminine rights, pollution, job equality—are all serious issues today. Despite the constant canned laughter at her arguments, she made a great leader and made even better sense. Jessie for President?
3. Star Wars: Princess Leia
So, of course, everyone’s first thought: Slave Suit. Yes, she looked incredible. But Princess Leia was more than just a great body with beautiful eyes. This woman set out to single-handedly save an empire, and she pretty much did it. She survived imprisonment, led troops, and even caught the eye of a hard-core bachelor. More importantly, she got his respect. There’s that whole accidentally-kissing-the-twin-brother thing, but her point was made.
4. Harry Potter: Hermione Granger
The only female wizard in the main Harry Potter trio. Hermione is not only the smart girl that outwits her male counterparts most of the time, she is a genuine soul that cares deeply for those around her—she even goes so far as erasing herself from her parents’ memory so that they are protected from harm in the final movie. Her character also goes outside of the normal “fall for the main guy” story line (Harry) and loves the goofy, somewhat-oblivious Ron instead.
5. Finding Nemo: Dory
What would Finding Nemo be without Dory? Frankly, we’d still be looking for the little orange fish. Dory, while written by writers as an amnesia-ridden, befuddled fish, is the one that saves the day by remembering, “P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney.” She’s charming and, ironically, unforgettable. The new movie set to release in June 2016 called Finding Dory leaves us to wonder who is going to remember the address for us now?
6. Anna and the King: Anna Leonowens
Back in a time where women were taught to keep silent and dance in their hoop skirts, Anna travels to Siam to earn her own living after becoming a widow. Not only does she go into a completely-unknown country, she insists that the man in charge—the actual King of Siam—not only uphold his end of their bargain, but treat her with respect. Anna leaves with a new love in her heart, but knows when she deserves more—which includes not becoming the 24th wife or the 43rd concubine.
7. Pirates of the Carribean: Elizabeth Swann
Young, beautiful British girl becomes pirate on the high seas. A rare storyline, but this one became even bigger than most would have expected. The spoiled daughter of a British officer, Elizabeth Swann saves the lives of her fellow pirate friends, most especially Will, the young man she falls in love with. While their romance continues for all three movies, it is at the end of the third that she shows her true character: Will, destined to live 10 years at sea and only a few days on land, leaves her the morning after their wedding. When he returns 10 years later, she is still waiting for him—with their son.
8. Fast & Furious 6: Letty Ortiz
Talk about a comeback. Letty is one of the main characters in the first few Fast movies, as the head guy’s girlfriend. Her murder in the 4th movie shocks and devastates the entire crew, and leaves her boyfriend, Dom, with a broken and angry heart. Letty is tougher than that, apparently. She survives the crash and the man who set out to murder her is impressed by her abilities: namely, how to steal, fix, and race cars. Her amnesia makes her momentarily forget Dom, but their romance when they meet again in Fast & Furious 6 is still exciting. While her gorgeous body is very much focused on by the camera, what really makes Letty fabulous is her gutsy attitude and complete devotion to those she loves.
9. Pitch Perfect: Fat Amy
Fat Amy quickly became the darling of the “Aca” world by teaching us the mermaid dance and being brutally honest with herself and others. While the “fat girl” has often been the butt of all the jokes and rarely made the hero, Fat Amy made us laugh and love things like horizontal running. She sings and loves and even keeps an eye on those “twig bitches.”
10. Saving Mr. Banks: P.L. Travers
Not often thought of as a hero, in this movie, it’s the older British woman that wins our hearts. She isn’t the cute little granny sipping tea, but the tough, opinionated woman who battles with one of the most wealthy and famous men in the world: Walt Disney. And wins. She insists on remaining true to her own character in the books she writes, and even gives one last jab to Mr. Disney when she blames her emotional tears on his movie making: “I can’t abide cartoons!"
11. Tangled: Rapunzel
There’s no “we need to save the princess here.” Rapunzel, locked up by herself for 18 years, takes matters into her own hands to get out and see the world. She’s smart enough to know that she shouldn’t go alone, and blackmails thief Flynn Ryder into accompanying her. Rapunzel battles thugs and forges her own way through the kingdom with her dangerous weapon (see: frying pan) and not only is she confident in who she is, she counsels Flynn to stay true to her own identity too. Bonus: this Disney fairytale does not end with a wedding, but with Rapunzel and Flynn learning more about each other.
12. Prison Break: Dr. Sara Tancredi
In most prison shows, a female is a ready sex object. While Sara, the doctor at the prison, does fall in love with Michael, the main character, it’s her quick thinking and gutsy actions that save the men many times through the series. In the end, she is left to raise her and Michael’s son in a different country, but she does it with the same love and courage that made her endearing to Michael in the first place.
13. Private Practice: Dr. Charlotte King
Charlotte has got to be one of the most incredible female characters of the 21st century. A modern woman, she is a full-fledged M.D. that runs the hospital, has a sex life that most women dream about, and a husband who loves her just as much as she loves him. However, none of it has come without sacrifice and Charlotte finds herself battling many things to save her relationship with her husband, pediatrician Cooper. She adopts his son and has her own triplets, all while maintaining a career and being the strongest woman in the show. Her most powerful storyline is the night she gets raped by an angry ER patient—and her subsequent recovery. Through it all, Charlotte keeps the beauty that makes her Charlotte.
14. Boy Meets World: Topanga Lawrence
Despite her crazy parents and her initial introduction into the show as a young hippie, Topanga becomes a beautiful young woman that grows through troubles at school, relationships, and her parents’ divorce. Through most of the series, she maintains her relationship with her boyfriend, Cory, and they eventually get married. Even with their engagement, Topanga has decided that she wants to remain a virgin until marriage, and she sticks to it, despite other characters consummating their relationships. Her and Cory’s love through the years is actually charming.
15. Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen
Not long after Twilight and its heroine Bella—who seems more of a poster girl for simpering tweens rather than someone to aspire to—brave girl Katniss Everdeen showed up on the scene and quickly became a success. Katniss is a beautiful young woman who cares more for others than herself—namely her mother, younger sister, and childhood friend. She fights against the evil that is the Capitol and shows young women and men that integrity is essential. Romance is there, but not the most important thing to her. Even better: she knows who she is, and didn’t wait for anyone to define her.
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