First of all, Happy International Women’s Day to all you smart, intelligent, and lovely women out there. Some people say why celebrate Women’s Day, while others say everyday is women’s day. we say everyday is everyone’s day but this day we talk about women to raise awareness and celebrate change. Although, this is a day where we share extraordinary examples, but we do that to celebrate each and every women in the world. Cinema is one such medium of information which has proven to be very effective in almost all aspects of life. So, with the following list, High On Cinema seeks to celebrate this occasion through the medium we consider the most relatable one. Here are the top 15 strongest female characters in the world of cinema:
15. Shashi Godbole (English Vinglish)
Genre: Bollywood, Comedy-Drama
Shashi is a caring mother and a loving wife but an insecure woman. Her unfamiliarity with the English language is one hurdle in her life that seems impossible for her to cross in the traditional society that she has been brought up in. Her journey on the path of exploring and rediscovering herself is very inspiring. For Shashi, it was the language that was in the way of her self-respect, it can be anything for the rest of us. The story of Shashi’s transformation from a conservative homemaker to a confident woman who knows to love herself inspires every one of us to overcome those blockades which stand in the way of us realizing our true potential.
14. Clarice Starling (The Silence of the Lambs)
Genre: Hollywood, Thriller/Crime
Clarice, a fresh recruit at the FBI Academy, is handed the task of interviewing the infamous and highly intelligent cannibalistic killer, Hannibal Lecter. Clarice isn’t easily dominated by the rather manipulative Hannibal, and her determination to catch the serial killer on lose helps her in maintaining a calm and collected position in front of a killer as dangerous as Hannibal Lecter. Clarice is an intelligent and ambitious woman in a male-dominated field and she knows exactly what she wants in life. She puts her career before anything else and strives hard to excel at it. Clarice sets a strong example for women and inspires them to let go of their fears.
13. Kang Sae Byeok (Squid Game)
Genre: Korean, Thriller/Drama
Kang Sae Byeok is a quintessential “tough-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside” female character. She is a North Korean defector who wishes to provide a good life for her younger brother and to rescue her mother from North Korea. She chooses the path of a delinquent to make petty cash and doesn’t think twice before putting her life at risk to win the survival game, all in order to provide for her family. Her sufferings in and out of the game made her strong enough to handle the trickiest of situations without a hint of panic. Sae Byeok teaches us to never give up and confront life with all that we’ve got and to always stand by our family and friends. (Read about Squid Game Season 2 here)
12. Aarya Sareen (Aarya)
Genre: Crime/Drama
Who doesn’t love a good old “Good Girl Gone Bad” story? The story of this crime drama gives us exactly that, tracing the story of a heartbroken Aarya Sareen, a mother who is pushed into the world of crime for the sake of the security of her children. Aarya’s character of the vengeful mafia queen is still relatable and she comes across as nothing but brave. She enters into the criminal world and does so without having to “man up”. Aarya portrays the most important role of a mother, the protector.
11. Jacqueline Carlyle (The Bold Type)
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Most people answer in the negative when asked whether they like their bosses. The same is not true for the staff working under our elegant editor-in-chief of Scarlet Magazine, who, ironically, puts minimum efforts into appeasing others. She is the boss you love to work for and also, be like. She embodies the feminism that the world currently needs. She supports other women and pushes her team to perform their best but also doesn’t shy away from making unpopular decisions when it comes to doing things right. She is one of the most non-toxic strong female characters who can be looked up to in every way.
10. Maeve Wiley (Sex Education)
Genre: Comedy-drama/ Coming-of-age
Who says a “bad girl” can’t be a nerd? Maeve Wiley, the protagonist of the Netflix Original Sex Education, breaks all stereotypes relating to what an intelligent girl should look like. She’s intellectual, bold, sarcastic and operates on her own will. She absolutely cannot be messed with, but even so, she is a softie when it comes to her loved ones. This is the beauty of the complex character of Maeve Wiley. She is a badass and also, a genius. She has fought many battles of her own and she also helps others fight theirs. Maeve Wiley is that friend that every one of us wants to have and also wants to be.
9. Arya Stark (Game of Thrones)
Genre: Fantasy/ Thriller/ Drama/ Action
A princess, who is not looking for her prince charming but wields a sword and a dagger. Arya Stark breaks all the princess “rules”. She is a warrior, a survivor, and most importantly, the slayer of the NightKing. Arya is one of the most badass characters ever written, from threatening a prince in her childhood to single-handedly taking revenge for her family’s massacre, Arya proved she wasn’t afraid of death, or as the Dancing Master says “Not Today”. (Read about House of Dragon here)
8. Katniss Everdeen ( The Hunger Games)
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Action/ Thriller/ Dystopian
The highly skilled archer, a tribute from District 12 who volunteers for the game in place of her younger sister, is a very promising idol for many girls and women. Her intelligence, her composure, and more than anything, her loyalty attracts us to her character. Katniss shows her athletic prowess along with cool-headed reasoning that makes her character all the more likable and impressive.
7. Monica Geller (F.R.I.E.N.D.S)
Genre: Comedy/ Sitcom/ Romance
Monica Geller is that “mother” in a group of friends who might come across as domineering but is also extremely caring and loving. Monica’s energetic and passionate approach to everything she does inspires us to enjoy the activities we do to the fullest, be it our jobs or a chill vacation at the beach. Monica has had her share of ups and downs and has come out of those stronger than ever. She knows exactly what she wants in life and when it comes to her career and relationships, she is not afraid to make harsh decisions in pursuit of her goal and happiness. Monica Geller is everything, from an ideal woman and an ideal sister to an ideal friend.
6. Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)
Genre: Anime/ Action/ Dark fantasy
Badassery runs in the blood of the Ackermans and Mikasa is a perfect example of it. She is focused on killing the titans who have stripped her people of peace. Her lethality is mirrored in the blades she uses to slash the titans’ necks. Apart from being one of the most dangerous members of the Scout Regiment, she is also a very loyal friend. She will gladly embrace death in order to protect her friends and comrades. Her loyalty to her friend who saved her life is evident in the red scarf that is always closely wrapped around her. Mikasa makes a perfect idol for girls with her right combination of lethal and loyal. (For Our Anime Coverage)
5. Scarlet Witch (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Genre: Superhero/ Fantasy/ Action
Scarlet Witch, or Wanda Maximoff, lost her parents in warfare, her brother in a robot attack, and her love in an alien fight. Wanda has been through a lot of pain, but her ability to channel this pain into utter badassery is what makes her the Strongest Avenger. She almost killed Thanos all by herself and had an entire city dance on her fingertips just because she did not want to lose her family. Her character is the perfect example of “when life gives you lemons, you slay ‘em all!” (Find all our MCU Coverage here)
4. Samantha Jones (Sex and The City)
Genre: Comedy/ Romance/ Drama
The bold, tough and very sassy, Samantha Jones is exactly how every woman aspires to be. She is fun on vacations, sensuous in clubs and professional on the desk. She has no hesitations in demanding her rights and walks off when treated less than what she deserves. She’s the “therapist” of the group, listening to her friends’ problems and giving them sound advice. She is a confident, outspoken, and strong female character whose dramatic yet vibrant personality is what makes her the favorite of the fans.
3. Lara Croft (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy
The adventure-filled life of Lara Croft is a dream for many women and combining it with Lara’s badass and lone-wolf personality would be a cherry on top. What we love about Lara is that she athletic as well as intelligent, and she likes to put both her abilities to test time and again. Her curiosity and the will to explore endlessly is admired by her fans. The disappearance of her parents and her challenging archaeological expeditions have made her both mentally and physically strong.
2. Miranda Priestly (The Devil wears Prada)
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Miranda Priestly is a woman of high standards, because why not? She isn’t someone who would settle for anything less than perfect. She is driven, confident, passionate and has a knack for skimmed lattes. Well, isn’t she just perfect? She may not be the perfect or the sweetest boss with all the dominance and looking down upon people but her tough character is what gets things done. Her daughters bring out her caring and loving side, and for them, she will go to the extremes of trying to track down the latest unpublished manuscript of the Harry Potter series!
1. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
Genre: Adventure/ Fantasy/ Action/ Romance
Speaking of Harry Potter, how can we forget the smartest in the trio of best friends. Hermione Granger, the perfect blend of smartness, kindness and elegance. Her prodigious intellect and cleverness are absolutely necessary for the two rather clumsy boys to function. She can be annoying but is also very reasonable. Being one of the best witches of her time, she put her skills to use and saved her as well as the boys’ lives, proving that she’s a heroic badass. In the words of Emma Watson for Hermione, “She is all head and heart”, and that’s what we love about her. (Check out Fantastic Beasts 3 Updates here)
Do you agree with our list? Want to share your own favorite characters? Utilize the comments section below and do not hold back on telling us why you like or dislike the list. Until next time!
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