A Tribute To Some Of Pop Culture’s Most Iconic Female Leads

From scientists to slayers, we pay tribute to some of pop culture’s more iconic female characters, this International Women’s Day!

Sarah Connor (The Terminator)

From waitress to mother of humanity’s ultimate saviour, Sarah Connor shows us the sheer power of self-determination as she quickly becomes a formidable enemy who is able to adapt, strategise, and survive within truly terrifying circumstances. And it’s not just her physical strength but also her emotional and psychological conviction, even when everyone – including her own son – doubts her sanity, that makes her one of the strongest characters in pop culture.

Dana Scully (The X-Files)

An early role model for women in STEM, Dr Scully has a degree in physics and is a qualified doctor who uses logic and reason to lend credibility to FBI partner Fox Mulder’s ‘out there’ paranormal theories. A reversal on traditional gender roles, it’s Scully that’s constantly getting Mulder out of trouble or talking him down from (often terrible) impulse-based decisions. Her razor-sharp intelligence and self-confidence makes her a unique and inspiring heroine of early ‘90s TV.

Michonne (The Walking Dead)

A samurai sword-wielding zombie slayer, Michonne is arguably the most resourceful and powerful character on The Walking Dead. Whether it’s tethering a cohort of jawless zombies to herself in order to blend in with the walkers, helping raise children in a post-apocalyptic world, or knowing exactly when to fight back or retreat, Michonne has the heart, brains, and physical strength to be the last person standing at the end of the zombie apocalypse.

Mononoke-Hime (Princess Mononoke)

The titular character in one of the highest-grossing anime in history, Princess Mononoke, otherwise known as San, is a strong and fearless eco-warrior and leader. She fights heroically for her natural life and for the spirit of the forest, all with the help of her brotherhood of wolves. One of the most eloquent and thought-provoking pieces of social commentary to come out of Studio Ghibli, the film just wouldn’t be the same without the strong female lead at its helm.

Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Joss Whedon is well-known for his strong, sometimes stake-wielding female characters, but Buffy Summers was the very first, born from an attempt to subvert the helpless blond cheerleader trope found in most horror films. Immense physical strength aside, Buffy showed the courage of a young woman coming to terms with the emotional weight and responsibility of being a slayer, all while navigating adolescence, love, family, and loss. She also showed us the importance of friendship, and that no one, no matter how brave or ‘chosen’ they are, can save the world alone.

Ellen Ripley (Alien)

Female leads weren’t all that common back in the ‘70s, especially in sci-fi, which makes Ridley Scott’s choice to cast Sigourney Weaver as the Alien franchise’s main character incredibly rare.

After having her expertise shutdown by her colleagues, leading to the attack in their ship, Ripley remains the sole survivor of the Nostromo after successfully defending herself (and Jonesy) against the creature. In the sequel, she also goes on to save a group of disbelieving soldiers, leading them in the fight against the Xenomorphs. In the end, she’s the one that infiltrates the alien lair to rescue Newt and go head-to-head with the Alien Queen.

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Katniss Everdeen, the girl who inspired a revolution. It was a single selfless act, the decision to save her younger sister from having to fight for her life, which saw Katniss find her way into the hearts of her fellow Panemians and ignite a fire that toppled an empire. It was her unflinching bravery, earnestness, and willingness to fight for a better life is exactly what made Katniss a hit worldwide for Gen Z reader and viewers.

Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel)

The first female character to get her own solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 2019’s re-envisioned Captain Marvel, played by the wonderful Brie Larson, is one of the most powerful superheroes around.

In the comic-verse, even before her half-Kree superpowers were awakened, Carol Danvers was awesome in her own right as a pilot with the US Air Force and a NASA security officer who worked with aliens, and eventually led The Avengers as Ms Marvel. While it’s still early days, the modern take of this lesser known Marvel character is surely set to be out of this world!