5 top FEMALE characters

[ricetalks]

It ocdurs to me it seems harder to think of five top female characters. The overwhelming majorityon the lists seems to be male. I am guilty as I charge. Therefore:

Norma Rae
Aileen Wornos (sp?) in Monster (although I would argue that this is really a great depiction of a good character and Charlize Theoron (sp?) elevated that material to its pinnicle.
Holly Hunter in The Pelican Brief
Mrs. Mulray in Chinatown
Nichole Kidman in To Die For.

[Plot Device]

What is your criteria here for "top" characters?

Most interesting for the viewer?
Most enticing for a prospective actress who is considering the role?
Most significant to/relevent to/impacting upon society at the time?
Most beneficial to feminism and women's interests?


(And it was Julia Roberts, not Holly Hunter.)

[clockwork]

It's your top 5 favourite female characters, PD. However you decide is up to you.

On my original list I had two men, two women and a computer generated cowboy so I'm happy with that. :)

[Plot Device]

Okay, Chris. :)

I'd have to think about it.

[dolores haze]

Bess (Emily Watson) - Breaking the Waves
Bridget (Linda Fiorentino) - The Last Seduction
Merteuil (Glenn Close) - Dangerous Liasons
Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn) - Secrets and Lies
Betty (Beatrice Dahl) - Betty Blue

Amazing roles for any actress, but I can't imagine anyone else playing these roles.

[williemeikle]

Scarlett O' Hara in Gone With The Wind
Margo Channing in All About Eve
Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity
Vivian Rutledge in The Big Sleep
Cora Smith in The Postman Always Rings Twice

[FinbarReilly]

Miki Imai (Only Yesterday): A woman who finds romance by exploring her past (one of the few movies I've teared up for).
Priss Asagiri (Bubblegum Crisis): An interesting character: Although she acts like a hard ass, she's willing to do anything for her friends. Although usually a male role, she is able to pull it off without losing her femininity (most female characters that try the same trick usually come off as being too butch).
Ellen Ripley (Aliens Franchise): Do I really need to explain why?
Dolly Levi: One of The Barbara's best roles, not only fun, but also proof that women really do rule the world....
Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Some Like It Hot): I figured that the list needed a bimbo, and I can't think of a better one, especially as her IQ could be seriously debated. (Like I wasn't gong to include Marilyn Monroe on the list...)

A definite mention should go to the women of Steel Magnolias: One of the best ensemble casts I've pretty much ever seen, and definitely an interesting crowd...

When I sit down to write, these are the women I tend to think of, and use as models. It's not like I'm a weirdo or anything:)....

FR

[nielsty]

Nikita (la femme Nikita)
Amelie (Amelie)
Holly Golightly (Breakfast at Tiffany's)
Lucia (Sex & Lucia)
Sugar (Some like it hot)

For some reason all characters I've been in love with.

[Okieslims]

Lets see...

Bjork- dancer in the dark.
Uma Thurman - Pulp Fiction
Angela Basset - Whats love got to do with it
Claire Daines- Igby Goes Down and Shop Girl. Always seems to go for very complex characters.
Juliette Lewis - Natural Born Killers

[Phaeal]

My current favorites are all from Battlestar Galactica (2004 on). Such a wide range of character styles, and except for the Glamor-Sixes, the makeup isn't overdone -- these look like real women, by the goddesses!

President Laura Roslin - Mary McDonnell (Can she run for Pres in the USA?)
Admiral Cain - Michelle Forbes (A terrifying product of honor and despair)
Kara "Starbuck" Thrace - Katee Sackoff (Tough, vulnerable, difficult, NOT SKINNY)
Sharon "Boomer" Valerii - Grace Park (Everyone's favorite Cylon, er, Cylons)
Number Sixes - Tricia Helfer (From Glam to sweats and everything in between, kicks butt but a fool for love)

Anastasia Dualla (Kandyse McClure), Cally (Nicky Clyne), Kat Katraine (Luciana Carro), Number Threes (Lucy Lawless), and even enigmatic sexpot Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon) deserve mention.

[ricetalks]

What is your criteria here for "top" characters?

Most interesting for the viewer?
Most enticing for a prospective actress who is considering the role?
Most significant to/relevent to/impacting upon society at the time?
Most beneficial to feminism and women's interests?


(And it was Julia Roberts, not Holly Hunter.)

Most interesting for the viewer. Everything else is politics.

[Horseshoes]

Yo Rice-
Holly Hunter in Pelican Brief?!
Didya mean Hunter in Raising AZ or Broadcast News or...
..Julia Roberts in PelBrief?

And why has no one mentioned Black Beauty in, you know, Black Beauty?

[FinbarReilly]

Er...Because Black Beauty is a guy and we're talking females...?

Which asks an interesting question: Would Lassie count in this discussion? Female character, but male actor....

FR

[Okieslims]

http://milla.wedjat.ru/Fifth_element/0710.jpg

My favorite:D

[ricetalks]

Yo Rice-
Holly Hunter in Pelican Brief?!
Didya mean Hunter in Raising AZ or Broadcast News or...
..Julia Roberts in PelBrief?

And why has no one mentioned Black Beauty in, you know, Black Beauty?

Pretty sure I mean Holly Hunter. Maybe I've got the wrong movie. But isn't this the movie where Gary Busey plays this seedy private eye who is a friend of Tom Cruise's brother and Tom Cruise's brother is in jail and the private Detective has this chain-smoking, trailer-trashy neurotic sex pot secretary who is played brilliantly by Holly Hunter? Wiat a minute. That's The Firm. Yeha. The Firm. Holly Hunetr in The Firm. I can't tell all of these John Grishum based movies apart.

[ReneC]

I like strong, dangerous, capable women. Intelligent, too. And maybe a little wicked. My powerhouse list:

Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil (Dangerous Liaisons)
Trinity (The Matrix)
Princess Leia (Star Wars)
Ripley (Alien)
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)