7 Films/TV Shows With Badass Female Characters
If you’ve been reading my blog or following my Instagram for a while, you’ll know that I love watching movies and TV.
So, for my first post of Women’s History Month I’m celebrating those on screen. These are all ones that I’ve watched and loved and that’s why I’m recommending them. I’m also including a few that I haven’t watched but have heard great things about. If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.
You may also notice some of the characters are played by the same actresses – which just shows the incredible women they are!
Hidden Figures – Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan & Mary Jackson
Synopsis – “Three brilliant African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson - serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world” (source).
If you haven’t watched this film yet – go and watch it right now! The film follows Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – three incredible women, working at NASA, who were the brains behind launching astronaut John Glenn into space.
The Help – Aibileen Clark, Minny Jackson & Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan
Synopsis – The Help follows Aibileen Clark, Minny Jackson and Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan “three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk” (source).
The Help tells the story of a writer trying to show the awful experience of maids. The three main characters are amazing, courageous, inspirational and empowering. This is another film that you have to watch, if you haven’t already.
Legally Blonde – Elle Woods
Synopsis – “Beverly Hills sorority queen Elle is shocked when her boyfriend Warner takes her out for a meal and then dumps her, saying that because he is about to attend Harvard Law School, he should now start dating a more serious-minded woman” (source).
I know I’m not the only one who can relate to this – but I idolised Elle Woods growing up and wanted to be exactly like (I even decided that I was going to Oxford to study law…but that didn’t happen).
Elle is strong, positive, sees the best in those around her and believes in herself – even though others continue to put her down. Although I no longer want to follow her exact footsteps – I still look up to her.
Black Panther – Shuri, Nakia & Okoye
Synopsis – “when an old foe put his homeland of Wakanda and the entire world at risk, young king T’Challa must release Black Panther’s full power to save them” (source).
This is probably my favourite Marvel film because it’s just brilliant – but the fact that it also features some bloody amazing women too is a mega bonus. Shuri, Nakia and Okoye are great for different reasons – but they unite in being strong, smart and they know what they want.
How To Get Away With Murder – Annalise Keating
Synopsis – Basically a law lecturer and her students are involved in some illegal stuff…
This is one of my all-time favourite series! I’ve done my typical thing where, when I really love a series, I stop watching it because I don’t want it to end… This is why I couldn’t get a proper description of the show – I was too worried about finding spoilers!
Since I haven’t quite finished this series, I may change my mind – but when I was researching other people’s opinions on badass female characters, Annalise came up time and time again. She’s strong, feisty and a very clever lawyer – I could watch her courtroom scenes over and over!
I will update this section when I finish the series - only a few more episodes to go!!
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Amy Santiago, Rosa Diaz & Gina Linetti
Synopsis – The series “stars Jake Peralta, an offbeat and childish detective who clashes with stern new boss Captain Holt when he’s not solving cases with best friend/partner Boyle or making bets with rival/love interest Amy Santiago” (source).
Amy Santiago is driven, ambitious, stubborn and does her very best to be perfect. Her organisation skills are phenomenal, and I’d love her to help me organise my life!
Detective Rosalita "Rosa" Diaz is considered "the tough guy and the badass in the Precinct. Rosa is scary, smart, secretive, and difficult to read” (source).
Gina Linetti is sassy, smart, confident and she knows her own mind. She does what is best for her and I love that – but she also looks out for her friends at the precinct too.
The Fall – Stella Gibson
Synopsis – “This five-part BBC drama set in Northern Ireland, stars as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson who is brought in from the London Metropolitan Police to review an unsolved Belfast murder. As the killer, strikes again and again, the police investigation uncovers an intricate story of the lives touched by events” (source).
The Fall is full of so many twists and turns and I loved the series. But one character that stood out for me in particular was Stella Gibson – the Detective Superintendent.
She is strong and knows that she’s good at her job. She faces so much misogyny and sexism and refuses to let it impact her. She stands up for not only herself, but women in general. She questions the way that the men around her talk and their hypocrisy.
She even has hashtags on Twitter all about her and they’re great - #whatwouldstellado
Bonus
1. Hermione Granger – Harry Potter
2. Furiosa – Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Clarice Starling – The Silence of the Lambs
4. Cher Horowitz – Clueless
5. Elastigirl – The Incredibles
6. Eve Polastri – Killing Eve
7. Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)
8. Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Some of these I have watched, some of them I haven’t (but they are on my ever-growing ‘to watch’ list).
If you know any more badass female characters that you love, let me know in the comments below.
Cerys x
