It is rare when a woman is cast as a protagonist in a major Hollywood production. Yet, Hollywood has produced multiple films that shine light on strong female characters, and it is imperative that we never forget those characters who inspire us. In honor of Women's History Month, here are just a few.
1. Rey ("Star Wars").
Rey represents female power in a movie franchise mainly dominated by men, and proves that women have the ability to hold great power, which in this case is The Force. Rey is rarely dependent on men for her success.
2. Holly Golightly ("Breakfast at Tiffany’s").
Holly Golightly is your unconventional female protagonist. She’s single, self-sufficient, and the opposite of the archetypal woman often portrayed in the 1960s.
3. Sarah Connor ("The Terminator" series).
Sarah Connor, to put it simply, is a bad***. She’s a warrior who saves the day a countless number of times, illustrating that men aren’t the only heroes in actions films.
4. Mrs. Incredible ("The Incredibles").
Mrs. Incredible is a woman of many talents; not only is she a wonderful mother, but she is the backbone of The Incredibles. She even states at the beginning of the movie that no one should leave all the saving of the world to men, for women.
5. Elle Woods ("Legally Blonde").
Elle Woods may have started off dependent on men, but quickly learns that women have the ability to create their own futures independently. She is a character that exhibits personal feminist growth.
6. Hermione Granger ("Harry Potter" series).
It is pretty obvious that Harry and Ron would have not even survived the first book/movie if it wasn’t for Hermione’s intelligence and wit. She continues to prove the power of women throughout the entire series.
7. Clarice Starling ("Silence of the Lambs").
Clarice is bold, intelligent, admirable and ambitious -- all traits that constitute strong female character. She is the one of the only characters to confront Dr. Hannibal Lechter, and prevails in a male-dominated workforce. She is the quintessential feminist icon.
8. Ripley ("Alien" series).
Ripley is another action heroine bad***. We rarely see women in film portrayed as warriors, but Ripley defies all odds in the "Alien" series as the woman who saves the day, making her a hero everyone can look up to.
9. Cher Horowitz ("Clueless").
Cher Horowitz was every '90s girls' icon in all aspects. She was a woman who thrived off of her individuality and independence. And she looked pretty damn good while doing it.
10. Kat Stratford ("10 Things I Hate About You").
As the sarcastic woman on the list, Kat represents the women who doesn’t conform to anyone’s standards. Even though it is cliché, in the end she proves that you should always be yourself, even in times of doubt.
11. Erin Brockovich ("Erin Brockovich").
Julia Roberts portrays a single mom paralegal who takes down a major corrupt California power company almost singlehandedly. She demonstrates that have the power to do anything they put their mind to in a world dominated by men. The fact that she is a woman in real life makes the film even better.
12. Katniss Everdeen ("The Hunger Games" series).
Katniss, like many women on this list, defies all odds. She wins The Hunger Games using her wit, and is bound by no man, even if the public believes her to be. She is a strong, determined, and ambitious woman who overthrows the corrupt Panem government, and the quintessential movie heroine.
