Ab initio, I want to throw Hanoi Jane off this list completely, solely because Barbarella, IMO, does more harm to the genre than good. But that's just me.
Susan Ivanova should've been higher. Like #1. Again, that's just me. ---------[ Received Mail Content ]---------- Subject : [scifinoir2] The 25 Women Who Shook Sci-Fi Date : Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:09:40 -0700 From : "Tracey de Morsella" <tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com> To : "Aradia \(Rae\) Corenti" <aradia....@gmail.com>, <scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com>, <ggs...@yahoo.com>, <cinque3...@verizon.net>, "'Curtis, Jr.'" <ccke...@sbcglobal.net>, "'Sincere'" <sincere1...@gmail.com>, "'julia demorsella'" <juliai...@yahoo.it> http://totalscifionline.com/features/3566-the-25-women-who-shook-sci-fi The sci-fi and fantasy genres have been marked by many iconic heroines. Some are striking for their leadership and bravery, others for their incredible sexiness, many for both. Following lengthy debate, Total Sci-Fi now reveals the 25 most important SF & fantasy heroines of all time. We've limited ourselves to TV and film - SF and fantasy literature probably warrants a further list all of its own - and in those instances where multiple actresses have portrayed a character, weve written who we believe gave the most definitive performance in brackets. No doubt there are many characters you feel weve left off, so drop us a line at dwsc...@titanemail.com and let us know! 1) ELLEN RIPLEY (Sigourney Weaver, Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/ripley.jpg Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromos encounter with the acid-blooded menace, isnt just one of the most iconic female characters of the genre, shes one of the most iconic characters in cinema history. An appealing combination of toughness, self-reliance, vulnerability and sexiness, Ripley is far from a conventional damsel in distress. New layers were added to the character in Aliens, which saw Ripley proving to be tougher and smarter than a unit of marines, yet still finding time to form a motherly bond with Newt. The two subsequent sequels added even more dimensions, leading to one of the most critically analysed characters in the history of cinema. Interestingly, the character was originally written as a male role, but 20th Century Fox executive Alan Ladd, Jr suggested they change Ripley to become female to make the protagonist stand out in a male- dominated genre. 2) BUFFY SUMMERS (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/buffypanel.jpg Popular high-school cheerleader, gifted student and world class vampire slayer Is there no end to Buffys talents? Though it was Kristy Swanson who took the titular role in the 1992 movie, it was Sarah Michelle Gellars portrayal of the inspirational action heroine that really made an impression over seven series of the TV show. 3) STARBUCK (Katee Sackhoff, Battlestar Galactica) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/bsgstarbuck1.jpg Original BSG actor, Dirk Benedict, was reportedly none-too-happy that Starbuck had been changed into a woman for the reimagined show (click here r-castration> to read the Dreamwatch interview with the actor). But in fact the new Starbuck proved to be a far more complex, intriguing character than the original. Strong-willed, funny, hot-headed yet, at times, oddly vulnerable, Sackhoff turns Starbuck into a truly mesmerising figure. 4) DANA SCULLY (Gillian Anderson, The X-Files) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/gilliananderson.jpg FBI agent Dana Scully is less of an action heroine than some of the other figures here. But what she lacks in kickboxing prowess she makes up for in cool reason and dogged detective work, and its fascinating to watch her sceptical views challenged to their limits over the course of nine seasons. Last years film I Want to Believe may have been a tad underwhelming, but it was still a welcome opportunity to see Scully again. 5) SARAH CONNOR (Linda Hamilton, Terminator, T2) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/lindahamilton.jpg When we first see Sarah Connor in The Terminator, shes an everyday, slightly timid waitress. But being pursued by an unstoppable cyborg from the future is enough to alter anyone, and by T2 shes very different: a muscle-bound, single-minded action heroine trained in survivalist skills. Linda Hamilton keeps this transformation entirely believable, though Lena Headey also offered an interesting take on the character in The Sarah Connor Chronicles. 6) PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA (Carrie Fisher, Star Wars) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/slaveleia.jpg The much-loved female lead of the original Star Wars trilogy went through a great many looks and styles (as the various Kenner figures play testament to): theres the composed, prim and proper Princess that we see at the start of Episode IV; theres the prickly, romantic gal who falls for Han; theres the gun-wielding heroine on Hoth and, of course, theres the slave girl Leia that fanboys will never forget. Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequels doesnt even come close. 7) ROSE TYLER (Billie Piper, Doctor Who) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/billie1.jpg Out of all the new Whos companions, it is indisputably Rose Tyler who has had the most impact on both fans and the Doctor himself. The plucky young woman is one of the rare companions to fall for the Doctor, while the Doctor is unable to get over losing her in the second series. Thankfully, it isnt the last we see of the shopgirl-turned-deity... 8) SAM CARTER (Amanda Tapping, Stargate SG-1) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/amandatapping1.jpg Colonel Carter is both scientist and soldier, meaning she boasts an unbeatable combination of brains and brawn. Shes also a character of warmth and integrity, and over the course of 10 seasons of Stargate SG-1, two TV movies and later series of Stargate Atlantis, we really get to know her. 9) NYOTA UHURA (Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/uhura.jpg The Enterprises foremost female, communications officer Uhura, was also one of televisions first major black characters, locking lips with Captain Kirk in American TVs first interracial kisses and emblematic of Gene Roddenberrys overriding message of racial harmony. 10) LEELOO (Milla Jovovich, The Fifth Element) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/leeloo.jpg The image of Leeloo, clad in white strips and boasting flame-red hair, hanging off of a ledge above 23rd Century LA remains one of science fiction cinemas most arresting moments. Jovovichs character holds the key to saving Earth no less, and combines an alluring sense of mystery with an unbeatable sexiness. 11) CLAIRE BENNET (Hayden Panettiere, Heroes) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/heroesdual.jpg Claire Bear might look like your typical high school cheerleader, but, as we soon find out, she possesses a very unusual skill - rapid cellular regeneration. In other words it seems she cant die, which is just as well, as shes broken and burned in a variety of ways across consecutive episodes. 12) STORM (Halle Berry, X-Men) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/storm.jpg The weather-controlling member of the X-Men was always one of the most popular heroes of the Marvel comic book, and she got the movie incarnation she deserved in the form of Halle Berry. 13) PRIS (Daryl Hannah, Blade Runner) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/pris.jpg She can do ultra-quick cartwheels across apartments! She can pull boiling eggs out of a saucepan with her bare hands! She can crush a mans head with her thighs! Could this robot woman be any more sexy? No. 14) CATWOMAN (Michelle Pfeiffer, Batman Returns) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/catwoman.jpg Fans will always debate whether the Julie Newmar or Michelle Pfeiffer incarnation of Catwoman is the sexiest (unsurprisingly, there are few champions for the Halle Berry incarnation), but were plumping for the Pfeiffer version. The actress imbued the villain with an irresistible mischievousness, while few people are likely to forget that PVC catsuit 15) BARBARELLA (Jane Fonda, Barbarella) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/barbarella1.jpg Posters of the scantily-clad space heroine still adorn bedrooms and living rooms everywhere, while the title sequence in which Barbaralla undresses in zero gravity was iconic enough to be referenced in a Kylie Minogue video. 16) KATHRYN JANEWAY (Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/janeway.jpg Star Treks first female lead is a strong-willed, determined captain wholl stop at nothing in her attempt to get her crew back to the Delta Quadrant. She later becomes promoted to Starfleet Vice Admiral. 17) MIKAELA BANES (Megan Fox, Transformers) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/meganfox1.jpg Admittedly, Megan Foxs character is probably the worlds most unlikely mechanic. And its debatable whether Miss Banes would be remotely memorable with any other actress else in the role. But thanks to images like the much-reproduced one above, movie fans everywhere cant wait to get another glimpse of Mikaela in Revenge of the Fallen. 18) SUSAN IVANOVA (Claudia Christian, Babylon 5) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/claudiachristian.jpg Babylon 5s XO (later Captain, then General) was always a fascinating, multi-layered sort: honest and loyal to her ship and crewmates, often hot-headed but always appealing. In fact, Ivanova was arguably B5s most engaging human character during its entire run. 19) NUMBER SIX (Tricia Helfer, Battlestar Galactica) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/numbersix.jpg The blonde, leggy Number Six first appears as the Cylon who manipulates Dr Baltar into stealing secrets that help the Cylons destroy Caprica. After that she appears as Baltars sexy, advice-spewing vision, before the introduction of other Sixes who add surprising new dimensions to the character. 20) SARAH JANE SMITH (Elisabeth Sladen, The Sarah Jane Adventures / Doctor Who) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/elisabethsladen1.jpg The shrewd investigative journalist of The Sarah Jane Adventures first popped up as the Third Doctors assistant in The Time Warrior and went on to accompany the Fourth Doctor on his jaunts. The SJA proved the character was strong enough to warrant a series of her own, and saw Sarah Jane develop a newfound motherly instinct. 21) WILLOW ROSENBERG (Alyson Hannigan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/willow.jpg Aside from its titular heroine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer boasted plenty of other strong female roles, and one of the most popular was Buffys pal, Willow. The character went through some interesting developments over the course of the show, including studying witchcraft and eventually coming out as a lesbian. 22) WONDER WOMAN (Lynda Carter, Wonder Woman) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/wonderwoman.jpg The DC Amazon heroine earned herself a hugely popular series in the late 70s, with former beauty pageant winner Carter playing the Nazi-kicking, alien-busting gal in Stars and Stripes hotpants. 23) XENA (Lucy Lawless, Xena: Warrior Princess) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/xena.jpg We first saw Xena as a violent warlord in three episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, before the kick-ass warrior earned her own popular series in which she battled evil in ancient Greece. 24 ) SYDNEY BRISTOW (Jennifer Garner, Alias) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/sydney.jpg J.J. Abramss spy-fi drama sees the tough but charming Sydney recruited as a double agent by the CIA. Over six seasons, Sydney proved herself to be a high-kicking action heroine and multi-linguist who undergoes many traumas including the death of her fiancée in the opening episode. 25) MARINA (Stingray) http://images.totalscifionline.com/images/content/marina.jpg Arguably the most striking female Supermarionation character (yes, even above Lady Penelope), Marina is a mute slave girl who rescues the Stingray team and later becomes part of the crew. She was modelled on Brigitte Bardot, and was the subject of the unforgettable closing credit song, Aqua Marina. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
