Favorite strong female characters of the past decade?

[OutOfBoose]

I'm curious what characters people liked. What characters were done right.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

By "strong" I'm going to assume you mean powerful badasses instead of their depth of character. Those aren't mutually exclusive by any stretch, but I imagine you aren't looking some good dramatic roles with little action or power. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me.

The first that immediately come to my mind are the duo of Ryuko Motoi and Satsuki Kiryuin from Kill la Kill. Anime may not count here, but that would truthfully be my answer as they are probably my favorite female action characters since Beatrix Kiddo. They are strong (but not invincible) and driven, and the way their arcs play out had me caring more about them and their fates then any other female lead in the past decade.

And most of my other favorites are also from television as opposed to film. Dolores Abernathy (Westworld), Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones), Jessica Jones, and Lagertha (Vikings) are others near the top of my list.

For film, I liked Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Rey, and Harley Quinn.

And finally I will throw in a couple of video game examples, as it can be a source of really good characters these days now that games are becoming more movie-like. Ellie (The Last of Us), Chloe Frazier (Uncharted), Laura S. Arseid (Trails of Cold Steel), and Evie Frye (Assassin's Creed: Syndicate) are ones I really liked.

 

[THORin]

Definitely Lagertha, Arya and Sansa Stark (and Olenna Tyrell for good measure), Wonder Woman, Daisy Johnson a.k.a. Quake, Captain Marvel, Shuri, all of the women of Sense8 but especially Nomi Marks, Rey and Leia (and Admiral Holdo), Maureen Robinson from Netflix’s Lost In Space, Grace and Frankie...there’s too many to count.

 

[terry78]

I feel like they have to not only be strong but have flaws to boot.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Definitely Lagertha, Arya and Sansa Stark (and Olenna Tyrell for good measure), Wonder Woman, Daisy Johnson a.k.a. Quake, Captain Marvel, Shuri, all of the women of Sense8 but especially Nomi Marks, Rey and Leia (and Admiral Holdo), Maureen Robinson from Netflix’s Lost In Space, Grace and Frankie...there’s too many to count.

Oh yeah, I definitely liked Olenna. Being played by Diana Rigg didn't hurt either.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Aside from the characters mentioned above, I'll add Okoye and the Dora Milaje, Black Widow, Gamora and Nebula.

On the TV side of things, for sure Olivia Pope from Scandal. She was fun.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

For their look and curriculum vitae : Lagertha and Daenaris
For her physical feats and toned body : Lara Croft (Viskender)
For her attitude and gun skills : Shaw from POI
In a video game : Lara Croft (the reboot) for the pain she can suck up and her resolve.

 

[OutOfBoose]

By "strong" I'm going to assume you mean powerful badasses instead of their depth of character. Those aren't mutually exclusive by any stretch, but I imagine you aren't looking some good dramatic roles with little action or power. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me.

Anything you put into "strong". It can mean "compelling", "fleshed out" if you like. Strong-willed is also a strong character. It doesn't necessary mean ass-kickery or physical power. They can have sharp tongues and wit. I probably should just rename the thread into "favorite female characters of the last decade".

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Viola Davis' interpretation of Amanda Waller was also a favorite.

 

[Silvermoth]

I really love Elsa from frozen and Wonder Woman of course. Also Blake lively in the shallows

 

[jmc]

That’s a very broad question, strength comes in many forms. I’m kinda actually tired of the term strong female character. I just like good female characters.

 

[Boom]

Alicia Vikander as Ava (Ex Machina)
Amy Adams as Louise Banks (Arrival)
Charlize Theron as Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Gal Gadot as Diana (Wonder Woman)
Jessica Chastain as Maya (Zero Dark Thirty)
Lupita Nyong'o as Adelaide Wilson and Red (Us)
Natalie Portman as Lena (Annihilation)
Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers (Black Swan)
Sally Hawkins as Eliza Esposito (The Shape of Water)

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Since this is the movie forum:

Genre fiction (2010-2019)
Furiosa (Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road)
Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)
Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games series)
Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander in Tomb Raider)
Lena (Natalie Portman in Annihilation)
Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit)
Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho in Moana)
Nina (Natalie Portman in Black Swan)
Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman)
and many more...

 

[Boom]

Also, I don't know if I'd call them "strong" characters considering they were ultimately victims of grief and trauma, but these two were titanic performances and two of my favorites for the decade across the board:

Florence Pugh as Dani (Midsommar)
Toni Collette as Annie Graham (Hereditary)

 

[Enriquespy]

Aun Violet from Downtown Abbey and Prof. Mcgonagall from Harry Potter. Cause Maggie Smith is a Badass.

Judy Dench as M in the James Bond Films. Same thing.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Charlize Theron as Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Can't believe I forgot about this one.

 

[Fincher]

I probably should just rename the thread into "favorite female characters of the last decade".

Favorite movie characters:

1. Queen Ravenna (Snow White and the Huntsman/Winter's War)
2. Daisy (How I Live Now)
3. Rapunzel (Tangled)
4. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games series)
5. Black Widow (MCU)
6. Yukio (The Wolverine)
7. Kate Lloyd (The Thing)
8. Lorraine Broughton (Atomic Blonde)
9. Mystique (X-Men prequels)
10. Johanna Mason (The Hunger Games series)
11. Mera (Aquaman)
12. Rey (Star Wars)
13. Tree Gelbman (Happy Death Day series)
14. Jyn Erso (Rogue One)
15. Psylocke (X-Men: Apocalypse)

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I left off any “real people” in a biopic of sorts. Just felt odd to comment on them as a “character”." Only doing movie characters, because this is the movie section. Also limiting it to 25, or I will be here all day. Oh and I know I missed someone. I always do:

Spoiler

1. Rey

2. Hermione Granger

3. The March Sisters

4. Gretta

5. Anna and Elsa

6. Judy Hopps

7. Lady Bird

8. Lisbeth Salander

9. Ramona Flowers

10. Laura

11. Kate Macer

12. Ellis Lacey

13. Peggy Carter

14. Hanna

15. Furiosa

16. Merida

17. Belle

18. Carol Danvers

19. Rita Vrataski

20. Diana Prince

21. Ariadne

22. Sam

23. Lucy Moro

24. Frances Halladay

25. Murphy Cooper

 

[Black Narcissus]

 

[Luigi]

Off the top of my head:

Ilsa Faust (Mission: Impossible)
Tree Gelbman (Happy Death Day)
Nancy Adams (The Shallows)
Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Rita Vrataski (Edge of Tomorrow)
Erin (You're Next)
Yukio (The Wolverine)
Diana Prince (Wonder Woman)
Ava (Ex Machina)
Alita (Alita: Battle Angel)
Black Widow (MCU)
Eliza Esposito (The Shape of Water)

 

[CJ]

Black Widow. Can't believe it took nearly a decade for her to get a solo film.

 

[OutOfBoose]

-Kate Macer (Sicario). As far as realistic portrayals go, she's among my favorites. Despite special training, she's still behind males raw strength. Courage and smarts help her get to the truth of things, idealist world view and lack of specific experience get her in life-threatening trouble. It's just really exciting to follow a complex character like this. And Blunt's performance is so good.

-Furiosa (Fury Road). A really great action heroine. Not infallible, we can clearly see limits of her abilities. There's humanity to her, conveyed through both storytelling and impressive acting by Charlize Theron.

-Lara Croft (Vikander). Pretty good example of an action heroine. She's like a female version of John McClane. I really want to see more of this Lara (if done as good). And it's really bizarre for me because prior to seeing this film I had nothing but contempt for the idea of stepping away from the classic portrayal of the character. Vikander added vulnerability and girl-next-door type of vibe to her.

-Lisbeth Salander (Mara). Faithful adaptation and very nice performance. She's a bit on mary sue side of things, as she's great at nearly everything but relationships, yet strong storytelling makes up for it. She's constantly underestimated and taken advantage of in a very cruel manner.

-Olenna Tyrell (Game of Thrones). Many great characters were damaged/ruined by later seasons of GoT, but Olenna was among very few lucky who survived that nonsense. It's also quite rare to see awesome elderly female characters, so it's also a bonus. Its really hard to play a cocky character without coming off as very unlikable or overconfident in annoying way, but Diana Rigg absolutely aced it.

There's probably more, but these come to mind first. Supeheroic females were rather disappointing one way or another. I'm yet to see one I will truly like.

 

[psylockolussus]

Tv:
Danielle Staub
Meredith Grey
Olivia Pope
Annaliese Keating
Addison Montgomery
Cristina Yang
Betty Suarez
Juliet Burke
Emily Thorne

Movie:
Sophie Sheridan
Natasha Romanoff
Diane Prince
Mera
Evelyn Salt
Ilsa Fault
Cinderella
Rapunzel

 

[Schlosser85]

I'll give a shout-out to Imperator Furiosa and Lisbeth Salander.

 

[THORin]

OMG how could I have forgotten the March sisters! Yes to them.