What do you need to do to give a woman’s character strength? Give him a weapon? Do you want to train a female character in combat skills, or is it something else? Asking this question, directors and writers are constantly trying to create a “strong” woman. And we’re not talking about Wonder Woman right now. Some of us have done it, but it’s a little bit lower. Most people don’t.
It’s important to understand that the concept of “strong” in cinema is far from physiology. A strong female character is about how well the character is written, the importance of her role in the film, and about herself: brave, belligerent, intelligent and cunning.
It is about these characters that we will talk about below. Let’s go.
Joan of Arc (Milla Jovovich)
“The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc” (1999)
IMDb: 6.4
The image of the legendary French warrior heroine has served to create many movies. The brightest, – “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc”, where Joan played already known at that time Milla Jovovich.
The actress embodied a strong and expressive character – a young woman who can not tolerate human cruelty, and therefore decides to act. Undoubtedly, this is the best role of Jovovich, although the film itself is difficult to call successful.
In the year of his release, he completely failed to hire, having collected a little more than $ 60 million with a budget of 85. Not happy and the nomination for Golden Raspberry. Fortunately, the nominations remained nominations, but fame and recognition came later.
Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep)
“The Iron Lady” (2011)
IMDb: 6.4
Margaret Thatcher is considered one of the most famous women politicians on the planet. The interesting thing is that in “The Iron Lady” her role was played by one of the most talented actresses on the planet. The film received mainly mixed reviews, but the game Meryl, in the opinion of most – the only thing that can not be questioned. As proof – Oscar for Best Actress, and with it and for the best makeup. Enough related awards, isn’t it? In any case, Thatcher performed by Streep is a perfect symbiosis of strength, mind and talent. Recommended for viewing.
Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts)
“Erin Brockovich” (2000)
IMDb: 7.3
Erin Brockovich is a well-known American human rights activist who, without a law degree, has proven the guilt of a corporation that pollutes California’s water. In the film of the same name, her role was played by Julia Roberts. And let’s be honest,” she did it at 5+.
Erin Brockovich’s film incarnation has opened up a completely new type of woman to the world, who has all the reasons to be unhappy, but, to everyone’s surprise, she does not plan to give up, and does everything to become happy. This role has brought the actress worldwide recognition, and with it and Oscar for Best Actress. It is worth noting that at the beginning of the film itself Erin Brokovich played a small role as a waitress under the name of Julia R. Ironically, is not it?
Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett)
“Elizabeth” (1998) and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007)
IMDb: 7.5
The image of Queen Elizabeth I can compete with the number of film adaptations, except that her namesake is Queen Elizabeth II. The series “The Crown” confirms this. But the fact remains that the Queen Maiden has been played more than 20 times in the history of cinema. The most vivid performance was made by Cate Blanchett, she played the Queen twice: in “Elizabeth” and “Golden Age”. The first film met with many nominations for Oscar, including the Best Picture and the Best Actress. But the picture took only one, for the Best Makeup. In any case, with or without “Oscar”, the character of young Elizabeth I, stubborn and brave girl who does not even think to break under the pressure of the country and the crown, is still considered to be the benchmark. And the film itself, without getting old, demonstrates the beautiful image of the great queen.
Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock)
“The Blind Side” (2009)
IMDb: 7.7
Based on real events, the sports drama “The Blind Side” will tell the story of Michael Oher, a professional football player.
As a teenager, Michael finds himself without a roof over his head, and by chance, he finds himself in the eyes of Leigh Anne Tuohy. A woman who does not dare to pass by and begins to help the guy. The role of Leigh Anne Tuohy was played by already known at the time of the American actress Sandra Bullock. Bullock game, as well as the film itself, took warmth. In addition, the actress won the “Oscar” in the category “Best Actress”.
As a result, a strong female character does not necessarily have to save the world. In the case of “The Invisible Side”, it is enough to save one teenager, and let’s be honest, it also takes courage.
Grace Mulligan (Nicole Kidman)
“Dogville (2003)
IMDb: 8.0
The top five opens the most controversial film in the list, which, however, was appreciated by critics and viewers.
The main character is a modest girl Grace, who eventually becomes a hostage of her own kindness. The character, of course, is fictional, although it would be more correct to say – collective. After all, everything that is shown in “Dogville” took place during the Great Depression of the 1930s in the United States.
The image of Grace, completely unremarkable in the beginning, and crushing at the end, causes the most vivid range of feelings: sympathy, trust, pity, misunderstanding, indulgence, anger and finally awareness. After the release of the film itself, Nicole Kidman admitted that this role was given to her with great difficulty, we are glad that she did not retreat, and gave the world another strong female character.
Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh)
“Gone With the Wind” (1939)
IMDb: 8.2
In 1939, the film premiered, which is rightly considered the first full-length color film. He won eight Oscar awards, including two honorary ones (Best Film and Best Actress). But, despite all his regalia, generations of viewers, he was remembered for the perfect game of Vivien Leigh. The actress performed the role of Scarlett O’Hara – a strong and arrogant woman, ready for any crime for a good life.
Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton)
“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
IMDb: 8.5
Published in 1984, “The Terminator” showed an example of both qualitative and noir action, the vector of which was directed at the Terminator, as the main antagonist on the one hand, and at the protagonist Kyle Reese, on the other. Sarah Connor, on the other hand, acted as a lover of interest to the protagonist and mother of the savior of mankind. The release of the second film shifted the vector of the protagonists on the Terminator and Sarah, thus giving one of the strongest female characters of the early 2000s.
Sarah Connor from “Terminator 2” can stand up for himself. She gets along with weapons and is physically trained. In addition, she is smart, calculating and a little bit cruel, not the scared girl to be rescued. Her independence contributed to the development of the individuality of the image, which was so lacking in female characters in the 90s.
Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)
“Alien” (1979)
IMDb: 8.5
Before the appearance of the cult “The Terminator” we watched the cult “Alien”, admiring the courage of the main character and the vitality of her cat. It’s hard to say how “Alien” would be perceived now if someone instead of Sigourney Weaver were to play it, but we’re glad that the creators decided to change the usual order of things, taking the lead role of a woman. Simply put, the character of Ellen Ripley, an officer of Nostromo is the embodiment of a brave and intelligent girl responsible for the safety of his team and making quite complex life decisions.
As a result, along with the basics of the genre, “Alien” laid the idea that a strong main character, it is not always a man.
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster)
“The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
IMDb: 8.6
We can praise and praise Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter as much as we want, but even that doesn’t change the fact that his colleague Jodie Foster did just as well.
Immediately after its release, “The Silence of the lambs” stirred up the world cinema so that the awards and recognitions fell as if from the horn of plenty. Huge box office and enthusiastic reviews of critics. Five Oscars in the most prestigious categories. The so-called “Big Five winners” for Best Film, Actor and Actress, Script and Director. But even if the film had won four Oscars instead of five, we wouldn’t have stopped appreciating it. Charming performance of Jody Foster, as a young cadet Clarissa Starling – that’s what we appreciate this film. As well as for the extraordinary courage and intelligence, not always inherent in the characters of this plan. Undoubtedly, the brave Clarice Starling in the house of a maniac, it is one of the strongest female characters in the movie. Bravo.
