Strong Females In Film

In new action comedy blockbuster Knight and Day, released in UK cinemas 6th August, Cameron Diaz more than holds her own next to action veteran Tom Cruise.

Cameron is no stranger to the action genre, with her ass-kicking antics in both Charlie's Angels films, as well a memorable and highly-charged dance number in her debut film The Mask.

Diaz's character June follows in the footsteps of other strong females in film, who can fight bad guys just as well, or even better than their male co-stars.

Here we look at ten of the strongest females in cinema to honour Ms Diaz's latest role...

10. Michelle Rodriguez

Rogriguez often showcases her hard attitude in film, showing how she can fit right in with boys such as Vin Diesel, Sam Worthington and Danny Trejo.

She is certainly no stranger to action films, such as Fast and Furious, S.W.A.T , Avatar and in the forthcoming Machete, making her one of the toughest women in films at the moment and probably a long time to come.

9. Mila Jovovich

Jovovich has secured her strong female status with her role as Alice in the Resident Evil series, fighting her fair share of flesh-eating zombies.

In all four films (including the upcoming 3D forth film) she uses fast-thinking and heavy artillery to fend off the unwelcome undead and mutated, which seems to be working out for her as she has a habit of being the sole survivor...

8. Ziyi Zhang

Zhang stunned the world with her epic battles against Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, but really came into her own in House of Flying Daggers.

She effortlessly battles against countless enemies and uses her distinct fighting style to ward off her enemies, making her one of cinema's strongest females.

7. Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymoore & Lucy Liu

Best known together as Charlie's Angels, these tough ladies revamped the iconic TV series and set out to prove that they cannot be beaten. 

With their unmeasured strength, knowledge and beauty, the Angels are unlike any other crime fighting trio and are definitely three of the toughest girls in Hollywood.

6. Demi Moore

Demi received great acclaim for her portrayal of Jordan O'Neill (AKA G.I Jane), the determined young woman out to prove she was just as capable and deserved to be in the Navy as much as any man.

With that iconic haircut and tough attitude she showed Hollywood she wasn't just a pretty face and could be just as strong as the guys.

5. Linda Hamilton

In just one role, Linda Hamilton managed to cement herself as one of the most iconic leading ladies in the sci-fi and action genres. In The Terminator, Hamilton starred as Sarah Connor, a young single woman that is hunted down by a cyborg from the future.

However, in the second film of the franchise we see that Sarah Connor has been transformed from a woman in peril and into a fearless soldier, who will go to any cost to protect her son - using a barrage of weapons along the way.

4. Sigourney Weaver

Weaver had to face gruesome extra-terrestrials in the Alien Quadrilogy, which propelled her to leading lady status in Hollywood. Her role as Ellen Ripley evolved from surviving crew member in the first film, to the cloned Alien/human hybrid in the fourth film.

Along with her possessed role in Ghostbusters, Weaver is a bonafide Sci-fi Heroine, which has been reinforced recently by her role in James Cameron’s Avatar as Dr Grace Augustine.

3. Uma Thurman

Thurman's lady vengeance, The Bride, in Kill Bill parts 1 and 2 shows the audience just how brutal women can be in films. In the films the character has to go up against foes such as Darryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox and Lucy Liu - mastering weapons such as knives, katanas and a Firestar.

The actress managed to do a large portion of her own stunts, positioning Thurman as one of the most versatile action-women in film.

2. Carrie Ann Moss - The Matrix series

Moss' instantly recognisable character Trinity in the Matrix trilogy is one of the strongest female roles in cinema.

She brazenly battles whoever she needs to in the war between man and machine, and her memorable fight scenes have been referenced (and copied) in many recent films, although nothing can beat the original fearless female.

1. Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie epitomises the Hollywood strong female, with most of her film roles involving a lot of gun-slinging and combat scenes, all while looking gorgeous.

The actress is best known as the cinematic translation of gaming icon Lara Croft in the two Tomb Raider films, but also showcased her action chops in Wanted, alongside James McAvoy, and Mr & Mrs Smith with husband Brad Pitt. 

Knight and Day is released in UK cinemas on 6th August.