Isn’t it empowering seeing striking, fearless women presented on big screens as we seek inspiration from their lives to be just a little bit stronger? Here’s presenting a list of top ten most badass female characters in cinema.
10. Jules Ostin – The Intern
Jules is the founder and CEO of her own fashion e-commerce, ‘About The Fit’ that skyrocketed from zero to zillions in almost no time. She is a successful, working mom with a househusband. We see Jules break normative conventions of gender roles and take bold decisions fighting to protect her career as well as her family. And she’s NOT giving up her hard earned company because of an insecure husband.
9. Samantha White – Dear White People
With a witty and sharp radio show Dear White People and her own published book Ebony and Ivy, Samantha White is a strong, black leader and she will not be pushed away in the corners of her predominantly white school. Talk about being a badass? She isn’t afraid of speaking up for her community and against a racist world that tries to take her voice away and grows as the leader of her school’s black student group.
8. Helen Parr – The Incredibles
You may know her as Elastic Girl, who’s superpower doesn’t only allow her to save the world but also her family. Helen Parr juggles the work of being a superhero and a mother so effortlessly that it almost appears as second nature. With her husband, Bob, being mostly absent, she manages to take care of everything and everyone – from laundry, cleaning, cooking as well as keeping check of three children with superpower, and that is truly incredible.
7. Halley – The Florida Project
A punk-rebel-slattern single mother, Halley probably had Moonee when she was 15. Despite having no formal education, no family support and no safety net, Halley ensures the happiest environment for her 6 year old daughter, right on the outskirts of Disney World. Maybe she isn’t the perfect mother and maybe she even is a bad influence, she loves her daughter like her best friend and makes sure Moonee grows up just as strong and badass as her mother.
6. Dorothea Fields – 20th Century Women
A woman in her mid-50s, single-handedly raising her adolescent son, Jamie, Dorothea is what they call a “cool mom”. She may not attend every soccer match or try too hard to gel with her children’s friends, but she would write you fake notes to stay home from school and teach you the importance of growing up a feminist. She respects her son’s boundaries and understands his need to explore the world. She demands, “Show me this modern world!”, and attempts to make sense of records by Black Flag, The Raincoats and Talking Heads. Not to undermine the equally powerful and fascinating characters of Abbie and Julie, our three 20th century women are here to take over the patriarchal world.
5. Miranda Priestly – The Devil Wears Prada
The icy, fearsome editor of the fashion magazine Runway, Miranda Priestly is not one to joke around with. She is the queen of the fashion industry and her opinion is the only one that matters. Miranda is the no. 1 prototype of the perfect badass boss woman that we all can only dream to be. And well, “that’s all”.
4. Shilpa – Super Deluxe
For someone who’s lived their whole life under one identity, it takes a huge leap of courage to return to their family only to reveal they had been living a lie this whole while. Shilpa returns to her wife and son in hopes to receive the same love she did from her family as a man. Despite being aware of all the stigma around the trans community, and the dangers from the cruel world, Shilpa demands to be accepted for her reality and ever-so happily asks, “Am I beautiful?”. Yes. Yes, you’re stunning!
3. Usha Buaji – Lipstick Under My Burkha
Usha Buaji is a 55 year old widow who takes charge of her sexuality that is still young and alive. Despite being threatened by the constant questions of “log kya kahenge?” (what will people say), or “yeh koi umar hai?” (is this an appropriate age), Buaji reaches out and grabs the love and satisfaction that she needs. With her notable fellow female characters, Buaji, aka Rosy, will change your perspective on older women.
2. Mildred Hayes – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
With a daughter being raped and murdered, and the police not making much effort in finding the culprit, Mildred takes it in her own hands to get the people to listen and the authorities to work. She doesn’t care about resentment from society for her bold actions, which may often take violent turns. But she proves to the world what it means to really want something. Take it from a woman that can get a police officer shaking in the knees.
1. Ma Rainey – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Ma will not lend forward a fake smile to please an ungrateful and selfish white world that will use her for her voice and leave her for trash. She knows her worth and she understands her value and she will not be treated like a third-class citizen. Hate her if you wish to; call her a bitch if you want to; but Ma will extract every penny that the world of blues owes to her and remind everyone, every second of their lives, who the boss is. And need I say, she is the biggest badass in town!
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