20 inspiring and powerful women of fiction

Watching movies, series and other works of fiction, in addition to being a good way of entertainment, can also be a great way of learning. Many characters built in films and series captivate precisely because they make viewers identify, learn and be inspired by their stories and actions.

The construction of female characters in works of fiction, not infrequently, reproduces stereotypes about women – representing them as fragile beings, in danger, waiting to be saved, competing with each other (usually for a man), among other standards that are very visible. However, some works with strong, well-constructed and inspiring female characters are there to break this rule.

Often, following a series or watching a movie with strong female characters makes women identify and, thus, feel motivated to resist problems and find their strength from identification with the character. See below 20 powerful female characters to entertain and, at the same time, be inspired by their struggles, stories and overcoming:

1. Cristina Yang – Grey’s Anatomy

Cristina Yang is a heart surgeon played by Sandra Oh. This character is strong and inspiring for being an excellent professional who spares no effort to get where she wants to be. Although she goes through many tribulations in her personal life, she never lets it get in the way of her work. Self-confidence and perseverance are words that define Cristina.

2. Hermione Granger – Harry Potter

Hermione is without a doubt the most beloved witch in fiction. Played by Emma Watson, the character has admirable qualities of strength, intelligence, wit and especially solidarity. The character, even in big battles, spares no effort to help loved ones. Even though she is a muggle-born witch (born without magical powers), she is one of the strongest characters in the Harry Potter saga.

3. Katniss Everdeen – The Hunger Games

The character played by Jennifer Lawrence in the Hunger Games trilogy is a symbol of strength and resistance to the oppression of the place where she lives. Katniss fights for what she believes in and throughout the trilogy she seeks to protect her loved ones and fight what she considers unfair and abusive.

4. Matilda – Matilda

Matilda is a little girl of approximately 8 years old, played by Mara Wilson in the film of the same name. Throughout the plot, Matilda faces the challenges of having irresponsible parents and studying at a school whose director is a cold and mean woman. In the midst of so many difficulties, the girl reveals to be very intelligent, full of desire to learn and solidarity with everyone around her.

5. Daenerys Targaryen – Game Of Thrones

Daenerys is just one of the strong female characters in the Game Of Thrones books and series. Played by Emilia Clarke in the series, the biggest lesson that the character has to teach is not letting go of desires and not giving in to male pressures. Daenerys is also generous and an example of a leader who fights for the well being of her people.

6. Jane Eyre – Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is a character in the book and film of the same name, in which she is played by Mia Wasikowska. The character challenges the standards of the time in which the story takes place and questions the roles to which women are subjected. The character inspires with her trajectory and shows that women can be independent and achieve success through their own efforts.

7. Marquise de Merteuil – Dangerous Liaisons

A character from the book and film Dangerous Liaisons, Marquise de Merteuil, who is played by Glenn Close, is inspiring for not letting society trace its destiny. After the death of her husband, the character seeks to build her reputation in a time full of challenges, in which women lived on the margins of their husbands.

8. Galadriel – Lord Of The Rings

Galadriel is a character in the Lord of the Rings film and book trilogy. The character, who is played by Cate Blanchett in the films, is strong and willful. She is gifted with the power to read minds, but she always uses her gift wisely and judges others with mercy and compassion.

9. Josey Aimes – Terra Fria

Josey Aimes is played by Charlize Theron in the film Terra Fria (North Country), based on a true story. Josey is a strong woman who leaves her husband because of the various physical and psychological abuse she suffered and leaves in search of a job to support her two children. The character finds a job in a mining company, a place composed mostly of men. Throughout the story, Josey struggles with the harassment she suffers from co-workers and her fight results in the first class action for sexual harassment in the US.

10. Trinity – Matrix

Trinity is played by Carrie-Annie Moss and appears in the Matrix film trilogy. The character is a skilled hacker, who performs true feats in the field of computing. In addition, she has talent in martial arts and in driving vehicles, activities often considered male-only.

11. Princess Merida – Brave

Merida is the first Disney princess to feature curly, loose hair, which is a huge empowering factor for curly women and girls. During the plot, the princess struggles against the rules imposed by the society in which she lives. The princess refuses to exercise standards of femininity, act like a princess and marry only out of obligation.

12. Shoshanna Dreyfus – Inglourious Basterds

Shoshanna is played by Mélanie Laurent. During the plot of Inglourious Basterds, Shoshanna reveals herself to be a strong, decisive, brave woman who pursues her goals with ingenuity.

13. Elizabeth Bennet – Pride and Prejudice

The character Elizabeth Bennet, played by Keira Knightley, is inspiring for refusing social pressures and staying single until she finds someone she loves. During the film, which is inspired by the book of the same name by the writer Jane Austen, Elizabeth remains firm and strong in her decision not to marry just for interest, even though this is the only way to change her poor social status.

14. Claire Underwood – House Of Cards

Cold, calculating and ambitious are characteristics of the character Claire Underwood played by Robin Wright. Claire always wants more power and does the impossible to achieve what she wants. Not even the character’s own husband dares to try to stop her from achieving her goals.

15. Maleficent – Maleficent

Maleficent, the classic villain from the story of Sleeping Beauty, in this film is played by Angelina Jolie. During the plot the character is portrayed with less villainous traits and more human traits, with flaws and qualities. Like anyone else, Maleficent makes mistakes and tries to repair the damage, showing that it’s never too late to change. The character is also inspired by the act of sisterhood with Bela.

16. Annalize Keating – How To Get Away With Murder

Powerful, sexy, ambitious and determined; thus the character Annalize, played by Viola Davis, can be described. Annalize is a professor in law school, famous for handling difficult cases and most of the time winning. Persuasive and direct, the character always gets the answers she wants.

17. Claireece “Preciosa” Jones – Preciosa

Preciosa is a young black woman, poor and fat, who suffers sexual abuse from her father and is neglected by her mother. The character, who is played by Gabourey Sidibi, sees a chance to change her life by being sent to an alternative school. The character is inspiring for finding, even in the greatest difficulties, opportunities to move forward and continue dreaming of a better future.

18. Alice – Resident Evil

Alice is played by Milla Jovovich in the Resident Evil film franchise. During the plot that takes place in 5 films, a virus that turns people into zombies escapes the hands of a powerful company and Alice fights for the virus to reach as few people as possible, even if she has to risk her own life to do so. .

19. Imperator Furiosa – Mad Max

Played by Charlize Theron, this character is a born visionary and leader. Throughout the story, the character saves several other characters and always puts the well-being of others as a priority.

20. Michonne – The Walking Dead

Michonne is played by Danai Gurira and appears in the third season of the series, which is currently in its sixth season. The series is set in a reality where a virus has hit the whole world turning people into zombies and unaffected people do what they can to survive. Michonne, who survived for a long time alone, when encountering a group of people uses all her strength and intelligence to keep everyone safe.

Whether in fantastic, apocalyptic or very similar universes to our reality, these 20 characters show that being strong is a woman’s thing. And do you have a favorite female character that you are inspired by?