There was a time when female characters were most frequently relegated to the role of damsel in distress in action films and television. It was rare to come across a female character with a physically strong role.
Even today it is a struggle for female actors to get strong action roles, but there are a few gems out there. These women are emotionally strong and confident, but they can also kick butt . They know their crafts well and let the men who work with them know they are not just pretty faces or little girls in need of rescuing.
If you take a quick look around the web, there are plenty of references to past shows with obviously tough female characters. Xena: Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Connor (from Terminator), Wonder Woman, and many others who knew how to handle their weapons of choice in the 80s, 90s, and 00s. But a new generation of action heroines have emerged, and this list is a tribute to those who may have been overlooked.
