Most likeable female lead characters

grizzly · 10-12-2009 5:02am #1

Who would you say are the most likeable female leads in a film. Was talking to a friend about this and couldn't come up with many... (Talking only films were she is the lead character, not co-star).

2Scoops · 10-12-2009 5:06am

Sigourney Weaver in Aliens.

Beruthiel · 10-12-2009 9:44am

Glen Close in Dangerous Liaisons.
She's one of my favourite female actresses.

Basq · 10-12-2009 9:56am

From a quick glance of my DVD collection:

Frances McDormand (Fargo) - instantly likeable!
Jodie Foster (Silence of The Lambs) - a fantastic performance although inevitable outshined by Hopkins.
Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) - very accomplished and likeable performance.

grizzly · 10-12-2009 10:19am

Funny, Sigourney Weaver was my first answer last night. Also, Audrey Tautou in Amélie (although she almost falls into the saccharine side of the sweet scale).

Black Swan · 10-12-2009 10:43am

Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice.

L31mr0d · 10-12-2009 10:48am

It is true though. You'll be scratching your head trying to remember more than a handful of movies with lead females being the main focus of the story. I can think of some but they are spanning the past few decades.

Where as if you where to ask for lead males it would pretty much be every film I've watched recently.

I think the issue with hollywood, when it comes to choosing a female for a lead is that it's often form over function. They'll choose a pretty actress with average acting ability over an excellent actress who looks ordinary. This doesn't seem to be the case with males.

Hank_Jones · 10-12-2009 11:00am

Sigourney Weaver as Ripley would win this one hands down I'd imagine.

Winona Ryder in Heathers would be up there for me as well.

Mr E · 10-12-2009 11:33am

I think Drew Barrymore can be very likeable in her movies (Music & Lyrics, The Wedding Singer). She is more Amelie than Ripley though!

PirateShampoo · 10-12-2009 12:43pm

2Scoops wrote: »

Sigourney Weaver in Aliens.

Seen the thread title and was going to say the exact same thing.

thorbarry · 10-12-2009 12:47pm

I thought the main girl in the dawn of the dead remake was really good

S.M.B. · 10-12-2009 12:54pm

Surely the award would have to go to Amelie Poulain.

DOC09UNAM · 10-12-2009 12:57pm

Megan fox in everything, might not be best actor, but fcuk it she will keep you watching a movie.

amcalester · 10-12-2009 1:02pm

Alabama in True Romance.

Not sure if that qualifies as she was a co-star, but damn she was likeable.

kowloon · 10-12-2009 1:03pm

Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby hasn't been mentioned yet, but she doesn't top Sigourney in Aliens.

omerin · 10-12-2009 1:04pm

Milla Jovovich Fifth Element

L31mr0d · 10-12-2009 1:14pm

I give this thread 1 more page before people just start posting links to images of Megan Fox, Jessica Alba and Charlize Theron.

I really can't think of many films where a lead female would top Sigourney Weaver in Alien. Thelma & Louise maybe?

Actually Geena Davis was very good as the lead in "The Long Kiss Goodnight".

I'd also like to throw Azumi into the mix.

kerash · 10-12-2009 1:22pm

Scarlett Johanssonn in Lost in Translation
Anna Chlumsky in My Girl
Ivana Banquero in Pans Labyrinth
Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill
Carey Mulligan in An Education
(I meant) Juliet Binoche

in Chocolat
Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

DOC09UNAM · 10-12-2009 1:27pm

kerash wrote: »

Scarlett Johanssonn in Lost in Translation
Anna Chlumsky in My Girl
Ivana Banquero in Pans Labyrinth
Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill
Carey Mulligan in An Education
Carrie Anne Moss in Chocolat

+1...

forgot all about uma in kill bill.

Halle berry in Gothika and Monster's ball.

And Scarlett Johanssonn in Girl with a pearl earring.

Maybe stick in Angelina Jolie in Wanted..

and that lead woman in Watchmen.

kerash · 10-12-2009 1:35pm

And dont forget Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's!

S.M.B. · 10-12-2009 1:44pm

I can't believe Ripley is being considered to be the most likeable female lead character. Never thought so myself.

Handsome Bob · 10-12-2009 2:04pm

Marissa Tomei as Cassidy in The Wrestler.

Meryl Streep as Gail in The River Wild

Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie in Jurassic Park

Eirebear · 10-12-2009 2:20pm

S.M.B. wrote: »

I can't believe Ripley is being considered to be the most likeable female lead character. Never thought so myself.

I think the fact that she was the "original" strong female action figure role, makes her the obvious choice for a lot of people.

S.M.B. · 10-12-2009 2:28pm

Eirebear wrote: »

I think the fact that she was the "original" strong female action figure role, makes her the obvious choice for a lot of people.

I guess I just wouldn't equate that with being likeable. To me she was just a chick running around shooting some aliens up.

Eirebear · 10-12-2009 2:42pm

S.M.B. wrote: »

I guess I just wouldn't equate that with being likeable. To me she was just a chick running around shooting some aliens up.

I agree to be honest, but shes also one of the most memorable for that very reason.

Wether that means she was likeable however is a different story

PirateShampoo · 10-12-2009 2:51pm

Natalie Portman as Mathilda in Léon

uncleoswald · 10-12-2009 2:56pm

Yeah are we talking likable as in you'd want to hang out with them or are we talking best female rolls? Ripley does not qualify for the former really.

I'd agree with Marissa Tomei in The Wretler and even in My Cousin Vinnie.

And while Judd Apathow movies usually have horrible lead females I thought yer one from The 70's Show was adorable in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

But they aren't leads so all I can really think of is Amelie.

Otacon · 10-12-2009 2:58pm

How has Sarah Connor [Linda Hamilton] not been mentioned? The transformation from the first to the second Terminator movie was unbelievable! She was awesome.

In fact, think of any James Cameron film and you see strong likeable female characters [not always leads].

S.M.B. · 10-12-2009 3:16pm

And now Sarah Connor? Really?

Faye from Chungking Express would also be up there for me.

speedboatchase · 10-12-2009 3:37pm

Strange picks, Sarah Connor? Uma Thurman in Kill Bill?

If anyone has seen He's Just Not That Into You, Ginnifer Goodwin is absolutely adorable in it. Very girly and naive but a great, lovable character. Also Mila Kunis in Forgetting Sarah Marshall as has been mentioned. Sandra Bullock was fantastic in Speed as well I thought, her character hit all the right notes

Beruthiel · 10-12-2009 3:48pm

Bette Davis in Jezebel. In most of her films actually.
Katharine Hepburn in African Queen. Though I loved her in everthing she did too.

Galvasean · 10-12-2009 3:55pm

L31mr0d wrote: »

I give this thread 1 more page before people just start posting links to images of Megan Fox, Jessica Alba and Charlize Theron.

If people start derailing this thread with pics of 'hawt chicks for the hell of it' their posts will be deleted. (I'll keep the pics)

LZ5by5 wrote: »

Marissa Tomei as Cassidy in The Wrestler.

Meryl Streep as Gail in The River Wild

Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie in Jurassic Park

Good choices. Particularly the last one. (of course, I'm biased)

Kate Winslet's character in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a standout one for me.

marco_polo · 10-12-2009 4:09pm

Clare Danes in most of her films.

(Whats a Terminator 3? I don't understand)

foxyboxer · 10-12-2009 4:33pm

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice.

+1

Did a great job carrying the movie and an oscar nomination to boot.

Juila Roberts in Erin Brokovich. Very likeable.

Nem_e · 10-12-2009 4:42pm

How about Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain, as far as i rember she had the main lead with Renée Zellweger?

2Scoops · 10-12-2009 7:47pm

grizzly wrote: »

(Talking only films were she is the lead character, not co-star).

Don't forget about this bit, half of the above mentioned actresses don't count.

S.M.B. · 10-12-2009 7:55pm

So we're talking about when the sole leading character is female then?

Chihiro in Spirited Away is a lot more likeable than Ripley/Sarah Connor then imo.

The Pontiac · 11-12-2009 1:52am

Diane Keaton in Manhattan
Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking

johnny_ultimate · 11-12-2009 2:02am

Kate Winslet as Clementine in ESOTSM definitely - a fantastic film, nudged even further towards perfection by that wonderful, lovable character. Jim Carrey is great in it, but Winslet is the presence that makes it that bit more special.

Natalie Portman in Garden State - film may be a bit twee (lessened by far inferior imitators since) but her performance as Sam is just great. Her sometimes irritating quirks make her that more believable and likable - not the simple, 'perfect' girl from other rom-coms.

As for lead characters, Wendy of Wendy & Lucy is a character you can't help but instantly have sympathy for.

BopNiblets · 11-12-2009 2:03am

Kristen Bell in Fanboys, slave Liea outfit...

Michelle Monaghan in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was ok.

Kiith · 11-12-2009 8:54am

I'd have to pick Sigourney Weaver as Ripley as well. She was brilliant in the first three aliens. I didnt really like Alien 3, but she was the one good thing in it. Proper, believable and likeable character.

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Natalie Portman in Garden State - film may be a bit twee (lessened by far inferior imitators since) but her performance as Sam is just great. Her sometimes irritating quirks make her that more believable and likable - not the simple, 'perfect' girl from other rom-coms.

I pretty much fell in love with Natalie Portman thanks to Garden State. Brilliant actress, and great looking to boot. She played her part perfectly in it, and is one of the reasons why i love the film as much as i do (along with the fantastic soundtrack).

Blazer · 11-12-2009 9:09am

+ for Natalie Portman..christ even as a kid in Leon she upstaged everyone else in that film.
Sigourney Weaver definitely another one.

jameshayes · 11-12-2009 9:30am

Been mentioned before I know but; Scarlett Johannson in Lost in Translation

Das Kitty · 11-12-2009 9:45am

Beruthiel wrote: »

Bette Davis in Jezebel. In most of her films actually.

Just reminded me of her in All About Eve. Love that character.

Also Shirley McClaine in The Apartment.

Klingon Hamlet · 14-12-2009 10:50pm

Ellen Ripley--awesome to the core.

Sarah Connor--OK batsh!t insane and fairly argumentative, perhaps even a little AANNGGRRYY but also a tough and loving mom, I really liked her. Especially the

Go Kill Dyson bit

. Cold, but for the right reason.

Rachel Dawes V2--I like Gyllenhaal and what she brought to the character, and despite the fact she had very little screentime in DK, her

death really had a ferocious impact

thanks to her presence. I could actually believe Bruce falling head over heels for her and always wanting to be with her.

Selina Kyle--quiet and with severe esteem issues, she gets dumped on by life and everyone in it til she

gets fired...out a window (zing)

and decides to give Gotham a taste of its own medicine. Excellent chemistry with Keaton (they'd a past tryst) and she was tough but vulnerable, and not just a romantic distraction, but actually Wayne's equal in many ways--in fact she often had characters slack-jawed in awe or downright confusion. Very cool.