The Seven Greatest Female Action Heroes

The recent release of Steven Soderbergh’s Haywire, starring MMA fighter Gina Carano, was as notable for its A-List cast and crew as it was for the casting of an actress not named Jolie in the lead role. As such, it got us to thinking: How many true female Action Heroes are there?

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The billowing sheet never stood a chance.

5. Jennifer Garner
Garner is the one exception to the Big Screen versus small screen parameter laid out above. Her title role in Elektra (2005) would likely earn her a place next to Charlize Theron in the ranks of “one more should do it.” Likewise, had she only flexed her life-snuffing muscles as Sydney Bristow in J.J. Abrams’ Alias, she’d be eliminated due to 2012’s historic and completely fictitious Female Action Heroes List v. Buffy, Xena, et al. Supreme Court ruling. But Elektra plus Alias—along with the near certainty Garner probably turned down 50 Action Hero roles before Afflecking—allow her a place on the list.