# Greatest female action star? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692 "2010-08-09T11:04:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/21 "2010-08-09T15:30:51Z")
Seconding Pam Grier. Just saw “Jackie Brown” last night. Dayumn. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/22 "2010-08-09T15:35:34Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I liked Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but I don’t think she’s done anything else memorable. (Of course, I haven’t seen Salt.) Salt certainly qualifies Ms. Jolie in the action move genre, along with Wanted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith & Lara Croft. Kung Fu Panda, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/23 "2010-08-09T15:38:44Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Michelle Yeoh, definitely. Seconded. Nobody (certainly no American) really comes close. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/24 "2010-08-09T15:47:43Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I know it feels like she was in a dozen movies just like it, but Ultraviolet is the only one set in a dystopian future where she goes up against an evil corporation. Well, the Resident Evil stuff kind of fits the bill. It has the Umbrella Corporation and by the third sequel it’s rather “dystopian futurey”. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/25 "2010-08-09T15:59:38Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > > > I know it feels like she was in a dozen movies just like it, but Ultraviolet is the only one set in a dystopian future where she goes up against an evil corporation. > > Well, the Resident Evil stuff kind of fits the bill. It has the Umbrella Corporation and by the third sequel it’s rather “dystopian futurey”. I guess if you want to get all technical. But the movies are more Alice versus zombies than Alice versus Umbrella. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/26 "2010-08-09T16:01:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > > > This discussion only needs one name and its Sigourney Weaver. > > Weaver does seem like the obvious choice with the Alien series and the first two being so great. > > As a bonus we have Galaxy Quest (1999) … [Gwen DeMarco](http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0008365/) Don’t forget Dana Barrett, aka [The Gatekeeper](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087332/). And of course, who could forget the third Alien movie? No, not that David Lynch schlock, but [Alienses](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbu053_sigourney-weaver-in-alienses_fun) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/27 "2010-08-09T16:20:38Z")
> [@](#): > > This discussion only needs one name and it’s Sigourney Weaver. Agreed. We’re really just arguing about second place, here. And don’t forget that she was in _Avatar_, too (though her role didn’t get as much action). On Angelina Jolie, she also had an action role in _Sky Captain_. I’d probably place her at #2 among American action actresses, but she’s far behind Weaver. And I specify “American” because I’m not too familiar with Yeoh’s portfolio. ---
**Author:** ![darkgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@darkgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darkgoddess)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/28 "2010-08-09T16:47:56Z")
Sigourney Weaver is second place; here are a few of Pam Grier’s movies Hit Man 1972 Black Mama, White Mama 1973 Coffy 1973 Scream Blacula Scream 1973 Foxy brown 1974 Sheba baby 1975 Friday Foster 1975 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/29 "2010-08-09T17:13:00Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > > > I liked Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but I don’t think she’s done anything else memorable. (Of course, I haven’t seen Salt.) > > Salt certainly qualifies Ms. Jolie in the action move genre, along with Wanted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith & Lara Croft. Kung Fu Panda, not so much. Let’s not forget her first starring role in that masterpiece of fine cinema, _Cyborg 2_ ;). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/30 "2010-08-09T17:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Sigourney Weaver is second place; here are a few of Pam Grier’s movies You don’t support the claim you made in the first clause, and I don’t see why the second clause is relevant. Are you suggesting Pam Grier as a candidate for 53rd place? And who are you claiming is the top? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/31 "2010-08-09T17:37:40Z")
I was sure Jenna Jamieson would be in here somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/32 "2010-08-09T17:42:58Z")
Sigourney Weaver, with a close runner up of Linda “watch me rack this shotgun one-handed” Hamilton, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/33 "2010-08-09T17:56:43Z")
> [@darkgoddess](#): > > Sigourney Weaver is second place; here are a few of Pam Grier’s movies > Hit Man 1972 > Black Mama, White Mama 1973 > Coffy 1973 > Scream Blacula Scream 1973 > Foxy brown 1974 > Sheba baby 1975 > Friday Foster 1975 I have seen Black Mama, White Mama; Coffy; Scream Blacula Scream; Foxy brown & Friday Foster. You know what, she is no Ripley in any of them and the movies themselves are pretty bad. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/34 "2010-08-09T19:56:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > This discussion only needs one name and it’s Sigourney Weaver. > > Agreed. We’re really just arguing about second place, here. And don’t forget that she was in _Avatar_, too (though her role didn’t get as much action). > > On Angelina Jolie, she also had an action role in _Sky Captain_. I’d probably place her at #2 among American action actresses, but she’s far behind Weaver. And I specify “American” because I’m not too familiar with Yeoh’s portfolio. Doesn’t Gone in 60 Seconds count as action? ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/35 "2010-08-09T20:22:52Z")
I’ll through in Kate Beckinsale (two Underworld movies and Van Helsing) for consideration even though I don’t think she’s the best (though maybe the hottest). ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/36 "2010-08-09T20:33:02Z")
> [@JeffB](#): > > I’ll through in Kate Beckinsale Freudian slip? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/37 "2010-08-09T20:59:09Z")
Michelle Yeoh was what I was thinking before I opened the thread. Also adding in my nominations for Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hamilton, and yes, Geena Davis - she did a very respectable job in _Long Kiss Goodnight_. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/38 "2010-08-09T21:10:14Z")
Not sure if “Skinwalkers” was actiony enough to put her over the 3 threshold - but I want to give honorable mention to Rhona Mitra. Hell, “Doomsday” alone should count as 3! ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/39 "2010-08-09T21:13:35Z")
Came in here to vote Pam Grier. I knew I would be beaten to it. She’s a bad mama! ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692/40 "2010-08-09T21:26:10Z")
Uma Thurman deserves an honorable mention. The _Kill Bill_ movies were memorable, and she also did _Batman and Robin_\* and _The Avengers_. \*Also very memorable - but not in a good way [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-female-action-star/549692.md?page=3)