The Most Daring Sci-Fi & Fantasy Women in Pop Culture

Pop culture is filled with daring and awe-inspiring women. Across sci-fi and fantasy media, especially, these characters eschew genre tropes to stand out and stand tall. They’re loud, proud, and won’t be ignored. Whether they’re intrepid, impulsive, or a mix of the two, these women dare to do what others can’t — or won’t. They’re queens, warriors, captains, and Victors. But they aren’t defined by any of these labels. And they aren’t allowing anyone to kick or keep them down.

Let’s take a look at these incredible characters and roles in television, film, and more below.

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Éowyn (Lord of the Rings)

In The Lord of the Rings, Éowyn is limited by what others make of her womanhood. Her father wants her to stay behind during the war and hide with the children and other women. But Éowyn longs to be a shieldmaiden, to break free of the confines of her gender and royal status. Therefore, she sneaks into battle and actually defeats an allegedly unbeatable enemy — uttering the iconic line, “I am no man” in the same sequence.

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Rose Tyler (Doctor Who)

Rose Tyler remains one of the most important and influential Doctor Who companions. She’s just a regular gal who takes hold of her destiny with inspiring courage. But outside of her role in the show, Rose is also vital to pop culture as a whole. In a time when women were mostly relegated to love interests in “boys club” type series, Rose held her own as a well-rounded individual. She doesn’t get buried under stereotypes or superficial storylines. Bad Wolf, indeed.

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Yennefer of Vengerberg (The Witcher)

Yennefer of Vengerberg from The Witcher is passionate and ambitious. No matter if it’s the book, video game, or television show, Yennefer has always been cunning and ruthless, as well. This mage’s complex and dangerous personality can sometimes get in the way of her relationships. However, those strong traits also make her one of the most powerful characters in the entire series.

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Neytiri (AVATAR)

Nobody’s doing it like Neytiri. A fierce protector of her planet and people, Neytiri refuses to allow the U.S. military to overtake her homeland. Neytiri’s connection to nature also helps the viewer see Pandora with the same love. So, we want Neytiri to succeed in every raid and kill. Yet Neytiri is as compassionate to her allies as she is cruel to her enemies. As AVATAR progresses, we see her pure and overwhelming love for Jake Sully and their children. It’s so nice when a romantic character isn’t one-dimensional.

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Ellen Ripley (Alien)

Anyone who burns a Xenomorph to death with a flamethrower is “daring” in our book. Ellen Ripley of the Alien franchise is an OG badass. She takes on outer space entities on her own. Plus, she squares off against these bloodthirsty creatures while protecting a cat and a kid. Ripley does all this while facing the cold consequences of deep space should she make one wrong move. Now that’s a hero of all time.

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Beau (Critical Role)

Beauregard Lionett tends to rebel against any and all authority figures. Her aggressive yet totally chill demeanor often lands her in the hot seat with her fellow monks in Cobalt Soul. Despite everyone’s distaste for her “impolite” or “difficult” personality, though, this Critical Role character sticks to her principles. She also sticks beside her party, the Mighty Nein, as one of their most skilled and capable warriors.

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Koo Ryeon (Tomorrow)

In the K-drama Tomorrow, Koo Ryeon is a Grim Reaper who defies Heaven and Hell’s norms by starting a squad to save people from suicide. But even before she died, Koo Ryeon dared to do and be more. She often used her status as a noblewoman to protect her people against all odds. Even when her teammates are unsure of Koo Ryeon’s motivation, the audience knows this character always has the less fortunates’ interests at heart.

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Michael Burnham (Star Trek)

Spock’s adopted sister Michael Burnham is a totally atypical protagonist. She isn’t afraid to take risks and subsequently make huge mistakes. Michael also always owns up to her faults and forges ahead despite the adversity and animosity. Calm, collected, capable, and caring, Captain Burnham is one of Star Trek’s finest examples of a Starfleet officer.

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Hera Syndulla (Star Wars)

Hera Syndulla is the epitome of a true rebel. She dares to both love and fight as hard as she can. This Star Wars™ captain is also a loyal friend and an ace pilot.  She revolts against the Empire as well as unchecked authority, going so far as to ignore direct military orders to make her own — often arguably better — calls.

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Lucy Gray Baird (The Hunger Games)

Lucy Gray Baird is District 12’s female tribute. She is a natural performer who famously wrote a song criticizing the Capitol — with rather crass language at that. Lucy also ends up winning the 10th annual Hunger Games, demonstrating that she’s both a singer and a formidable fighter. Her participation sets the stage for future Hunger Games being an arena for both battle and theatrics.

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Nami (One Piece)

Nami from One Piece has a guarded heart, but she still tries to be positive and outgoing whenever she can in the manga, anime, and Netflix’s live-action show. Although she’s forced to lie to her friends and family, she does it for a noble cause and never backs down from the challenge. After all, it takes guts to be hated and know you’re doing the right thing anyway.

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Supergirl (DC)

When she knocks you down, you definitely want to stay there. Super powerful but also super reckless, Kara Danvers is a ticking time bomb of rage tempered only by her compassion. In her newest cinematic iteration, Kara is a bitter party girl drowning her sorrows in booze. Yet a single mission reignites her purpose, kicking off an interstellar adventure that’s sure to exceed expectations.

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Who are the most daring women in sci-fi and fantasy media? Did we miss your personal favorite? Share your picks at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!