I don't know about you, but I get a little thrill out of seeing a woman in power. Put a woman in command in a movie or TV show, and suddenly, I'm interested — the only reason I watched all seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager when I really don't like Star Trek is because of Captain Janeway. (Okay, Seven of Nine helped there, too).
In light of the patriotic holiday that is upon us here in the U.S., the recent news that Fox's 24 is considering having a female president on next season, and of course, the '08 election, I thought I'd highlight some of the most powerful fictional women (or fictional takes on historical women). So here's my list, in no particular order, of women in film and TV (and a book) who have served in the highest (or second-highest) office in the land.
Joan Allen as the Vice Presidential Nominee in The Contender (2000)
Allen is excellent in this movie that brilliantly illustrates the double-standards applied to women in power. As a Senator nominated for the vice presidency, she steadfastly refuses to comment on a photo circulated by enemies in the Republican party that purports to show her engaged in group sex while she was in college, insisting "I just can't respond to these accusations because it's not okay for them to be made."
Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin in the Sci Fi Channel's Battlestar Galactica (2004 - today)
With the world as they know it is destroyed, President Roslin and the head of the military (Edward James Olmos) must work together to fight off the evil Cylons, maintain morale, and find a new home. As a former teacher who took over the presidency after everyone else in the line of succession was killed, she rose to the occasion and demonstrated a steely reserve behind the calm and gentle demeanor. Plus, she's kinda hot.
Geena Davis as President McKenzie in ABC's Commander in Chief (2005 - 2006)
Davis was brilliant as Mac, America's first female (and first independent) president who dealt deftly with internal threats from backstabbing politicians, external threats from warring countries, and an annoying teenage daughter. I still don't know why this show was canceled — I watched it every week! Apparently I was the only one.
Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth 1 in Elizabeth (1998) and The Golden Age (2007)
In the Oscar-winning Elizabeth, Blanchett's Elizabeth 1 refuses to marry and ascends the throne as a "virgin queen" after much political and bloody maneuvering, and now she faces down treachery at home and abroad in the upcoming sequel due out in October. Through it all, Blanchett imbues Elizabeth with an intelligence and drive that is mesmerizing.
Glenn Close as Vice President Bennett in Air Force One
The Vice President plays a small but pivotal role in this film about what happens when the President's plane is hijacked while he's aboard. President Harrison Ford does a lot of running around and shooting on the plane, but the best scene in the movie is on the ground halfway-through when the Defense Secretary (Dean Stockwell) tries to challenge Vice President Bennett's authority as acting President, and she quite firmly puts him in his place — as only Glenn Close can do.
Greta Garbo in Queen Christina (1933)
Garbo's 17th century Queen of Sweden was both confident and vulnerable as she fell in love with a Spanish emissary, converted to Catholicism, and ultimately abdicated the throne — all while wearing mostly male attire. The fact that Garbo reportedly played for our team makes her even more fun to watch.
Katherine Hepburn as Mary, Queen of Scots in Mary of Scotland (1936)
I actually haven't seen this movie about Mary Stuart's returns to Scotland to rule as queen, but I'm always up for an opportunity to mention Katherine Hepburn.
Here she is facing off with a displeased Queen Elizabeth 1 (Florence Eldridge) in the movie:
Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth in The Queen (2006)
Mirren won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Queen Elizabeth II, who in the wake of Princess Diana's death, found herself at war with the press, and her own subjects.
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Star Wars, Episode V1: Return of the Jedi (1983)
This one doesn't really count, because Princess Leia wasn't highest power in the land (or planet, in her case), but I threw her in because she wasn't your typical princess — at least, not the Disney kind who waits around for her prince to come. She wasn't perfect — her character was still subject to sexist scenes like that ridiculous Jabba the Hut one. But as the head of the rebel resistance in a galaxy far, far away, Princess Leia fought the bad guys, rescued the good guys, and had loads of attitude. Just how I like my princesses.
Florentyna Kane in Jeffrey Archer's The Prodigal Daughter (reprinted in 2004)
The Prodigal Daughter is a great novel that charts the life of Florentyna Rosnovski, the daughter of a hotel baron who walks away from her father's money to marry the son of her father's rival, builds up her own business empire, and ultimately becomes the first female President of the United States, helped along the way by an older "spinster" teacher and her best friend from college, a female hockey player. I read this book at least once every year or two, just for the inspiration.
(For a somewhat cheesy and romantic but fun novel about the first lesbian president of the United States, check out Blayne Cooper's Madame President.)
So there you have it. Inspiring as they are, there's something wrong with this list of films, shows, and books, most of which were made in the U.S.: the rulers in them are all white women. Women of color apparently aren't allowed to even be fictional leaders in America. Which is ironic, considering that the list of real-life female presidents is fairly diverse, with women of color leading countries like Chile, The Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Haiti.
It's not that I don't love all the movies about the Queens Marys and Elizabeths, but couldn't we make a movie about one of these real-life leaders sometime, just to mix things up a little? Although come to think of it, though, with the way Hollywood works, they'd probably cast Cate Blanchett as Corazón Aquino, or make it a story about her shoes...
Have some favorite fictional female leaders I left off the list? Leave 'em in the comments!
What about Kate in Lion in Winter?
By far one of my favorites. Kathryn Hepburn plays Eleanor of Aquitaine. (She happens to be my favorite sovereign as well, so perhaps I am a bit prejudiced.)
This one is a must-see for the dialog alone!
Agreed
Um
Yes I know
Nitpicky
West Wing!
Allison Janney as Claudia Jean Cregg, White House Press Secretary (Seasons 1-6) and Chief of Staff (Seasons 6-7)...not the highest offices in the land, but the COS pretty much runs everything, so CJ should still count. :)
so am I the only one?
Okay, this has been bugging me since I watched Star Wars: am I the only one who thinks the character of Leia was handled in a frankly appalling manner?
I mean, she started out strong. The first movie, I really liked her. Then things went downhill pretty fast. Han sexually harassed her to the point where, were it real life and not a movie, anyone as tough as she was supposed to be would have hurt or reported him, but somehow the tough woman disappeared and was replaced by a weak, vulnerable one. Subsequently it's all okay because she loved him really and just needed to be forced to see it (romance novel much?) That's not going into the whole Jabba the Hutt bondage thing, which nobody can tell me was more than some guy's wet dream disguised with grotesque aliens.
Leia was hot, sure, no argument. But I wouldn't glorify the character, because she was murdered by misogynist writing pretty early on.
maybe..
I think there was a certain amount of misogyny in the films, but I don't really think it was that bad. Han's character was the classic rogue with a heart of gold; that was partly his attraction. Yes he was quite aggressive in going after her, but he didn't do anything that bad and he was (evidently) reading the situation correctly. The whole of the Empire Strikes Back is a bit uncomfortable for all the characters but Leia keeps it together as best she can and has to be dragged away from commanding her troops on Hoth after the evacuation is complete.
I think Leia remained strong: call me a geek, but she actually went into Jabba's palace to free and rescue her love. Yes it didn't go entirely to plan, but that was true for the whole scheme and the heroes still had a backup, which they were in control of.
The way Leia was treated (by the clearly misogynistic and grotesque Hutt) allowed her to be in a position to assassinate her captor, strangling him with the very chains that were suppose to imprison her (and okay, she was kinda hot). She played an integral part of the rescue attempt at all points, and lead the attack on the Death Star's shields with Han. She's as active as luke in chasing down the Empire scouts. It was also Leia who was able to communicate with and befriend the Ewoks, who saved the day in the end (with help from C3PO). The Rebellion is noteable for the fact it is lead by a woman (Mon Motha) and is very diverse in contrast to the Empire.
It's true that she wisecracks a bit less and seems to calm down and become more dependant once she's in love, but you see a similar change in Han's character too.
A few more to add...
First, I'm totally with you Sarah, there's something about it...once I hear that a lady's gonna be ruling the roost it usually takes a pretty serious infraction to get me to quit watching! Commander in Chief as an example, I agree it was a wonderful show, and I thought it was really finding it's feet.
A childhood favourite of mine was 'SpaceCamp' featuring a very young Kate Capshaw, leading a brainy pile of kids as they try to return to earth after an accidental launch. Stephen Speilberg is one very lucky man...
And I was overjoyed when fellow Canuck Carrie Anne Moss got to assume command of her intergalactic mission in the completely watchable 'Red Planet'...
Last on my chicks in charge list, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, as Lindsay the 'cast iron bitch' in 'The Abyss'. HEHE, she can boss me around anytime!
Vote for Roslin
President Laura Roslin only "kinda hot"? Oh, no. No, no, no. Laura Roslin is a goddess in human (or potentially cylon) form. I'd do impeachable things in her oval office anyday.
"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck
mrs. darko
I am quite literally
I am quite literally addicted to Battlestar Galactica, so I'm used to seeing a walking, talking Laura Roslin as opposed to just a picture. If one would look at just a picture, then, yeah, she's maybe not that impressive, but to watch her--Christ, she's a sight to behold. The woman can say more by taking her glasses off than Lee Adama can say in an entire episode's worth of emo monologue.
"Out of the box is where I live." -Starbuck
Mary Mmmm....
I’ve only seen a couple of Battlestar epis, but HELL YEAH. And she so rocked as Mrs Darko. Oh she kicks up my MILF jones in a big, big way :-p
Boadicea
Servalan
Supreme Commander Servalan from Blake's 7 has been one of my favourites for a long time. Sure, she's the series' villain, but that doesn't mean all that much in a series where the moral landscape pretty much goes from dark gray to black.
You forgot Madonna.
Cause Madonna. Frickin'. RULZ! :)
http://sarasdarkness.blogspot.com
At least there were two of us
I liked Commander in Chief, too. It's really too bad it didn't catch on.
Hmm. I'm going to have to check out The Contender now. I don't know if it's worth sitting through Airforce One just for that one scene, though. It's hard to weigh how much I love Glenn Close against how much I dislike Harrison Ford.
Queen Christina
I just wanted to add, since you wrote that Greta Garbo is rumored to have had same-sex affairs, that Queen Christina (the real human being) is thought to have had same-sex affairs (according to Vito Russo, it's actually more like "known", but I don't have any reliable sources to link).
Russo discusses Hollywood's decision to "straighten" the queen in The Celluloid Closet (the book, not the movie...I think the movie shows images from Queen Christina, but I don't remember any details. I don't think Queen Christina was one of the featured films...any discussion of it was certainly not as memorable as the scene in which Gore Vidal discusses Ben Hur.).
Better Star Wars Example
I think a better Star Wars franchise example would have been Padmé Amidala.
Fun list though.
What about Xena Warrior
... in that case
what about a ceratin Amazon Princess, leading her army to battle?!
Livia - in I, Claudius
One of the best (and ruthless) rulers I have seen on teleision:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ribS0TLSNYY
In the name of Scribegrrrl ...
how could you forget, the ruler of Larkhall, Simone Lahbib as Helen Stewart?!!!
;-)
Lisa
The Commander
Amanda Burton, Commander of Metropolitan Homicide Division,
very..commanding
The Commander
What about
Col. Wilma Deering, leader of Earth's Defense Force?
Okay, so I didn't include a pic of her in her off-duty uniform, which includes hot pants, but just check out the super gay armband on her combat uniform.
Captain Janeway
Commander in Chief reminds me of Madam President
Madam President
CJ Cregg
I simply love this character and I couldn't imagine anyone playing her except for Allison Janney whom I adore. CJ ruled the Press Room with undeniable intelligence and competence.
Hi Sarah. :) Are you referring to Imelda Marcos' infamous shoes? As far as I know, Pres. Aquino didn't have a shoe fetish when she was in power.
Happy Fourth of July! Have fun, guys. :)
The Prodigal Daughter
I'm thrilled to see Florentyna Kane on the list. That book was really over-shadowed because of Kane and Abel but I think "The Prodigal Daughter" has been Jeffrey Archer's best novel and one of my favourites till date. All the characters have touching story-lines and this book can leave you nothing but inspired.
Btw I think mentioning this book had been long over-due. Good picks!!
I feel the need to elevate the debate
And use this fantastic excuse to post a picture of QueenC in her full glory:
Jeffrey Archer
Guys, guys - you really need to stop buying Jeffrey Archer books....
Not only did he spend time in prison for perjury when it came to light he had fabricated an alibi so he could sue a newspaper for libel over allegations he paid a prostitute £2000, more importantly he was made Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party by Margaret Thatcher.
The UK conservative goverment of the 80s - lovely bunch of people - bought in a piece of legislation called Section 28 banning the "promotion" of homosexuality and in particular barring "the teaching in any school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship"
I could tell you about all the other stuff they did but frankly it'll just make me way too angry.....
Glenn!
I'm glad so many people mentioned CJ--who ended up as CHIEF-OF-STAFF, basically the second most powerful person in the country--but nobody remembered Glenn Close in the West Wing season 5 episode "The Supremes". I hate to ruin it--one of the best episodes in the series, really. Even if you don't like WW, this episode made me giggle with glee--but she ends up being Chief Justice of the United States. I hear that's a pretty big deal.
No, I'm not obsessed with WW. Not at all.
A future addition, perhaps?
I remember hearing a while back that Meryl Streep was going to appear as a woman running for president, and if the darn thing would ever get made I'd be willing to guess she'd belong on this list as well. Unfortunately it wouldn't add any color to the mix, but it would be pretty great anyway.
(Here's the old article--I can't seem to find any reliable updates: "Mouse woos 'First' Family")
The Other Elizabeths the First
Bette Davis in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" and the Virgin Queen.
Glenda Jackson in Masterpiece Theater's Elizabeth R, which got her the role as Elizabeth I in the movie "Mary Queen of Scots", who was played by Vanessa Redgrave.
Peace, Joy and Love
*B*
I just remembered what my avatar was...how fitting.
eh!
Tarja Halonen rules! Her hobby is bellydancing and she even don´t belong any churches...
Not to forget
Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the first ever elected female president if memory serves, who ruled Iceland for about 16 years.
Meryl for President
Cop a load of this babe!! Phworr!!
Turned on yet, Sarah?
Not Only But Also