Sigourney Weaver's Ripley tops Sci-Fi’s list of 25 Best Female Characters

Isn't, perhaps, entirely accurate. I believe I read somewhere, or heard in a documentary, that the characters in Alien were deliberately written with only surnames and with as little description as possible so that they could cast whomever they wanted in the various roles, and as such it's not like she was explicitly written as male to begin with.

That is one great list, though.

Pretty good list, I have to say. Scully and Sarah Connor (although Lena Headey did a great job of winning me over!) and lots of others! I have no idea what Xena has to do with sci-fi, but she certainly kicks ass and changed the way females kicking ass is seen, and since she's on the list I'm appalled that she didn't place higher! I'm positive she could beat a number of the ladies above her. 

Sigourney/Ripley totally deserves the rank of No.1 and I'm not just saying this because Siggy is my favourite actor of all time and I am close to stalking her...

Also it's correct that the names of the characters in the re-drafted script for Alien were left originally ambigious. The part where Ripley was 'suppose' to be a man comes from the 1st script written by Dan O' Bannon, which the producers shredded and scofted at. That script had entirely different characters names too.

The list is awesome and Starbuck and Buffy would of been my own personal pick to be near the top spot. There's just too much ass-kicking with them. But I suppose there's no such thing as too much.

I'm kinda annoyd with this Alien prequel, 1 having an alien film without Ripley just plain sucks and it's a bit shitty for Sigourney, but if they did a prequel and had it focus on the Space Jockey and the Alien getting to the Derelict then it would be cool. But either do it with Sigourney or do it with no human casts. Also do it minus CGI like the original Alien film, because the quality was amazing.

Kara Thrace is a goddess; just lookat her in that photo.

Have to agree with Ripley as no. 1 though; the scene in Aliens where they get locked in with the seed aliens and then afterwards, where she goes after Burke; just classic!

 She definitely put a different spin on Sarah — and once I adjusted, I loved Heady in the role. (What a series finale, huh?)

(sorry don't know how to quote in the new lay-out yet) Heady should be Headey of course :P

Apart from that, Nice list!

"Smile! It's the second best thing you can do with your lips..."

Sigourney Weaver creeps me out.  The only thing I've been able to tolerate her in was The TV Set, mostly because she made a Lucy Lawless reference.

My top two would be Xena, then Scully, other than that I don't enjoy Scifi often. Although, if Tru Calling is considered sci-fi, then Tru Davies would be number 3 for me.

Before the article loaded, I said Ripley better be number 1. I am happy they realized it too.

The most striking would be Scully.  She would be number 3 on my Sci-Fi picks, after Linda Hamilton.

" True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united" ~ Wilhelm von Humbolt

I remember the first time I went to see Aliens in the theatre.  When Ripley put on that body-like equipment mover to fight, everyone in the audience collectively rose out of their seats.  It was the most awesome moment I've experienced going to the movies.  Just about everyone I knew went to see it a second time.  Even guys I knew who were more often than not womanizers were totally awed by that scene in particular, and the movie as a whole.  Ripley's character exemplified a range emotions and strength of character in the face of incredible danger.  She was fearless, while having the common sense to be afraid.  She was intelligent enough to outwit an ever metamorphasizing, scarey and relentless enemy.  She was motherly and gave hope to a young girl who also exemplied great survival skills.  During the time when Alien and Aliens came out Sigourney Weaver was the antithesis of all the ridiculous portrayals of women in film, and that's why her character was so important for putting on screen such an strong example of womanhood.

I was pleased with several of the other women who made the list, but I was also puzzled by their rankings.

But Xena's # 2, and then Starbuck. After that, maybe Scully, then Sarah Connor.

Hmmm, I see I'm leaning toward the ass-kickers.

Well, yeah.

Most of the characters aren't from SciFi at all.  Many winners had underwritten roles.  And the choices are weird.  Leeloo?  Pris?  Storm?

Two women from Dr. Who and none from Blake's Seven!  No Servalan?  WTF!

Janeway and Uhuru make the cut, but Seven of Nine and Jadzia Dax do not? 

Happy that Susan Ivanova is there, but Talia Winters and Delenn were awesome too 

It may have more to do with "sex appeal" than anything else in spite of saying it's other things--explaining why Xena was placed so low on the list (fear she'd kick them in the b___s could ruin the mood), otherwise Xena would have to be # 1...

Xena had it all, including the very impressive Gabrielle!

 she didnt make i to the list and i was disapointed...but all in all teh list is really good....ts just Seven Of Nine isnt on it...lol im watching Voyager again right now so u'll have to forgive me...i'm very one track minded lol

"the longest lies are told when lonely hearts won't stay to fight it"  Ten Second Epic

River Tam and Zoe Washburne would definitely top my list! Firefly is defnitely more sci-fi than some of those TV shows and movies. And both of those characters kick some serious A'.

Donna Noble, Toshiko Sato and Gwen Cooper would definitely be on my list as well.

No way can I be what I'm not

Wait, Buffy? Willow? XENA?? Not that I don't love all of them, but I think someone is using the "It's whatever geeks watch" definition of "sci-fi".

They also seem to have run out of characters about half way through (Leeloo? Really?), and Ivanova should be waaay higher than #18.

Yep, Xena shouldn't be on this list.  Fantasy and SciFi are not the same thing.  Grrr!

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I wholeheartedly agree with Dana Scully, Sarah Connor, Sam Carter, Xena, and Wonder Woman - but no list would be complete without two of the 'Birds of Prey' - Oracle (Dina Meyer) and Huntress (Ashley Scott). And can't forget Dina Meyer again as Dizzy Flores in Starship Troopers. 

And does Peta Wilson's La Femme Nikita count? She would right at the top of my list!

no thanks for me. She just annoys me for some reason!

To pick from that list, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) would have been my Number 1. And Willow number 2.

:D

Hell no!  No offense to Scully, or Starbuck, (which ironically was also the nickname given to Scully by her father) but uh-uh.  Let's review.  Sarah Connor is one of THE most iconic female characters in American cinema. Period.  I agree that Ellen Ripley is the baddest badass, and Buffy too, but Sarah Connor deserves to be in the top three.  End of story.  Complex, tough, fierce.  She's got it all.

p.s. Where the hell is Lara Croft?

Okay, maybe I'm biased because I have a huge crush, but still--where's Trinity on that list? In what universe is Mikaela Banes a more significant sci-fi female?  I'll concede that the sequels were terrible, but surely her general badassery from the first Matrix film counts for a lot.

They need to call the list women who shook Sci Fi and Fantasy...fantasy always gets the short straw and it's a completely different genre. Xena kicks arse any day, I could write novels about how much I love Xena...she'd be number one on my list.  And Gabrielle would be a close number two.

And I agree with some posters above, this list isn't complete without Seven of Nine. If you're calling the list 'women who shook sci fi, then you've gotta include her. There were hot Star Trek actresses before her but never THAT hot, I mean, was Star Trek supposed to be THAT sexy? Love the character or hate it (can't see why anyone would hate her but I know some do!) the busty Borg definitely shook things up when it came to sci-fi.

The omission of Lara Croft can be easily explained, cos' Tomb Raider sure as hell ain't sci fi...

wait...is Weaver going to play Ripley in the prequel, i mean, isnt she a little too old to play the young Ripley. (people dont throw kerosene bottles at me, i love Weaver to death, i want to go and personally hug whoever casted her for Ripley).

Im actually worried about this prequel, because if Weaver didnt play it, it'll be the biggest waste of time and an insult to the Alien series. but if she did, it'll be kinda...off.

god i'm so confused, they should have never attempted to do the prequel, they're messing with my head.

and whats with shoving Xena in a Sci-fi category?! 0_o

im glad they added Leeloo, she has been ignored for way too long.

and where the hell is Milla Jovivich...honestly how can she be forgotten???!!

i dont agree with the rest of the list, but it was a good attempt.

I agree with her as number 1. She was the definitive, iconic female hero. Before her, women in sci-fi weren't even the leads in TV shows or movies (hence while I love Uhura and Princess Leia - they aren't as cool, self-sufficient and bad ass as Ripley). Ripley paved the way for Hollywood to portray women in stronger roles.Before Ripley, women were, quite literally, considered objects in movies - like in Charleton Heston's Soylent Green.  Hell, without Ripley, there wouldn't BE any Starbuck, Dana, Sarah Connor. I would have preferred Sarah Connor as number 2 though. But I love that Starbuck and Dana and Capt.Janeway made the list. 

I agree with the others here:

1. Where is 7 of 9? I've always had a fascination for the Borg (and yes, Alice Krige should have been included in the list as well - creepy, but awesome!), and Star Trek Voyager would have been less interesting without her.

2. Where is Trinity?

3. Where are the women of Dune? I don't care what people say about this (the original movie or the TV series), the book and the TV mini-series still have strong women. That one had Alice Kruge (again) and Susan Sarandon. The poweful Bene Gesserit. How could anyone miss that?

4. And if you're going to include the cheerleader, Storm, and Leelo, why not include the lead in Stepford Wives (that is still sci-fi - just without space ships and aliens)? Handmaid's Tale? And where is Final Fantasy? The women of Ghosts of Mars? Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil?(she is actually much cooler here than in Fifth Element)

5. Where is Summer Glau?She was awesome in Firefly and even more awesome as the Terminator in "Sarah Connor Chronicles"

6. Jessica Alba's Dark Angel. This was a kick-ass show - not surprising since it was from James Cameron, and it kick-started Alba's career. And while we're at it, where is Bionic Woman?!?

And for a website that calls itself total sci-fi, I find it strange (as everyone here does), that fantasy characters are included. I love Buffy, Xena,Willow and Wonderwoman but they aren't sci-fi. Any geek would tell you that. And what the hell is up with Mikaela Banes? There isn't anthing really commendable about her role in Transformers. I think they just put her there as an excuse to post her pic up.And Claire Bennet?!? Really?!?

...but where the heck is Seven of Nine?

Other notables missing in action:

Major Kira(Nana Visitor) - ST:DS9

Max(Jesica Alba) - Dark Angel

Dax(Terry Farrell) - ST:DS9

Talia Winter(Andrea Thompson) - Babylon 5

Aeryn Sun(Cladia Black) - Farscape 

Delenn(Mira Furlan) - Babylon 5

Good to see somebody finally mentioned Claudia Black's immortal (ex)Officer Aeryn Sun!  Anyone who hasn't yet seen Farscape, do yourself a favour and check it out, it was a great and quite subversive show with one of the best female characters ever.  Actually, Farscape had several terrific female characters; how about adding Chiana to the list too?

I just do not get the appeal of The Fifth Element, it's one of the worst movies I've ever mistakenly watched.  But 7 of 9 (who still announces my incoming emails with "7 of 9 to Captain Janeway; please report to Astrometrics") has to be on this list, as does Colonel / Major Carter and 6/Caprica from the single best sci-fi show ever made, BSG.
  

The title of the list might be "25 women who shook Sci-Fi..." but the very first sentence broadens it to "sci-fi and fantasy," so please stop complaining about Xena, Buffy and Willow on the list!

I agree not with every character on the list, but maybe for other people they deserved to be mentioned, but on my very own list Xena and Ivanova deserve a place much higher and SevenOfNine, Delenn, Trinity, Gabrielle and Talia Winters would be involved!  

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Been there, touched that! (Alexandra Hedison)

Favorite? Linda Hamilton. Mmmmmmmmm <3 

Go here for my view on all things lesbian: http://allthingslesbeau.blogspot.com

I want Willow to be higher on the list as on any list :p

yay for Rose Tyler and I never really watcged StarTrek but can remember my dad watching it and Captain Janeway is very awesome somehow. Ripley is cool too :)

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Er,...where can I get that Ripley picture?

When she came out of her sleeping pod...that was definitely a moment

my homosexuality was confirmed! 

She rocks, she's so cool. My favourite, and i'm glad she won! Sigourney Weaver is my favourite actress of all time, she's fantastic and made Ripley so believable and real. She deserves this in my opinion. Ripley rocked.  :)

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