Lethal Ladies of Cinema!

Greatest Action Heroines

MMA fighter Gina Carano makes the leap to the big screen in Steven Soderbergh's Haywire, which also stars Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Bill Paxton and Michael Douglas.

She's the latest lethal action heroine, but definitely not the first. Here are 17 more of recent cinema's (post-1980) most dangerous vixens...
Zoe Saldana - Colombiana (2011)

You don't want to mess with Zoe Saldana in Colombiana. After witnessing her parents' murder as a child in Bogota, she grows up to be a stone-cold assassin.
Saoirse Ronan - Hanna (2011)

The teenage years for a young girl can be so awkward. Especially if you have to hunt down and kill people. Saoirse Ronan's Hanna is young and small but very lethal.
Bridget Fonda - Point of No Return (1993)

Bridget Fonda shows us who wears the pants--and other assets--in the household as the punk-turned-killer agent in this remake of La Femme Nikita.
Michelle Yeoh - Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Basically the grand dame of action (see also Crouching Tiger and the rest of her Hong Kong output), Yeoh is the greatest movie heroine who really can beat up 99% of mankind in real life.
Sandahl Bergman - Conan the Barbarian (1982)

It takes a lot to stand toe to toe to Ah-nuld, but Sandahl Bergman has no problem matching up with the big guy as the statuesque adventuress Valeria.
Milla Jovovich - Resident Evil (2002)

Looking for a fiery femme to kill your zombie? Several Resident Evil movies later, Jovovich is a consensus fan favorite.
Keira Knightley - Domino (2005)

We prefer her in long hair and swashbuckling chops in the Pirates movies, but for pure butt--kicking ability, Knightley knocks it--and several goons' heads-out of the park in Tony Scott's underrated actioner Domino.
Linda Hamilton - Terminator: Judgment Day (1991)

Not only one of the greatest action heroines, but one of the most buff and motherly. She's pure awesome-although the feather 'do in the first Terminator is a little off.
Sigourney Weaver - Aliens (1986)

Sigourney Weaver also takes the mantle for most motherly action heroine. Her can-do attitude in Aliens allows her to decimate Queen Alien tail and then some.
Rose McGowan - Planet Terror (2007)

Rose McGowan redefines the lethal beauty tag by adding her own kicker - a machine gun in place of her right leg. She deserves kudos as well for pulling off a tube top and leather mini-skirt.
Charlize Theron - Aeon Flux (2005)

The movie blows, but Charlize Theron never looks less than stunning and credible as the cat-like killer assassin Aeon Flux.
Carrie Ann Moss - The Matrix (1999)

Within the first 15 minutes of The Matrix, newcomer Carrie Ann Moss etches her place amongst the greatest action heroines. She shows off a wicked, powerhouse kick, and looks great in black leather.
Jessica Biel - Blade: Trinity (2004)

She's as tough as Sarah Connor and as fetching as, well, Jessica Biel. She could kill most regular guys (or at least beat them at most sports), but we're sure they'll still ask for her number.
Uma Thurman - Kill Bill Vols. I and II (2003 - 2004)

Uma Thurman is so tall, so agile, and so convincingly dangerous that Quentin Tarantino gave her two movies to kick butt.
Kristanna Loken - Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Not much good can be said of T3. But a bright spot was Kristanna Loken, the cyborg in red who could have taken Arnold out with just a few rounds on the stairmaster.
Kate Beckinsale - Underworld (2003)

Lycans, vampires and mortals agree. Kate Beckinsale is the greatest movie vampiress ever, and by far the best with a firearm. And out in the latest, Underworld Awakening on Fri., 1/20.
Angelina Jolie - Wanted (2008)

Angie is the definition of a lethal action heroine. Girls love her, and guys, umm, yeah. As Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, Mrs. Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and the shotgun-wielding Fox in Wanted, Angie, you had us at ka-boom.

Did we miss your greatest action heroine? Let us know in the comments below.