Female empowerment is becoming a bigger and bigger movement as the months pass… especially in 2016! That’s why we decided to compile a short list of some of the most badass actresses from around the world!
North America
1. Tatiana Maslany
Tatiana Maslany (also known as Tat Mas) is the star of the hit sci-fi/drama Orphan Black. Tatiana has recently won a Canadian Screen Award for her role as NINE different characters on the show (source)! Her performance has received international acclaim and critics are predicting her name on an Emmy nomination list in the near future!
2. Natasha Negovanlis
Known from the VerveGirl web series Carmilla, Natasha is a Toronto-based actress that has recently been featured in the GayWomenChannel original film, Almost Adults. She also helped Smokebomb, the producers of Carmilla, win a Canadian Screen Award in 2016 for Best Original Program or Series Produced for Digital Media (source)! In addition, she has been a huge ally of the LGBTQI community.
3. Marie Avgeropoulos
Originally from Thunder Bay, Marie is best known as Octavia Blake – the kick-ass Skyperson turned Grounder on The 100. After an adventure in Europe, Marie moved back to Canada and settled down in Vancouver. She is a Harley-riding, drum-playing badass!
4. Kerry Washington
Born in The Bronx, Kerry Washington is most well-known as Olivia Pope on Scandal. Her character is a quick-thinking, powerful woman… and also dubbed one of the most complex female characters on TV! Kerry was also listed as one of TIME 100’s “Most Influential People in the World” in April 2014 (source). You go, girl!
5. Taraji P. Henson
“Boo-boo kitty” is one of catchiest slang terms on TV right now; for that, we can thank Taraji’s sassy, no-nonsense character on Empire, Cookie Lyon. Known for her roles in Benjamin Button and the Think Like a Man films, this D.C.-born actress is extremely versatile and epitomizes the word ‘hustler’.
Central/South America
1. Selenis Leyva
Selenis is a Cuban-born American actress who stars on the Netflix original, Orange Is the New Black. Her character, Mendoza, is a tough-love, fight-for-what-she-believes-in type of woman. Selenis has also made appearances on Law and Order, The Sopranos, and the Good Wife.
2. Sofia Vergara
Everyone knows Sofia through her role as Gloria on Modern Family. Who can resist her comedic performance paired with her gorgeous Columbian accent? Fun fact: Sofia was studying dentistry in Columbia but two terms in, she packed up and pursued opportunities in show business and modeling (source)… Good choice!
Eurasia
1. Lauren Cohan
Known as Maggie on The Walking Dead, Lauren was born in Pennsylvania but moved to the UK when she was a young girl. Appearing in hit shows such as Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, and Modern Family, Lauren is definitely kicking ass and taking names!
2. Priyanka Chopra
Actress, musician, philanthropist, Miss World 2000 … is there anything Priyanka can’t do? The Indian-born actress has become one of the most high-profile celebrities in India. She has since become the first South-Asian woman to star in her own American TV show, Quantico. Long story short, Priyanka is killing the game!
Australia
1. Eliza Taylor
Hailing from Melbourne, Eliza starred in a popular Australian soap opera called Neighbours. However, she has got international attention for her role as Clarke Griffin on The 100. She is also a social-media boss who runs her own Instagram (@elizajaneface), Twitter (@MisElizaJane), and Vine (@Eliza Jane Taylor) accounts.
2. Alycia Debnam-Carey
Alycia has made waves in the LGBTQI community through her role as Lexa on The 100. She played a strong, confident leader who followed her heart that also happened to be into girls! The Aussie is now starring on The Walking Dead spin-off, Fear The Walking Dead.