Men aren't the only ones who can don a superhero ensemble and save the world—women can too...and in much better outfits. Check out these leading ladies who prove that we can indeed kick butt and look fabulous at the same time.
Scarlett Johansson
Sure, Scarlett Johansson has proved her acting chops with critically acclaimed roles in Girl with a Pearl Earring and Lost in Translation. But it was her role in Iron Man 2 that really got her noticed by male fans everywhere. Scar-Jo played Natasha Romanoff, an undercover spy who assists Stark in defending justice—all in a skintight leather ensemble. Scarlett, who performed all of her own stunts, is set to reprise the role in 2012's The Avengers.
Zoe Saldana
Bombshell Zoe Saldana starred in the 2010 film, The Losers, where she played Aisha, a tough mystery woman who has no problem kicking butt and taking names. Leave it to Zoe to fire a grenade launcher with style and grace. In her most recent film, Colombiana, Zoe plays a tough chick who works as a contract killer by day and vigilante murderer by night. Watch out Hollywood, Zoe is fast emerging as one of the hottest action starlets to grace the silver screen!
Anne Hathaway
We may love her best as the sharp witted assistant in The Devil Wears Prada, but Anne Hathaway is ditching the chic Chanel ensembles to don a leather catsuit for her role as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. To prepare for the role, the porcelain beauty has been working out five days a week, undergoing rigorous stunt and dance training. Anne has her eyes on the prize, saying, "I've always thought that skinny was the goal, but with this job I also have to be strong."
Jennifer Garner
Don't let those dimples fool you—Jennifer Garner can kick some serious butt. Back in the day, Jenn proved to be quite the action maven as CIA agent Sydney Bristow on the hit TV show Alias. In 2005, she played the title role in the Marvel comic movie, Elektra. Having performed most of her own stunts, Jenn can attribute her svelte figure to her action heroine days. While we love seeing Jenn play mommy to Violet and Seraphina, we can't help but long for tiny dresses and wild wigs of her crime-fighting days.
Jessica Alba
It may seem like a lifetime ago, Jessica Alba actually got her start on the TV series Dark Angel as the super-soldier Max Guevara. Five years later, in 2005, Jessica reprised her action heroine role in Fantastic Four, starring as Susan Storm. Jessica may have practiced powers of invisibility, but this style maven is always the center of attention on the red carpet.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron may be best known for her dramatic transformation in Monster, but she also underwent a makeover for her role as the title character in Aeon Flux. For the 2005 sci-fi film, Charlize played a sexy assassin with a dark avant-garde bob and a skintight black cutout jumpsuit. The film required Charlize to perform her own stunts, but this Oscar-winning actress proved to be up for the challenge.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Between Rosie Huntington-Whiteley adventures as a Victoria's Secret Angel and as Carly Spencer in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, this British babe is now recognized as an international sex symbol. But Rosie is more than just a pretty face: She was so invested in her role as Carly that boyfriend Jason Statham bought her stuntmen pads to wear. You know, to prevent her from bruising that gorgeous body!
Angelina Jolie
Known for her svelte figure, Angelina Jolie underwent significant martial arts training to prepare for her title role in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider back in 2001. The movie was an instant blockbuster success and launched Angelina's reputation as an action star not to be messed with. She revisited the action genre in 2010, starring in Salt. Tom Cruise was set to star in the high-action and high-budget film, and when he dropped out, Angelina had no problems picking up where he left off. On the gender change of the title character, Angelina said, "we just approached it as Salt's a badass and happens to be a woman."
Halle Berry
There is a reason why Halle Berry has such a knockout body. The actress has starred in a slew of action films, including X-Men, Catwoman and as a Bond girl in Die Another Day. She may have scored a Golden Raspberry award for her role in Catwoman, but her slinky cutout leather ensemble alone—complete with a feline mask and a whip—earns her a spot as one of Hollywood's hottest action heroine.
Megan Fox
Despite her resistance, Megan Fox may forever be known as sexy girl next door Mikaela Banes of the popular Transformers series. Megan starred in the blockbuster hit in 2007 and instantly shot to stardom. It may have been her belly-baring tops that got her noticed, but Megan pulled off some of her own stunts, proving her abilities as an action heroine. In fact, Megan's stunt double even said "she definitely took a beating at times…she's a trooper."
Scarlett Johansson
Sure, Scarlett Johansson has proved her acting chops with critically acclaimed roles in Girl with a Pearl Earring and Lost in Translation. But it was her role in Iron Man 2 that really got her noticed by male fans everywhere. Scar-Jo played Natasha Romanoff, an undercover spy who assists Stark in defending justice—all in a skintight leather ensemble. Scarlett, who performed all of her own stunts, is set to reprise the role in 2012's The Avengers.
Jessica Biel
First came Buffy, then came Jessica. As Abigail Whistler in Blade: Trinity, Jessica Biel made the transformation from sweet teenager on 7th Heaven to hardcore vampire slayer who works to save the human race from savage vampires. To train for the high-action role, Jessica changed her diet and her entire workout routine. She and co-star Ryan Reynolds underwent an intense training regime, to which Jessica has credited her toned body.
Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin may be better known as Southern damsel in distress Sookie Stackhouse on HBO's True Blood, but she previously made a splash on the silver screen as mutant heroine Rogue in the X-Men franchise. With her silver-streaked hair and black leather catsuit, Paquin played a tortured character who can't quite come to grips with her supernatural abilities.
January Jones
January Jones plays the ice queen quite well. First as frustrated housewife on Mad Men and then as Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class. January plays a mutant telepath who uses her superpowers for evil. For the film, January capitalized on her sex appeal, opting for come-hiter looks and sexy all-white ensembles—one even included a chic fur hat! While male fans may disagree, we much prefer January in the ultra stylish role of Betty Draper.
Cameron Diaz
Funny girl Cameron Diaz is known for her distinctive laugh and California-vibe, but she can dish it out too. As one of the butt-kicking trio in Charlie's Angels, Cameron starred as Natalie Cook, a tough private investigator who fought crime alongside gal pals Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore. And, of course, who can forget that tiny all-white bikini?
Kate Beckinsale
Gorgeous starlet Kate Beckinsale joined the dark side in 2003 when she starred as sultry vampire Selene in Underworld. Kate joined the ranks of vampires that us mere mortals would die for, donning a black skintight latex suit and piercing blue eyes. Kate endured months of intense combat training for the role, which seems quite worth it, seeing as she got to star across hottie Scott Speedman, who played her love interest.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore has had a few leading men that we've been plenty jealous about—Michael Vartan, Justin Long and Hugh Grant, just to name a few. But it was her role as Dylan in the Charlie's Angels series that really makes us green with envy. Not only did she get to work with the gorgeous Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz, but she got to play an uber empowered woman that fought crime in ultra chic outfits. We can appreciate a woman who can perform a spinning kick in five-inch stilettos—now that's true talent.
Demi Moore
Age-defying beauty Demi Moore starred in the 1997 action film G.I. Jane, where she played Lieutenant Jordan O'Neil. Five years later, after an acting hiatus, Demi returned to the silver screen in the hottest little bikini in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. With her glowing skin, yoga-fit body and luxurious sleek locks, we just had to pretend that we're just going to pretend that we're not completely envious that Demi was 41 at the time.
Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman may have began her career as a fashion model, but we fondly know her as the butt-kicking heroine of the cult-classic Kill Bill series. Uma played assassin Beatrix Kiddo, who is out to seek revenge against her former lover, Bill. To train for the role, Uma spent months taking lessons in martial arts and swordsmanship. Filming for the movie was delayed for several months due to Uma's pregnancy, but director Quentin Tarantino refused to recast the role—who else could possibly have looked better in that skintight yellow jumpsuit?
Lucy Liu
Petite star Lucy Liu starred as Alex Munday as a part of the action trio in the Charlie's Angels series alongside pals Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz. In 2003, she starred as vixen villain O-Ren Ishii in Tarantino's Kill Bill. Lucy performed most of her own stunts for the film, even deeming the fighting "empowering."
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Before Twilight and True Blood, there was Buffy. Sarah Michelle Gellar shot to fame as Buffy Summers in the cult hit, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She slayed vampires, saved the world a few times over, and even found time to find love. Perhaps Sarah missed the butt-kicking days as Buffy, for she is set to return to TV in the upcoming action-packed show Ringer. In fact, at the recent Comic-Con, Sarah excitedly said, "I got to shoot a gun and Buffy never got a gun."
Mila Jovovich
Proving to be more than just a pretty face, Milla Jovovich rose to superheroine status after her role as Alice in Resident Evil. The tough chick battled mutant dogs, a apocalyptic virus and hordes of zombies‚ all in a skimpy dress. Although Milla was a relative new actress at the time, director Paul Anderson felt comfortable giving the part to her, saying, "she was that rare combination of a good actress who could kick ass and look beautiful doing it."
Michelle Pfeiffer
Leave it to Michelle Pfeiffer to give Halle Berry a run for her money. As the seductive Catwoman in Tim Burton's Batman Returns, Michelle underwent intensive training in martial arts and kickboxing—the kickboxing close-ups onscreen were all performed by Michelle herself. We're sure that no one will ever be able to fill that skintight feline suit quite as well as Michelle did.
Famke Janssen
Famke Janssen may have starred across Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye as femme fatale Xenaia Onatopp, but it was her role as superheroine Dr. Jean Grey a.k.a. Phoenix in the X-Men series that really got her noticed. In the films, Famke plays a mutant who possess telepathic and telekinetic powers. In true superheroine form, Famke donned a skintight leather ensemble and long red locks. The best part? She got some smooch time with cutie James Marsden.
Rebecca Romijn
It's clear that the X-Men franchise makes no gender discrimination when it comes to their action gals. Rebecca Romijn starred as Mystique in the X-Men series, even winning herself a MTV Movie Award nomination for the sexiest she-villain. As the mutant shapeshifter Mystique, Rebecca donned a barely there costume—scaly head-to-toe azure body paint.
Michelle Yeoh
Malaysian-native Michelle Yeoh made a splash on the big screen after her role as Bond girl Wai Lin in Tomorrow Never Dies. She then went on to star in the Oscar-winning martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Michelle may seem dainty, but she actually began her career as an action star in Hong Kong films. As a trained ballerina, Michelle has always been devoted to the physical aspects of her roles, claiming, "it's so important for me to do my own stunts."
Lynda Carter
Vintage superheroine Lynda Carter made her mark as Wonder Woman in the hit 1970s TV show, The New Original Wonder Woman. Lynda performed most of her stunts on the show, including a jaw-dropping scene where she hangs from a helicopter. Lynda's role paved the way for future superheroines, and personally, we love that even her accessories had superpowers of their own.
Carrie-Ann Moss
While we may have been distracted by cutie Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, we couldn't help but take notice of the intense butt-kicking abilities that Carrie-Ann Moss displayed. Carrie-Ann was so committed to training for the role, she even broke her leg after a bad landing during a training session. Not to be deterred, Carrie-Ann recovered enough to complete her stunts, including a nerve-wracking scene that involved riding a motorcycle.
