Princess Leia
Leia is one of the first characters we are introduced to in Star Wars. She is fleeing the occupation of the Imperials of her ship and hides information away in a couple of droids before she sends them off in an escape pod. She then attacks some stormtroopers before being taken hostage, but we soon find out this princess is like none we’ve ever seen before.
She is a feisty go-getter who isn’t afraid to take charge or express her opinion. She immediately gets up in the face of Darth Vader instead of being afraid of the intimidating masked sorcerer.
When Han and Luke go to rescue her, she isn’t just a damsel in distress. She grabs a blaster and takes charge of her own rescue, telling the boys what to do and leads the way to their eventual escape.
Leia was a breath of fresh air and a true trailblazer of how women are portrayed on the big screen. She showed that a princess isn’t just someone to be rescued but also can be someone who should be feared and respected.