Some of the most creative and inventive people in history have come up with a slew of characters that are not only unforgettably written, but also breathtakingly beautiful thanks to the talented actresses that portrayed them on screen. These characters will go down in the history books as some of the best of the best, having captivated the hearts and minds of people across the United States, as well as in the rest of the world. It has taken an army of people to bring these characters to life, and thanks to the wide reaches of Hollywood, these characters have now been immortalised forever. Join us as we take a look at some of the standout parts that transformed viewers, as well as the lives of the people who played them.
The Most Breathtaking Movie Characters Of All Time
Madison From ‘Splash’
Daryl Hannah got the role of a lifetime when she got to portray Madison in Splash. This classic 80’s gem has gone on to reach millions of viewers, and Madison captured the imaginations of men and women from all corners of the world. The role is so well executed, that you might end up believing (or wishing) that mermaids exist after you’ve sat through it. Daryl is the perfect fit, and as it ends up, there aren’t any other fish in the sea that could have done the role this much justice.
Madison From Splash
Princess Leia From ‘Star Wars’
Although Star Wars is marketed as an all-ages experience these days, back when Carrie Fisher first sported that iconic bikini, it was considered something a little more PG13. Princess Leia is a cultural phenomenon, and nobody else could have done the role as much justice as Carrie did. Even up until her death, people still recall the iconic role, bikini and haircut very fondly. At the end of the day, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Princess Leia
Naomi Lapaglia From ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’
Inspired by real events, The Wolf of Wall Street had investment bankers questioning every decision they had ever made in their careers. The film saw Leonardo DiCaprio grace everyone with his high-standard acting chops. Margot Robbie got to play the illustrious Naomi Lapaglia, in a breakout role and character that really solidified her as a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. Her fanbase skyrocketed after this role, and judging by the picture, it’s easy to understand why.
Naomi Lapaglia
Arwen From ‘The Lord Of The Rings’
Out of all the great movie trilogies, Lord of the Rings has to be considered as one of the all-time bests in history. Not only does it have an incredible story, but the characters are exceptionally well written and cast. Arwen, played by Liv Taylor, crawled into the hearts of millions of men and women for her love affair with Aragorn. Even when she was riding a horse, she was looking graceful and beautiful for every scene.
Arwen From
Holly Golightly From ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s’
The true nature of one of Audrey Hepburn’s most iconic role goes debated by modern movie critics to this day, but regardless of whether you think she was just the average socialite or there was more to her escapades, Holly Golightly remains a memorable character. Some people might even go so far as to say it was a role that really helped Audrey’s career take flight. All these years later, people still dress like Holly on Halloween, no matter where in the world you go.
Holly Golightly
Nancy Callahan From ‘Sin City’
Noir films aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but if you’re a fan of various Hollywood genres there’s a chance that a film like ‘Sin City’ might have caught your eye over the years. The cast was a big drawcard for this movie, and when Jessica Alba signed on to play Nancy Callahan, producers knew that audiences would flock to the cinemas. The film might have had lukewarm reviews, but Jessica’s role gained universal praise for obvious reasons.
Nancy
Maggie Pollitt From ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’
Liz Taylor had so many great roles in her career, that it’s hard not to put all of her roles on this list. One of the standout characters that she got the chance to play was Maggie Pollitt from ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’. Seductive and classy, the character left audiences spellbound, and men flocked to moviehouses to catch a glimpse of Liz in her skimpy lingerie. The still below should reaffirm why this was happening and ticket sales were so high!
Maggie Pollitt
Selene From ‘Underworld’
Sci-Fi fans will be all too familiar for death dealer Selene from the ‘Underworld’ movie series. Not only was it a wonderfully written role, but Kate Beckinsale truly took the character to an entirely new level. Always one to grab attention no matter who she is sharing a scene with, watching her in her bodysuit gave nobody else a chance to steal the show. As fans of hers will reiterate, breathtaking might just be the understatement of the century here.
Selene
Vivian Ward From ‘Pretty Woman’
Did you know that ‘Pretty Woman’ was first written to be a dark drama where a prostitute gets murdered and left for dead? Julia Roberts signed on for the role, but when the rights were bought by a different studio the script went through a serious facelift. The result was a movie, and a character, that to this day is one of the most memorable ones of all time. Vivian Ward, we take our metaphorical hat off to you, dear lady.
Vivian Ward
Latika From ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is one of the most underrated Best Picture winners at the Academy Awards. The film was quickly forgotten after it did its rounds, but one character that sticks out in the movie is Latika, who was portrayed by the beautiful Dev Patel. All these years later, Dev has been in many roles, but none have captured the imaginations of audiences in the same way she did in her portrayal of this complex character. We are still very much in awe all these years later.
Latika
Claire Voyant From ‘Iron Man 2’ & ‘The Avengers’
We’re not about to send any hate to Scarlett Johansson for some of the controversies from recent years. On the contrary, it’s impossible to have anything but love for one of her most memorable characters, Claire Voyant, from two of the best-selling blockbusters of all time. It’s difficult to find a movie where Scarlett doesn’t deliver in terms of her acting chops, and as in these two roles, she’s never looked better while doing it. Keep doing what you’re doing, ScarJo.
Claire Voyant
Lisa From ‘Weird Science’
Nerds have never been more popular than they are today thanks to films like ‘Weird Science’, which promotes intelligence in a more rounded and balanced way. If you’re still thinking that nerds aren’t supposed to be beautiful or popular, think again. Kelly LeBrock may have been an AI created woman, but that didn’t stop her from capturing the hearts of men from all over the United States when the film was first released. We’ll let the movie still below do all the talking on this one.
Lisa
Santanico Pandemonium From ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’
Don’t let her strange name fool you. Santanico Pandemonium is one of the most iconic femme fatale’s in history, and who better to bring her to life than the magnificently beautiful Salma Hayek. If we were going to put our money on someone who can do justice to the role of evil priestess, she would be a sure bet. Anybody who can act that well with snakes around their neck deserves a round of applause either way.
Santanico Pandemonium
Elizabeth Swann From ‘The Pirates Of The Caribbean’
We’re of the belief that more people than just Johnny Depp should be getting props for ‘The Pirates Of The Carribean’. The film series was a monster hit, but people are quick to forget one of its incredible characters, Elizabeth Swann. Portrayed by Keira Knightley, Elizabeth helped to bring some much-needed spice and sass to the film. We could even go so far as saying that they may not have been all that worth watching if Keira wasn’t there to steal the show.
Elizabeth Swann
Cataleya Restrepo From ‘Colombiana’
Zoe Saldana might have gotten her start in the acting world when she landed a role on ‘Law & Order’ in 1999, but the actress stole the show when she got the chance to read for the part of Cataleya Restrepo in ‘Colombiana’. A killer-for-hire, Cataleya is more badass than most of the femme Fatales in competitor films. You only have to take a look at the trailer to realize that she is one of the best things to happen to the film.
Cataleya Restrepo
Jessica Rabbit From ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’
Who said we can’t add a cartoon character to the list? Jessica Rabbit is one of the most well-known cartoon creations in all of history, and not only because she had some iconic lines that kept people coming back for more. It takes some doing to recreate sex appeal in cartoon form, so the creators should be given some respect for doing so. Naturally, the voice actor also stole the show in what has been dubbed an “effortless” performance by critics.
Jessica Rabbit
Luisa Cortés From ‘Y Tu Mamá También’
Just because a film is in a different language doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth taking the time to watch it and read the subtitles. This is especially the case in films like ‘Y Tu Mamá También’, where the story involves a character that grips audiences right from the first moment she gets onto the screen. Luisa Cortés is not only brilliantly written, but thanks to stellar casting, Maribel Verdu shines in the role from start to finish.
Luisa Cortes
Barbarella From ‘Barbarella’
If you’re familiar with ‘Grace & Frankie’, you might be surprised to see Jane Fonda looking a lot different from many decades ago in the title role in ‘Barbarella’. Her career was catapulted to new heights thanks to this character, and all these years later she is still looking just as beautiful and graceful no matter what role she might find herself in. Barballa continues to be a cultural phenomenon, and we wonder whether Jane also looks back on the role with great fondness.
Barbarella
Catwoman From ‘Batman Returns’
Halle Berry might have failed at the acting side of playing ‘Catwoman’, which earned her a Razzie award for Worst Actress, but she still looked very good in those leathery tights required for the role. Michelle Pfeiffer is perhaps a more memorable version of the same role, with a few looks so iconic that people are still clamoring to get their hands on it for October 31st each year. We can’t help but wonder who will be trying the role out next in the coming years.
Catwoman
Catherine Tramell From ‘Basic Instinct’
Who said that a crime novelist couldn’t look this good? Sharon Stone’s breakout role came in ‘Basic Instinct’, where she portrayed the magnificent Catherin Tramell. Little did she know at the time that it would make her an international superstar, and that hordes of fans would follow her career as a result of her performance. One scene in particular, which is pictured below, is likely to go down in history as one of the best of all time.
Catherine Tramell
Honeychile Rider From ‘Dr. No’
Bond girls make the word go round. Not only are they some of the most beautiful women in the world, but they are also usually seen on global ad campaigns that capture the attention of millions of people from all walks of life. When Ursula Andress played Honeychile Ride in ‘Dr. No’, the world paid attention. Although Bond girls are synonymous with bikinis and beach scenes, this has got to be one of the all time best of the series.
Honeychile Rider
Foxy Brown From ‘Foxy Brown’
Is there a better queen of sass than Pam Grier in the 1970’s cult classic ‘Foxy Brown’? We think that you’d have to look very far to find an alternative that did a better job. Not only was the character incredibly well written and edited, but Pam took things to a whole new level with her acting chops, and her beautiful costumes. To this day, many drag queens reference her style as an inspiration for their looks.
Foxy Brown
Lisbeth Salander From ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’
Rooney Mara was bound to show up on our list at some point. Although ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ has a very serious tone, we can’t look past the incredible performance Rooney gave in the role of Lisbeth Salander. She not only stole the show, but she looked great doing it too. Who said that hackers can’t be sexy? The character’s unique style and quirky one-liners made the movie all the more memorable, even though it has been years since it hit the silver screen.
Lisbeth Salander
Alex Owens From ‘Flashdance’
If leotards are your thing, you’ve probably seen Jennifer Beals rock one better than most other people in ‘Flashdance’. The film is a cultural phenomenon for a reason, and thanks to the character of Alex Owen, the eighties saw a rise in leotard sales at an exponential rate. Aside from setting a new fashion trend, Jennifer Beals did the character a great deal of justice, and earned high praise for her balanced and well-rounded cinematic performance.
Alex Owens
Maria Elena From ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
Penelope Cruz is one of the most gorgeous people on the planet, but when she portrayed Maria Elena opposite Javier Bardem in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ we had a strong urge to head for the hills. This was mostly because her character was one of those scary exes you never want to deal with. The character was not only believable and relatable, but Penelope looking stunning throughout the whole thing. We think she deserves more praise for such a complex role than critics might have offered her at the time it was released.
Maria Elena
Camille Montes From ‘Quantum of Solace’
We admit that this was a hard one to add to the list, as for a majority of ‘Quantum Of Solace’ Olga Kurylenko actually looked scruffy and a little bit raggedy. That said, it didn’t change the fact that Camille Montes is one of the most memorable Bond characters of the series, and Olga always looked radiant, even when her character was pushed to the limit. Nothing beats a versatile actress playing a versatile role, and knocking it out of the park.
Camille Montes
Sugar Kane From ‘Some Like It Hot’
It’s hard to look at anything else when Marilyn Monroe is in a photograph or movie. Although ‘Some Like It Hot’ was notoriously one of the roles where she was the most difficult to deal with on set, she still stole the scene in every frame she was in, and is still widely remembered for this role over and above many of her others. Sugar Kane might not have been in a large portion of the film, but she was great whenever she was involved in a scene during the story.
Sugar Kane
Héloïse From ‘Portrait Of A Lady On Fire’
Although many of the films and characters we’ve talked about are well known to this day, in the case of this particular character, you may not have come across her yet. Adele Haenel knocked it out of the park as Héloïse in ‘Portrait Of A Lady On Fire’, where she played a bridezilla deciding whether she should go forward with the wedding or not. Her performance was stellar, and she looked absolutely breathtaking throughout every scene.
Heloise
Emmeline Lestrange From ‘The Blue Lagoon’
It’s hard to forget a young Brooke Shields absolutely stealing the show in ‘The Blue Lagoon’. The actress was still relatively unknown at the time, but soon found herself being cast in blockbusters thanks to her on-screen chemistry with her co-stars, and her beautiful smile. We wouldn’t mind being shipwrecked (or even being put in pandemic lockdown) with Emmeline Lestrange, even though the plot of the movie is still considered to be somewhat questionable all these years later.
Emmeline Lestrange
Elena Montero From ‘The Mask Of Zorro’
If there is one memorable scene from ‘The Mask Of Zorro’, it has to be the one where Catherine Zeta-Jones ends up having to cover herself up with her beautiful long, dark hair. Elena Montero is the bilingual queen we all need in our lives, communicating in multiple languages and showing the world that it’s possible to be more than just being typecast into a role because of the way you look. Power to Catherine, Elena and all the women who were breaking down barriers all those years ago already.
Elena Montero
Wonder Woman From ‘Wonder Woman’
Wonder woman has made the list. Need we really say more? Gal Gadot was the ultimate fantasy woman for young men when this film was released, and there perhaps hasn’t been a better superhero portrayal by a woman ever since. Critics were quick to call her the perfect person for the role, and we wholeheartedly agree. All it takes is one long look into those beautiful hazel eyes, and Gal has audiences spellbound by her grace, beauty and stellar performance.
Wonder Woman
Mikaela Banes From ‘Transformers’
You might have heard about a little billion-dollar grossing film series called ‘Transformers’. If so, you’ll know all too well that Meghan Fox steals the show as Mikaela Banes, especially in the scene where she is fixing up her broken-down car. Fans will argue that the movie series would not have been the same without the actress, and we agree. She isn’t given enough credit for her acting talents, and hopefully, she will return to mainstream roles in the near future.
Mikaela Banes
Shoshanna Dreyfus From ‘Inglourious Basterds’
Au revoir, Shoshanna! The iconic line still rings in our ears all these years later, even though we’re happy that it led to a string of Oscar nominations and wins for one of the best films of all time. Melanie Laurent is spellbinding in the role of Shoshanna Dreyfus, and the character is portrayed so well that you may end up calling Melanie ‘Shoshanna’ if you ever run into her on the street. A beauty with brains and a plan to get revenge, we simply can’t get enough of this amazing character.
Shoshanna Dreyfus
Lara Croft From ‘Tomb Raider’
Raise your hands if you grew up playing ‘Tomb Raider’ on PC! No? Well, perhaps you parents did then. If not, you only need to Google image search Angelina Jolie in the lead role for the film adaptation of the videogame to know what all the fuss was about. At the height of her career and fame at the time, it’s a pity that more people didn’t enjoy the movie. Regardless, Angelina took our breaths away and made it all a worthwhile two hours.
Lara Croft
Fanny Chenal From ‘A Good Year’
Nobody can argue that when Marion Cotillard is part of a film, audiences flock to movie screens to see what it’s all about. Even if she just appears in a movie trailer for a second or two, it’s bound to attract a flurry of fans who love to see her do what she does best. As Fanny Chenal in ‘A Good Year’, she not only takes attention away from the guy playing opposite her, but she also proved that she is a force to be reckoned with, ready to take on any challenging role that Hollywood can throw at her.
Fanny Chenal
Jennifer North From ‘Valley Of The Dolls’
Sharon Tate makes a chorus line look like it could be the next winner of ‘America’s Got Talent’ in ‘Valley Of The Dolls’, a timeless movie that is still heavily referenced by movie buffs around the world to this day. While we don’t want to spoil the ending to this one if you haven’t seen it already, it’s safe to say that it’s worth appreciating and enjoying every single frame that Sharon is in. As the picture below illustrates, she is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful actresses of all time.
Jennifer North
Séverine Serizy From ‘Belle De Jour’
The word ‘iconic’ might be thrown around a lot by movie critics, but it’s rare for something to be referred to as a masterpiece. That’s exactly what happened with ‘Belle de Jour’ when it was released, largely thanks to Catherine Deneuve’s incredible performance as Séverine Serizy. The ending of the movie will have you second-guessing everything you thought you knew about the character, which is part of what makes it such a complicated and compelling story.
Severine Serizy
Dr. Madeleine Swann From ‘Spectre’
The incomparable Lea Seydoux tends to shine no matter what role she takes on, but perhaps it’s the fact that she’s so selective about her roles that means she only works on projects that capture the imagination of millions of people. We love Dr. Madeleine Swann in ‘Spectre’, and it’s always difficult to be taken seriously in a role where you’re meant to be showing your sexy side too. This complex character is done total justice by Lea, and is memorable for multiple reasons.
Dr Madeleine Swann
Adelina Sbaratti From ‘Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow’
Gone are the days when bizarre films like ‘Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow’ hit screens and confused the hell out of audiences. Perhaps that’s why it is still so popular today. It could also be down to Sophia Loren’s involvement, which always grabs the attention of the masses. If you’ve seen the movie you’ll know exactly which scene is her most captivating one, and if you haven’t, you should make a plan to watch it as soon as possible.
Adelina Sbaratti
Marie Browning From ‘To Have and Have Not’
It’s difficult to reinvent yourself over the course of a long-acting career, especially if you are like Lauren Bacall and have had a long list of incredible roles under your belt already. Marie Browning was one of her most memorable performances, most notably because of the depths of the character, and how she uses her facial expressions to bring it to life. Younger actresses are known to turn to her for inspiration, and we can certainly tell why that would be appealing to anyone hoping to make it big in Tinseltown.
Marie Browning