M

Okay, James Bond is probably the most sexist movie franchise in the history of anything. Ever. Now that the wonderful Dame Judie has been replaced by the equally superb, but definitively masculine, Ralph Fiennes, future films may struggle to present a woman that is anything more than a sexy spy or damsel in distress. But whilst she was with us, M was a fabulous example of the powerful and level-headed matriarch.

Eowyn

In Lord of The Rings, the fellowship itself may be a bit of a boys club, but who can deny the ethereal command of Cate Blanchet as Galadriel? She easily surpasses any other character in power, beauty and knowledge – and yes, Gandalf, that includes you. However, the stand-out favourite has to be Eowyn, who not only chops the head off the Witch-King’s fell beast but thunders "I am no man!" whilst she does it. Pretty cheesy, but pretty badass nonetheless.

Mulan

Like Eowyn, Mulan is a fearless female warrior who goes undercover in order to protect those she loves. Sure, Mulan as a film has songs that manage to be sexist on multiple levels (‘I’ll Make A Man Out Of You’), but it still has a pretty strong message for young girls. And for Disney circa 1998 it was damn near revolutionary.

Marge Gunderson

Pregnant, middle-aged, make-up free, wielding a gun: has there ever been a better female character than Marge Gunderson? Fargo’s chief of police never actually talks to another named female, but she does approach a serial killer solo. She’s the only sane character in a movie full of men who are psychopathic, pathetic or just plain selfish (props to Jerry Lundegaard, who is all three at once). Strong and competent, with an empathetic and maternal nature, Marge shows that female police chiefs don’t always have to be hard, and that mothers don’t always have to be soft.

Mathilda

Leon: The Professional only has one real female character: Mathilda. Played by a young Natalie Portman, she gloriously captures the complexity of a teenage girl who still sleeps with her teddy but has just started smoking cigarettes and trying to seduce her neighbours. Vengeful yet vulnerable, her tempestuous performance steals the show and she completely holds her own alongside older and more experienced actors Gary Oldman and Jean Reno.