Get riled and feel empowered with a list of the best, the most badass and the most inspiring quotes from our favourite women of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. Happy International Women’s Day…
Buffy Summers
Known for: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, being Buffy the goddamn Vampire Slayer
So here’s the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power, now? In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule. I say my power… should be our power. Tomorrow, Willow will use the essence of the Scythe to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, will have the power, can stand up, will stand up. Slayers… every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?
Nomi Marks
Known for: Sense8, being a badass hacktivist and all-round amazing human being
“The real violence, the violence I realised was unforgivable, is the violence that we do to ourselves, when we’re too afraid to be who we really are.”
Hermione Granger
Known for: Harry Potter, being the brightest witch of her age and a stone-cold boss in every situation
“Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery…”
Jen Yu
Known for: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, being an absolute beast
“You know to know who I am? I am… I am the Invincible Sword Goddess, armed with the Green Destiny that knows no equal! Be you Li or Southern Crane, bow your head and ask for mercy! I am the dragon from the desert who comes from nowhere and leaves no trace! Today I fly over Eu-Mei. Tomorrow, I topple Mount Wudan!”
Ellen Ripley
Known for: Alien, never backing down
You started this. Show me everything. I can handle myself.
Samantha Belmont
Known for: Night Of The Comet, giving hardly any shits about the apocalypse
“You were born with an asshole, Doris, you don’t need Chuck.”
Imperator Furiosa
Known for: Mad Max: Fury Road, being the best thing about Mad Max: Fury Road (which, to be honest, is quite an achievement)
“Out here, everything hurts. You want to get through this? Do as I say. Now pick up what you can and run.”
Rey
Known for: Star Wars, awakening the Force
“You will remove these restraints and leave this cell with the door open. You will remove these restraints and leave this cell with the door open. And you will drop your weapon.”
Katniss Everdeen
Known for: The Hunger Games, leading a revolution and being the Mockingjay
“Pity doesn’t get you aid. Admiration at your refusal to give it does.”
Peggy Carter
Known for: Agent Carter, slaying the patriarchy
“I know my value. Anyone else’s opinion doesn’t really matter.”
Aeryn Sun
Known for: Farscape, inspiring aspiring pilots everywhere
“Got a bit of a problem, Commander? Well, now you’ve got one more. ‘Cause the only way you’re going to get my weapon is if I’m dead.”
Chanel Oberlin
Known for: Scream Queens, ruling Kappa Kappa Tau and basically the entirety of Wallace University
“I’m sorry, but did I ask you to pull down my panties and blow a compliment up my butt?”
Nyota Uhura
Known for: Star Trek, acting as the Enterprise’s communications officer and slaying everything she does
“But why should I object to that term, sir? You see, in our century, we’ve learned not to fear words.”
Rose Tyler
Known for: Doctor Who, BAD WOLF
“You don’t just give up. You don’t just let things happen. You make a stand! You say no! You have the guts to do what’s right, even when everyone else just runs away.”
Nancy Thompson
Known for: Nightmare On Elm Street, surviving a good long while and being a badass Final Girl
“I take back every bit of energy I gave you. You’re nothing. You’re shit.”
Cat Grant
Known for: Supergirl, singlehandedly building a media empire
I’m the hero. I stuck a label on the side of the girl. I branded her. She will forever be linked to CatCo, to the Tribune, to me. And what do you think is so bad about ‘Girl?’ Huh? I’m a girl. And your boss, and powerful, and rich, and hot and smart. So if you perceive ‘Supergirl’ as anything less than excellent, isn’t the real problem you?
Dana Scully
Known for: The X-Files, inspiring both scientists and believers everywhere
“‘Baby’ me one more time and you’ll be peeing through a catheter.”
Nancy Downs
Known for: The Craft, practicing witchcraft and harbouring all the power of Manon
“Jealous? You don’t even exist to me! You don’t exist! You are nothing! You are shit! You don’t exist. The only way you know how to treat women is by treating them like whores! Well, you’re the whore! And this is gonna stop! Do you understand! Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Ginger Fitzgerald
Known for: Ginger Snaps, ripping shit to shreds
“I’m a goddamn force of nature. I feel like I could do just about anything.”
Alison Hendrix
Known for: Orphan Black, running a drug ring/luxury soaps business in her suburban neighbourhood, her musical theatre work and acting as school board trustee
Family. That’s my agenda. Sometimes, family is more than just the people under your roof. They’re people who jump in, head first, who aren’t afraid to make fools of themselves to help you, who don’t hide their faces in shame if you fall down. If your family is suddenly bigger than you expected and your house gets too crowded, do you tell your family that they need to find a different place to live? You make room. You adapt. You find creative solutions to keep people together.
