HOT GALLERY: Butt-Kicking TV Women, from Bionic to Xena
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Lynda Carter as Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, in <em>Wonder Woman</em> (1975–1979)
Lynda Carter "in her satin tights" was the object of every male fantasy. However, she was also "fighting for your rights," making her a suitable role model for girls. The show also had arguably the funkiest theme song ever. Fun fact: according to this clip, everyone's favorite female fighter was over 2,500 years old on the series.
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Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers in <em>The Bionic Woman</em> (1976-1978)
Although she wasn't the first bionic TV star (that would be Lee "Six Million Dollar Man" Majors), Lindsay Wagner made a memorable mark as a former tennis pro turned souped-up secret agent. Wagner even won an Emmy for playing both Jaime Sommers and look-alike Lisa Galloway in the episode "Deadly Ringer" (1977).
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Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully in <em>The X-Files</em> (1993–2002)
The truth is out there, and it is on YouTube. This video of Gillian Anderson reading a Letterman Top 10 starts with a lengthy burst of applause, and is all the proof you need that her portrayal of FBI agent Dana Scully put her into a category of fan worship most actors can only dream of. See also this video compilation of Scully kicking butt.
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Lucy Lawless as Xena in <em>Xena: Warrior Princess</em> (1995–2001)
While Lawless is best known for playing the uber-tough Xena, the actress is more of a chameleon than you might realize. Here she is as a blonde, singing "Footloose" with Kenny Loggins on Celebrity Duets (2006). Really.
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Peta Wilson as Nikita in <em>La Femme Nikita</em> (1997-2001)
Wilson's Nikita was deliciously deadly, constantly battling her own instincts "to do what's right," in spite of her training. Check out this Season 1 promo for some seriously sexy scrapping.
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Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers in <em>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</em> (1997–2003)
Her name was anything but tough, which was kind of the point. Kristy Swanson was the big-screen Buffy Summers (1992), but Gellar easily made the character her own. Here is Buffy fighting Glory, and Buffy fighting Faith. Simply put, Buffy kicks butt.
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Jessica Alba as Max Guevera in <em>Dark Angel</em> (2000-2002)
Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow in <em>Alias</em> (2001–2006)
Jennifer Garner's squeaky-clean public image doesn't stop her from playing women capable of beating the snot out of people. This Alias fight sequence is about more than whether or not someone likes coffee ice cream, but you can enjoy it without the background info.
Katee Sackhoff as Kara "Starbuck" Thrace in <em>Battlestar Galactica</em> (2004-2009)
Summer Glau as Cameron in <em>Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles</em> (2008-2009)
Summer Glau looks like she might weigh 75 pounds (give or take), but that doesn't stop her from being the toughest tiny Terminator in town. Watch her take out these twerps because they know where she lives, and literally kick a threatening fella into a wall, even though she doesn't know who he is. Fun fact: Glau's character was named Cameron in honor of original Terminator director James Cameron.
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Maggie Q as Nikita in <em>Nikita</em> (2010-2013)
Nikita... I just met a girl named Nikita... While this was the umpteenth version of the character, fans were intrigued by Maggie Q's version of the femme fatale. With moves like these, why wouldn't they be?
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Maria Bello as Jane Timoney in <em>Prime Suspect</em> (2011-2012)
