Personally, I found ROGUE NATION to be a bit underwhelming compared to prior movies in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise. But, Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust is by far my favorite spy in the whole series. Gorgeous, sexy, and deadly, Faust is exactly the spy you want on your team even if you have to be careful not to get stabbed in the back.
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Angelina Jolie has played spies, warriors, and all sorts of strong female characters. But, her role in SALT proved that she could play with the big boys like Tom Cruise and Dwayne Johnson. Originally envisioned as a male character, Evelyn Salt was changed to a woman and Jolie became the prototype for later characters including Charlize Theron’s in ATOMIC BLONDE.
Scarlett Johansson is synonymous with Marvel’s Black Widow. Fans have been clamoring for her own film since she debuted back in IRON MAN 2, but it remains to be seen if she will survive next summer’s AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. For now, Black Widow is one of the sole characters without superpowers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe who can hold her own with all sorts of incredible beings. That alone makes her worthy of this spot on the list.
Diane Kruger does her best Marlene Dietrich impression in Quentin Tarantino’s WWII movie that runs the gamut of every genre set during the reign of Hitler. Hammersmark is an actress and spy who serves as more of a silver screen siren using her beauty and connections to get intel for the Allies than a fighter, but when she has to grab a gun she is as deadly as anyone else on this ranking.
Pierce Brosnan’s swan song as James Bond may not have been the same caliber of film as GOLDENEYE, but it did offer a female spy on par with 007 himself. Halle Berry looked stunning as Jinx Johnson, Bond’s American counterpart. Able to cut deep with weapons and words, she was poised to appear in her own spin-off film that I would still be open to watching today.
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Mel Brooks’ original TV series that inspired GET SMART was an amalgam of spoof and humor but the 2008 big screen version is an action-packed comedic thriller. Steve Carell and Dwayne Johnson are perfectly cast as the bumbling and dashing spies, respectively. But, it is Anne Hathaway taking over for Barbara Feldon as Agent 99 that steals the show. Hathaway is a gorgeous woman who is able to fight in and out of sexy outfits. A great fighter and an excellent spy.
Luc Besson has always done a great job of representing strong female characters on screen and it all started with LA FEMME NIKITA. Remade as two television series starring Peta Wilson and Maggie Q and a primary inspiration for JJ Abrams’ Alias, NIKITA is a femme fatale and badass fighter rolled into one. Check out the original if you haven’t seen it.
Paul Feig’s SPY was written off by many as just another generic Melissa McCarthy movie but it is so much more. Featuring hilarious performances from Jude Law and Jason Statham, it also showcases McCarthy as a damn good leading lady whose spy talents rival those of her male counterparts. Yeah, the movie does feature McCarthy doing her normal routine, but the rest of the movie is well worth your time.
If you are a fan of McG’s big screen version of the cult TV series or not, you have to admit this is one sexy trio. All three play their roles as kind of goofy, but when the action starts, all three kick major ass. I will forgive the Tom Green cameo if it means seeing Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz taking on some well shot fights.
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Elizabeth Hurley’s role in AUSTIN POWERS is more than just mere eye candy. While she eventually succumbs to the charm of Mike Myers’ man of mystery, she does hold her own as a fully trained fighter. She also is pretty tech savvy which makes her a worthy partner to Powers. It was always a shame that she was blown up in the sequel, but that means we got to see both Heather Graham and Beyonce fill similar roles. Still, I have a soft spot for Hurley.