Five women who battled real-world issues to become reel world superheroes

It’s 2019 and we’ve come a long way from the classic superheroes from our comics. Ever since a rise in feministic movements, female superheroes have been showcased for their true potential. The actresses who have played these roles have had to put in a lot of hard work and effort and overcome a lot of stereotypes to become our true role models.

Here are five strong and ferocious female superhero leads who continue to inspire us:

Jean Grey

Sophie Turner played the role of Jean Grey in X-men: Dark Phoenix, making her character the only one apart from Wolverine to have the movie named after them. Hutch Parker, a producer, appreciated how Sophie on having researched “everything from facets of mental illness to addiction, behaviours that would manifest the sort of conflicts that she imagined Jean would be feeling,” right after they introduced the role to her. What dedication!

Batwoman

After the infamous vigilante hero, Batman, takes off, Kate Kane, his cousin returns and takes over. She becomes the symbol of hope as Batwoman for the citizens of Gotham. Ruby Rose, playing the lead, has gone leaps and bounds to do justice to her role as Batwoman in the sitcom. She recently revealed a terrifying neck surgery that almost left her paralyzed in addition to the struggles of being a gender-fluid actor playing the role of a lesbian Superhero. Do not miss out on the woman of the hour – BATWOMAN season 1 currently airing exclusively on COLORS INFINITY every Monday at 10 PM. 

Supergirl

Taking the lead of a show Supergirl — especially one with such a strong legacy on-screen and off — was a big step for Melissa Benoist, both performance-wise and also physically. Melissa Benoist had to go through a rigorous audition process before she got anywhere close to landing the role. In an interview, she said, “It was a long, drawn-out, three-month process. I auditioned around Halloween 2014 and then didn't land the part until February 2015. I went through multiple screen-tests, multiple auditions with the producing team.” Watch Supergirl on ZeeCafe.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman defeated the "damsels in distress" trope that was common in comics back in the 1940s. Fast-forward to 2017 and we have the gorgeous Gal Gadot playing the role in the American movie Wonder Woman. While she is well known as a model, all the high-intensity action she takes on in Wonder Woman (and other movies) pales in comparison to what she's actually seen and done in real life. Incredibly, Gadot served in the Israel Defense Forces for two years and even worked as a combat instructor. Real-life Wonder Woman?

Thunder (The Black Lightning)

Anissa 'Thunder' Pierce, played by Nafessa Williams, made history as TV's first black lesbian superhero. She is best known for her staunch activism and her compassion for the community making her an emblem of the kind of Heroes we can truly look up to. In an interview, Nafessa says, “As a young black girl I didn’t have a superhero like me to look up to,” showcasing how she wants to be one for young black girls now.  Advocating women of colour and their rights even in the real world, Nafessa has created her own mark as Thunder. Tune in to COLORS INFINITY for season 3 of ‘The Black Lightning’ and watch Thunder take the world with a storm!

While we wish to see more female leads in superhero movies and series, there is no denying in the grace and ferocity of the existing super females. Watch these ladies break all barriers and challenge stereotypes in their own unique ways.