ET’S HEAR IT FOR THE LADIES!

ET’S HEAR IT FOR THE LADIES!

The world of Hollywood is all too often a male-dominated domain, where female film characters are frequently relegated(...) to smaller supporting parts as the love interest of any given movie hero. However, this trend has started change in recent years, as public demand for more female-oriented films has increased. Here are three of our favourite trailblazing(...) heroines, who paved the way by breaking the Hollywood mould for the way we think about female characters onscreen.
Emma Watson in Harry Potter : Plenty of Harry Potter fans recognize that the true star of the series may not, in fact, be its namesake(...) , but rather his brilliant sidekick Hermione Granger. Hermione loves learning and prioritizes it above all else, which is an all-too-rare quality for a female character. Hermione is inarguably the brains of most missions portrayed in the films and books alike, and the fact that she is friends with two boys who are able to recognize and value her for just that is a remarkable model for young viewers everywhere. Watson’s portrayal of Granger is every bit as delightful as it is unabashedly(...) nerdy and, ultimately, empowering for young women everywhere.
Paraminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham : Jesminder Bhamra, played by Nagra, has a calling: she wants to devote(...) her life to playing football, and she’s talented enough to do so. However, based on gender- biased(...) traditions, her conservative Indian family forbids her to pursue her dreams. Jess must wrestle with the respect and love she feels for her family and her own passion, and she does so with a complexity and humanity that female characters are rarely allowed. This tale of self-discovery and, ultimately, self-respect, is a largely unparalleled(...) , female-focused coming-of-age story. Jesminder is a role model young female viewers would do well to emulate(...) .
Gabourey Sidibe in Precious : Women of colour are notoriously underrepresented in film. Even when they are accounted for, their experiences are generally rooted in offensive stereotypes rather than authentic experiences. Sidibe’s portrayal of Precious, however, is a notable(...) exception to this rule. Precious’ attempts to overcome her circumstances, including barriers like illiteracy(...) , abuse and poverty, serve as a beacon(...) of hope for countless individuals who contend(...) with similar problems, but rarely see their reality reflected more broadly in our culture. This ultimately hopeful and inspiring portrayal is remarkable, and proves that everybody’s experiences deserve representation. (Reading text adapted from mic)