It’s not exactly the first thing you look for in a potential girlfriend, is it? You don’t spend a lot of your first dates comparing biceps and arm-wrestling, do you? Do you?! But in Movieland, that’s a different story. We just can’t get enough of them. And if she looks hot while she’s doing it, even better.

Well, Hecklerspray has come up yet another list of sexy movie babes for you to delight over. Now, selecting a list of all the hot women who ever appeared in action movies was always going to be tough call. There are so many action films, and picking some girl who was basically the love interest throughout the entire film and whose sole role was to scream a lot would not be right.

So we tried to restrict them down to ones who are the leading characters and were also hard as nails.
Not so much femme fatales, but lethal ladies. We ask two questions: Are they hard? Do they make you hard? That’s the only criteria. Oh, and are they strong female role models? Or something like that.

The other problem is: how do you define an action movie? Arguably any movie involves some kind of movement. Unless it’s a Gus Van Sant film, that is. Well, we have tried to restrict it to movies which at least needed some kind of rigorous training schedule and martial arts work to prepare for the role. Not the greatest criteria, admittedly, which probably explains why there are lot of selections on this list which could easily settle into other genres.

Anyway, enjoy!

26. Charlize Theron
Notable action movie appearance: Aeon Flux (2005)

Terrible film, but Theron looked amazing.

25. Linda Hamilton
Notable action movie appearances: Terminator series (1984-1991)

OK, she looks like she has a small dog on top of her head, but she is certainly one bad-ass mother (of the saviour of mankind).

24. Liv Tyler
Notable action movie apperance: Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

All right, we admit her portrayal of Elvish princess Arwen is not exactly action-packed. In fact, she spends most of it flouncing around in a long dress looking all sincere. But there is no doubt she looks really cute in pointy ears.

23. Natasha Henstridge
Notable action movie appearance: Species (1995), Species 2 (1998)

She plays a really hot alien desperate to mate with any human man as soon as possible. What’s not to like?
Not exactly girlfriend material though. She has a bit of a jealous streak and is prone to ripping people’s spines out as soon as she’s done.

22. Rhona Mitra
Notable action movie appearances: Underworld 3 (2009), Doomsday (2008)

Just the women to step into Kate Beckinsale’s leathers. Simply stunning.

21. Kristanna Loken
Notable action movie appearance: Terminator 3 (2003)

OK, the movie sucked really bad, but the sight of Loken in red leather was worth the admission alone.

20. Jennifer Garner
Notable action movie appearance: Daredevil (2003), Elektra (2005)

Once again, both films sucked, but Jennifer Garner is always worth looking at.

Joint 19. Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore
Notable action movie appearances: Charlie’s Angels I and II (2001-2003)

Now that’s a threesome I think we’d all appreciate. One for everyone’s tastes.

18. Megan Fox
Notable action movie appearance: Transformers (2007)

OK, we admit it, she’s not exactly an all-action heroine in the movie Transformers, but we could not resist sticking her in.

17. Gina Gershon
Notable movie appearance: Bound (1996)

Apparently, Gina boxed Bob Dylan to prepare for her role as Corky, a tough, lesbian ex-con. Not sure old Bob put up much of a fight, but it certainly got her in shape.

16. Leonor Varela
Notable action movie appearance: Blade 2 (2002)

What is it about women who wants to suck you dry?

Joint 15: Jordana Brewster, Sara Foster, Devon Aoki, Jill Ritchie and Meagan Good
Notable action movie appearance: D.E.B.S (2004)

We couldn’t decide which one to put in, so opted for all of them. If you have never seen D.E.B.S it’s about a group of scantily-clad schoolgirls who are trained to be bloodthirsty, gun-toting assassins. Genius.

14. Meiko Kaji
Notable action movie appearances: Lady Snowblood (1973) and loads more

A lady not to be messed with – and hard as nails too. Her films, such as the brilliant Lady Snowblood, inspired Kill Bill.

13. Ziyi Zhang
Notable action movie appearance: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hero (2002)

Well, she certainly knows how to handle a weapon.

12. Anne Parillaud
Notable action movie appearance: Nikita (1990)

Incredibly sexy French actress is given a license to thrill in Nikita.

11. Rose McGowan
Notable action movie appearance: Planet Terror (2008)

Sexiest thing on, errrr, one leg.

10. Michelle Yeoh
Notable action movie appearance: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

A Bond girl who could actually handle herself – perfect.

9. Carrie Fisher
Notable action movie appearance: Star Wars trilogy (1977-1983)

Gold bikini – need we say any more.

8. Michelle Rodriguez
Notable action movie appearance: S.W.A.T (2003), Resident Evil (2002)

Killing her off in Lost just about killed off our interest in the show.

7. Jessica Alba
Notable action movie appearance: Fantastic Four I and II

Made her name in Dark Angel and has to be one of the sexiest women alive today.

6. Carrie-Anne Moss
Notable action movie appearances: The Matrix trilogy (1999-2003)

Named her after The Hollies‘ 1967 hit song, she certainly hits all the right notes. OK, we know that was terrible.

5. Sigourney Weaver
Notable action movie appearances: Alien series (1979-1997)

Not to everyone’s tastes, but no list about bad-ass action babes would be complete without Ripley.

4. Milla Jovovich
Notable action movie appearances: The Fifth Element, Resident Evil I (2002) and II (2007)

Everyone loves Milla time.

3. Kate Beckinsale
Notable action movie appearances: Underworld I and II (2003-2006)

Kate Beckinsale in a tight leather body suit, need we say any more?

2. Uma Thurman
Notable action movie appearance: Kill Bill (2003-2004)

Is it just us or does she get better and better with age?

1. Angelina Jolie
Notable action movie appearances: Lara Croft I and II (2001-2003), Wanted (2008)

Anyone who disagrees with our choice of number one should take a look ather in the grey swim suit. That’s all that needs to be said.