Gone are the days when female characters were written to fulfill the need for ‘glamour’ in the story. The 21^st century has witnessed women playing some of the most badass roles in the history of cinema. Here is a list of some of the best female antagonists whom we love to hate.

The Bride in KILL BILL

No list of best female antagonists is complete without mentioning the powerful performance of Uma Thurman as The Bride in Kill Bill. Directed by the master of vengeance cinema, Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill is the story of an assassin, played skillfully by Tarantino’s muse, Uma Thurman. The fictional character is the protagonist of the two part movie who is brutally betrayed by the love of her life. She is known by her codename, Black Mamba, and went on to become one of the most popular female badass characters of all time. She is smart, strong and kills without thinking twice.

The Woman in Sherlock

The BBC series is widely known for its protagonist Sherlock Holmes and his friend cum acquaintance, Dr. Watson and how they solve crimes together. Sherlock is a self-proclaimed high functioning sociopath who is overpowered by the super cunning, Irene Adler, popularly known as The Woman. According to the series, this high profile criminal uses dominance to bring people to their knees and has a power in her eyes. She shares a complicated relationship with Sherlock and is one of the most notable characters in the series, despite appearing in only one of the episodes. She is cunning and dominant and likes to outsmart others, especially Sherlock.

Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn is perhaps the most loved female antagonist. She is one of those rare comic book characters that featured first on the screen, instead of books. This popular DC character is played to perfection by Margot Robbie, who is outstanding in the role. Margot’s Harley Quinn is witty, self-obsessed, extrovert and powerful. It is interesting to know that the character was first written to provide comic relief but got more popular than the other major characters.

Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones

The list is incomplete without the mentioning of Cersei, one of the darkest characters people have seen on screen. The character is known for his relationship with her brother, her control over men and her imperfections.  Cersei Lannister is played by Lena Headey who looks pure evil in the character. She is a strong force and one of the reasons why many people love that show.