5 Best Female Characters of 2015: From Imperator Furiosa to Rey, See Who Made the List!

2015 was a much-needed year for women in film. Although Hollywood has a long way to go in its representation of women on the big screen, this year brought some big female hitters. From Star Wars' Rey, to Mad Max: Fury Road's Imperator Furiosa, women were given leading roles in some of the year's biggest and buzziest films. They were given good roles, too, with characters who have depth, strength, intelligence, power and resourcefulness.

These women weren't playing second fiddle to anyone, and they certainly weren't getting saved by anyone; they all defied their respective genre's (and gender) stereotypes. And while there were many great characters to choose from, here we list our top five picks for best female characters of 2015.

1. Rey - Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Played by Daisy Ridley

The title of "action hero" has almost universally been reserved for men. This is especially true for the Star Wars franchise, which despite the beloved Princess Leia, still managed to fall into every gender stereotype in the book. Leia was forever sexualized when she was forced to wear that infamous gold bikini, ultimately ended up needing to be rescued by a man, and at the end of the day mostly served as yet another love interest to the film's hero (or heroes, if you count that brief time before Luke knew she was his sister).

Rey is different. She doesn't want you to hold her hand, doesn't need to be saved, and is more than capable at taking care of herself. You could even argue she's the most capable character in the film, but without getting into spoilers, we'll leave it at that. She takes part in all of the major battles, can wield a lightsaber and shoot a blaster as well as the next guy, and there's not a mention of a crush or love interest in sight.

2. Ma - Room, Played by Brie Larson

Certainly the most damaged of the list, Brie Larson's Ma has been through a lot: she was kidnapped as a teenager and forced to live in a shed with the son she had with her captor. She's raw, she's emotional (who wouldn't be?), and most of all, she's capable. She tries her best to be strong for her son. When she devises a plan for her son's escape, she knows she may never make it out of the room or see her son again. But her love for her son enables her to let him go. She's real and flawed - the emotions definitely get to her at times - but she's the ultimate picture of a woman who is both a lover and a fighter.

3. Imperator Furiosa - Mad Max: Fury Road, Played by Charlize Theron

Like Rey, Furiosa is the true lead in a sequel to a film franchise that's largely been dominated by its male characters. The film may be called Mad Max, but the name is incredibly deceiving. Max is reduced to a grunting sidekick in this film. The film completely belongs to Theron's Furiosa, who fights to free Immortan Joe's wives from his slavemaster ways. Like the other women on this list, she's capable and a very strong fighter. The success of this film is ultimately a testament to the fact that women can, and should, lead more blockbuster action flicks.

4. Eilis Lacey - Brooklyn, Played by Saoirse Ronan

Eilis is certainly the most relatable of this bunch. Her tale is one that most people can relate to in some way: a young woman leaves her home (Ireland) and family for a life in America in the 1950s. Eilis has a job waiting for her and attends college courses in order to eventually have a better job, at a time when most women were limited to ambitions surrounding their home life. And although she definitely has love interests, she is never shown as needing them. Through the course of the film, we watch her go from a young girl unsure of herself and her abilities, to a wiser woman who knows exactly who she is. She is ultimately influenced by her loves, but not defined by them.

5. Bathsheba Everdene - Far From the Madding Crowd, Played by Carey Mulligan

Bathsheba Everdene is a perfect illustration of a woman with the endurance to establish herself in a male-dominated industry (farming) and without the need for a husband, it should be noted. The fact that her character stems from a novel that is over 140 years old is what makes her character even more remarkable. Bathsheba is the original strong female character, and her charm and wit make her so much fun to watch (particularly in all of those turning-down-the-next-proposal scenes).