1. Sigourney Weaver

Action CV: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection

She’s the ultimate action heroine, setting the standard by which all other female action heroines should be judged. As Ripley, she not only outwitted one of the hardest extra-terrestrials to take to the screen, but also showed she was capable of outwitting any man in her presence. Apparently, her character was originally imagined as a man, but the script-change created one of cinema’s most enduring icons, and helped launch Weaver’s career. The scene at the end of Aliens — where she battles the mother creature with a hydraulic suit — is one of the most memorable action scenes in movie history, cementing Ripley’s place as the queen of the action heroines.

2. Angelina Jolie

Action CV: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Wanted

When she’s not adopting children or proving she really has got acting chops (her most recent performance, in Clint Eastwood’s Changeling, is outstanding), Angelina Jolie dabbles in a bit of action razzmatazz, displaying the moves, the icy glare and the sheer athleticism to rank among the best film action heroines. Those pillow-sized lips don't hurt, either. She was on sizzling form, battling her paramour Brad Pitt in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and the Oscar-winner proved she’s still game by appearing in Timur Bermebatov’s bendy-bulleted comic-book adaptation Wanted earlier this year.

3. Uma Thurman

Action CV: Kill Bill: Vol.1 and Vol. 2, My Super Ex-Girlfriend

It seems somewhat ironic that the daughter of a prominent Buddhist academic would emerge as one of modern cinema’s most memorable female ass-kickers. But who better to take on the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad than Beatrix Kiddo, a.k.a. the Bride, played by Thurman, her lithe frame poured into a bright yellow tracksuit? She proved herself a sizzling sword-swinger, and director Quentin Tarantino knew how to maximise her appeal — even the blood trickling from her mouth seems sinister and somewhat sexy.

4. Halle Berry

Action CV: X-Men, Die Another Day, X2, Catwoman, X-Men: The Last Stand

Halle Berry is another Oscar-winner for best actress (Monster's Ball), but despite appearing in some high-profile action films, the jury could still out on whether she will ever attain true status as an action heroine. Many comic-book fans applaud her role as Storm, the mutant who has the ability to change the weather in the X-Men franchise, and she did do some fine bikini work for Pierce Brosnan in the James Bond flick Die Another Day, and her CV remains tarnished by her dabblings with Sharon Stone in the Hollywood car-crash Catwoman.

5. Jennifer Garner

Action CV: Daredevil, Alias, Elektra, The Kingdom

Mrs Ben Affleck has proved herself a true mistress of the action genre: whether playing an international spy or hired assassin schooled in ninjitsu, her characters ooze an elegance, an authority and no little ability. First she bid to transfer the popularity of her Alias television series to the big screen in Elektra, and then, in The Kingdom, engaged in one heck of a firefight with Arab terrorist. Whether playing a superhuman force or merely a human one, Garner embodies what is best about female action stars: vulnerability and a sense of humour… rounded off by a smack in the kisser.

6. Milla Jovovich

Action CV: Resident Evil I, II and III, Ultraviolet

She may be the international spokesmodel for L'Oreal cosmetics, but the Ukrainian-born Jovovich has simultaneously morphed into a high-octane sci-fi/action heroine. In her most recent outing, Resident Evil: Extinction, she reprised her role as Alice, who has been subjected to biogenic experimentation and genetically altered to have superhuman abilities. Based on a popular video game, the first Resident Evil grossed $102 million worldwide in 2002; the sequel grossed $129 million, earning her hubby, the films’ producer, Paul W. S. Anderson, oodles of dough. Jovovich also starred in the futuristic action film Ultraviolet.

7. Kate Beckinsale

Action CV: Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, Van Helsing

Regarded by many as a true English Rose, Beckinsale chose a thorny, action-packed path, heading the Underworld franchise, where she plays Selene, a ravishing bloodsucker in tight black leather who inhabits a world where vampires and werewolves are at war. And to think she got her big break in Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Shakespeare must be rolling over in his tomb, although vamp fans still award her high marks for pluckiness and her fine, pale emo looks.

8. Rebecca Romijn

Action CV: X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand

Once voted one of the world's 50 most beautiful women, Romijn has had to battle the age-old Hollywood discrimination against gorgeous females that holds they can only do one thing: be gorgeous. Turns in Pepper Dennis and Ugly Betty could reinforce the belief that she was never born to be a real kick-butt action star, but when it came to blue-skinned ass-kicking in the X-Men trilogy, Romjin was the man. Sorry, blue-skinned woman.

9. Rose McGowan

Action CV: Death Proof, Planet Terror, Red Sonja (announced), Sin City 2 (announced)

Rose McGowan, like Kunis, is a relative newcomer to the world of action, but she’s charged in at full-pelt, cuddling up to director Rodriguez and getting parts in both instalments of his and Tarantino’s Grindhouse double-bill (Planet Terror seeing her play a memorable character with a machine gun for a leg), and she’s in line for another role in Rodriguez’s follow-up to Sin City, if the project ever starts. She’ll also don skimpy medieval attire and swing an almighty sword in the remake of 1980s fantasy adventure Red Sonja, which, unfortunately, will not feature the original’s supporting male, Arnie.

10. Charlize Theron

Action CV: Aeon Flux

It’s testimony to Charlize Theron’s reputation that her career survived the disaster that was Aeon Flux. And Theron, most folks agree, did look fantastic in her futuristic Spandex suit. She might sport an Oscar for a serious performance, but she’s also signed on for the sequel to The Italian Job remake, The Brazilian Job (she also appeared in the remake), and tottered through Hancock with Will Smith. A fine actress proving she doesn’t mind the odd easy paycheque.

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