8) SAM CARTER (Amanda Tapping, Stargate SG-1)
Colonel Carter is both scientist and soldier, meaning she boasts an unbeatable
combination of brains and brawn. She’s also a character of warmth and integrity, and
over the course of 10 seasons of Stargate SG-1, two TV movies and later series of
Stargate Atlantis, we really get to know her.
7) ROSE TYLER (Billie Piper, Doctor Who)
Out of all the new Who’s companions, it is indisputably Rose Tyler who has had the most impact on both fans and the Doctor himself. The plucky young woman is one of the rare companions to fall for the Doctor, while the Doctor is unable to get over losing her in the second series. Thankfully, it isn’t the last we see of the shopgirl-turned-deity.
6) PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA (Carrie Fisher, Star Wars)
The much-loved female lead of the original Star Wars trilogy went through a great
many looks and styles (as the various Kenner figures play testament to): there’s
the composed, prim and proper Princess that we see at the start of Episode IV; there’s the prickly, romantic gal who falls for Han; there’s the gun-wielding heroine on Hoth and, of course, there’s the slave girl Leia that fanboys will never forget. Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequels doesn’t even come close.