15 Recent Movie Characters Destined To Be Iconic

15. Imperator Furiosa - Mad Max: Fury Road

Another contestant for the most badass character in this list comes in the form of Charlize Theron's compelling portrayal of Imperator Furiosa. A war captain under the savage Immortan Joe, Furiosa turns on him in the aim of rescuing his unwilling breeding partners, whom he names his 'five wives'.

Although Tom Hardy plays the lead role as the eponymous character, Max Rockatansky, the story is truly about Furiosa. It is Furiosa that starts a war with Joe by saving his wives, and their journey centres around Furiosa's attempts to find a safe haven for the group named the Green Place. When this turns out to be a dead end, it is discovered that Furiosa is a member of the Vuvalini, and so she seeks to help them reach safety as well.

Max convinces Furiosa and their other companions that, in order to be truly safe, they must enter the Citadel and kill Joe. Despite being seriously injured in the ensuing battle, Furiosa manages to kill the tyrannical leader and end their war, and is now revered as a leader to both the Vuvalini and the citizens in the Citadel.

What is essentially a post-apocalyptic story around car chases, explosions, brutal murder and hulking bravado, Furiosa shines a bright light around her saviour-centred narrative and has been described as a modern day icon of feminism.