5. Lelaina - Reality Bites
For those of you whose tastes run a little alternative, Winona Ryder in Reality Bites is a perfect choice. She's got an edge to her that makes her performance of a struggling 20-something filmmaker all the more captivating. She pretty much serves as a 90s grunge version of the manic pixie dream girl, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Lelaina's an ambitious artist and the former valedictorian of her university. She's a great friend to Vickie while she's waiting for the results of her AIDs test. But most importantly, she has really strong ideals. She creates a documentary that is sold to MTV, but when her video is cut into a stylistic montage without her permission, she is heartbroken that her artistic vision was disregarded. I love Lelaina because she feels so real. Her lofty aspirations of being a documentarian give way to a menial job as a production assistant to a boss that she hates. But she's still there, encouraging Troy to follow his dreams, even though she's terrified that she will never be what she's always wanted to be. There's definitely a lot to be said for the vibrancy and vulnerability that Ryder brings to the character. Preppy blond cheerleaders? No thanks. I like my women with a side of spirit-crushing existentialism. See also: Janeane Garofalo, Daria