3. Cecilia - The Purple Rose Of Cairo
There was something tremendously delicate yet optimistic about Cecilia, who used the local cinema as a means to escape her dreary Depression-era life. She was proof that you could write a strong female role without making her into a tough chick stereotype. Because regardless of what some people might say about Cecilia, there is strength in finding a way to cope with the challenges of your life and to still find joy in simple things. She was a loving woman who refused to give into the ugliness around her, played with wide-eyed innocence by a delightful Mia Farrow. There's an endearing sort of recklessness and appreciation for the surreal in a woman who questions nothing when the boundaries between reality and fantasy become blurred. But when her escapism forces her to choose between fantasy and reality, she chooses reality, despite knowing what a harsh and unforgiving place it is. There may be more impressive female heroines out there, but Cecilia's resilience feels remarkably honest and relatable.