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It started with Uhura. Then came Leia, Ripley, Scully, Buffy, Cersei, Katniss (Everdeen), Furiosa and Jessica Jones. And with a female protagonist in the shape of Daisy Ridley’s Rey, and the gender-flipped casting of Gwendoline Christie as baddie Captain Phasma, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is looking to add to that list.

These are iconic characters, and not just because they fall into the trope of “strong female protagonist”. They are complicated, unpredictable, unapologetic and flawed. In fact, while they might be (literally) out of this world, they’re some of the most realistic women on film and television. The stereotypical binds have been loosened in sci-fi, and as a result it’s where actresses have long turned to find roles that will challenge them.

These women don’t have to be likeable; they can be incestuous, alcoholic, relentless and sulky.

Melissa Silverstein, founder and editor of the Women in Hollywood website says: “We’ve always looked to those genres to challenge the norms in our culture — Battlestar Galactica was one of the first. The genre allows people to switch things up in ways they might not be able to do in something that is much more grounded in reality. These genres are very freeing, because you can experiment.”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens World Premiere 27 show all Star Wars: The Force Awakens World Premiere 1/27 Reunited Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher attend the World Premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the Dolby, El Capitan, and TCL Theatres Jesse Grant/Getty Images 2/27 Back together Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill - who play Han Solo and Luke Skywalker - arrive at the premiere Mario Anzuoni/Reuters 3/27 Feel the force Mark Hamill proves he's not lost those jedi skills Jason Merritt/Getty Images 4/27 On guard Stormtroopers flank the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre Jason Merritt/Getty Images 5/27 Galactic kiss John Boyega and Carrie Fisher embrace as they arrive at the premiere Mario Anzuoni/Reuters 6/27 New star Daisy Ridley looks stunning in white as she makes a grand entrance Kevork Djansezian/Reuters 7/27 Directors Club George Lucas and J.J. Abrams catch up on the red carpet Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 8/27 Leaving clues John Boyega who plays Finn wears a single leather glove and strikes a series of poses leading fans to speculate on the meaning Getty Images 9/27 I suggest a new strategy, Artoo Film characters R2-D2, left, and C-3PO arrive at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 10/27 R2-D2, where are you? C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels arrives at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 11/27 Gwendoline Christie Gwendoline Christie makes a grand entrance in a stand out dress Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 12/27 Galactic fashion Jaime King looked to the stars for her red carpet inspiration Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 13/27 Pretty in prints Elizabeth Banks arrives at the world premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 14/27 Kiss me, quick Dominic Sherwood and Sarah Hyland share a kiss under the 'stars' Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 15/27 Shining star Actress Lupita Nyong'o decides to bring the galaxy with her in a seriously sparkling dress Getty Images 16/27 Looking all white Daisy Ridley arrives in a layered white dress Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 17/27 Red carpet ready Geena Davis arrives in a fur lined dress Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 18/27 Going casual Cuba Gooding, Jr. shuns a traditional suit in favour of a more casual look Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 19/27 Rogue leaders Fans dressed in character wait in the stands at the world premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 20/27 Star Wars selfie Actress Lupita Nyong'o poses with a fan as she makes her way along the red carpet Mario Anzuoni/Reuters 21/27 Sign here Mr Solo Harrison Ford signs autographs for fans 22/27 In support Harrison Ford is accompanied by his wife Calista Flockhart Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 23/27 Family time Carrie Fisher brings her daughter Billie Lourd along for support Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 24/27 Model look Sofia Vergara poses up a storm Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 25/27 The villain Adam Driver - who plays Kylo Ren - arrives at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 26/27 Meet BB-8 Film character BB-8 arrives at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 27/27 Old friends Actors Billy Dee Williams (L) and Harrison Ford catch up Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images 1/27 Reunited Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher attend the World Premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the Dolby, El Capitan, and TCL Theatres Jesse Grant/Getty Images 2/27 Back together Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill - who play Han Solo and Luke Skywalker - arrive at the premiere Mario Anzuoni/Reuters 3/27 Feel the force Mark Hamill proves he's not lost those jedi skills Jason Merritt/Getty Images 4/27 On guard Stormtroopers flank the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre Jason Merritt/Getty Images 5/27 Galactic kiss John Boyega and Carrie Fisher embrace as they arrive at the premiere Mario Anzuoni/Reuters 6/27 New star Daisy Ridley looks stunning in white as she makes a grand entrance Kevork Djansezian/Reuters 7/27 Directors Club George Lucas and J.J. Abrams catch up on the red carpet Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 8/27 Leaving clues John Boyega who plays Finn wears a single leather glove and strikes a series of poses leading fans to speculate on the meaning Getty Images 9/27 I suggest a new strategy, Artoo Film characters R2-D2, left, and C-3PO arrive at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 10/27 R2-D2, where are you? C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels arrives at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 11/27 Gwendoline Christie Gwendoline Christie makes a grand entrance in a stand out dress Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 12/27 Galactic fashion Jaime King looked to the stars for her red carpet inspiration Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 13/27 Pretty in prints Elizabeth Banks arrives at the world premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 14/27 Kiss me, quick Dominic Sherwood and Sarah Hyland share a kiss under the 'stars' Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 15/27 Shining star Actress Lupita Nyong'o decides to bring the galaxy with her in a seriously sparkling dress Getty Images 16/27 Looking all white Daisy Ridley arrives in a layered white dress Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 17/27 Red carpet ready Geena Davis arrives in a fur lined dress Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 18/27 Going casual Cuba Gooding, Jr. shuns a traditional suit in favour of a more casual look Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 19/27 Rogue leaders Fans dressed in character wait in the stands at the world premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 20/27 Star Wars selfie Actress Lupita Nyong'o poses with a fan as she makes her way along the red carpet Mario Anzuoni/Reuters 21/27 Sign here Mr Solo Harrison Ford signs autographs for fans 22/27 In support Harrison Ford is accompanied by his wife Calista Flockhart Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 23/27 Family time Carrie Fisher brings her daughter Billie Lourd along for support Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 24/27 Model look Sofia Vergara poses up a storm Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 25/27 The villain Adam Driver - who plays Kylo Ren - arrives at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 26/27 Meet BB-8 Film character BB-8 arrives at the world premiere Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP 27/27 Old friends Actors Billy Dee Williams (L) and Harrison Ford catch up Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Actress Tatiana Maslany has now played 10 different clones in three seasons of sci-fi thriller Orphan Black, from a perfectionist soccer mum with a gun habit to a feral Ukrainian assassin with an unexpected loyal streak. She’s supported by veteran Irish actress Maria Doyle Kennedy as the tough and mysterious Mrs S, and their screen time more than passes the Bechdel test.

One of the best films of the year, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, features Sheila Vand playing a kohl-eyed, vinyl-loving, shape-shifting vampire in what the director calls “the first Iranian vampire western”. Inventing a genre from scratch is one way to liberate your characters from expectations.

Even in the fantasy genre representation is not perfect — the numerous debates around the portrayal of sexual violence in Game of Thrones are a case in point — but it is still the place to see some of the most complex women in television.

And sometimes of course, however fantastical the content the old school stereotypes persist: Jurassic World still managed to relegate Bryce Dallas Howard’s character to running about in high heels while everyone repeatedly makes reference to the fact she doesn’t have kids.

But by the very definition of science fiction and fantasy genres, anything is possible — even, as it turns out, having female characters that are multidimensional and fully formed.

@littlewondering