The 20 Greatest Female Onscreen Spies
Photo: Ali Goldstein/FX
Being a spy is hard work — it requires peak physical strength, top-notch intelligence, social prowess, and, most difficult of all, the ability to keep a secret. After fulfilling all of those requirements, movie and TV spies — from Sydney Bristow to Foxxy Cleopatra — manage to make the business look exceedingly glamorous. (Take that, James Bond.)
From the run-of-the-mill FBI and CIA agents to globetrotting assassins, click through for our 20 favorite onscreen female spies.
Elizabeth Jennings,
The Americans (Keri Russell) A Russian spy who manages to keep up appearances as an average American wife and mother during ...
Elizabeth Jennings,
The Americans (Keri Russell) A Russian spy who manages to keep up appearances as an average American wife and mother during the height of the Cold War, Elizabeth Jennings is frighteningly good at her job.
Photo: Copyright 2016, FX Networks. All rights reserved.
Nikita Taylor,
La Femme Nikita (Anne Parillaud) Anne Parillaud is all grit and glamour in the 1990 classic.
Photo: Columbia TriStar
Sydney Bristow,
Alias (Jennifer Garner) This role kickstarted Jennifer Garner’s career and also featured some of the greatest TV wigs of all tim...
Sydney Bristow,
Alias (Jennifer Garner) This role kickstarted Jennifer Garner’s career and also featured some of the greatest TV wigs of all time.
Photo: Scott Garfield/2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Giacinta 'Jinx' Johnson,
Die Another Day (Halle Berry) Halle Berry’s Jinx was proof that oftentimes the Bond Girls are much more compelling than...
Giacinta 'Jinx' Johnson,
Die Another Day (Halle Berry) Halle Berry’s Jinx was proof that oftentimes the Bond Girls are much more compelling than the man himself. (And that orange suit is going down in bikini history.)
Photo: Eon Productions/EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Mata Hari,
Mata Hari (Greta Garbo) A fascinating Dutch dancer who served as a double agent for Germany, Mati Hari’s tragic tale was brought to t...
Mata Hari,
Mata Hari (Greta Garbo) A fascinating Dutch dancer who served as a double agent for Germany, Mati Hari’s tragic tale was brought to the silver screen by Greta Garbo.
Photo: Silver Screen Collection/2012 Silver Screen Collection
Susan Cooper,
Spy (Melissa McCarthy) As usual, Melissa McCarthy excels at physical comedy in Spy — but she adds plenty of heart to the role...
Susan Cooper,
Spy (Melissa McCarthy) As usual, Melissa McCarthy excels at physical comedy in Spy — but she adds plenty of heart to the role of Susan Cooper, too. Photo: Twentieth Century Fox
Harriet,
Harriet the Spy (Michelle Trachtenberg) An aspiring investigative journalist more so than a pure spy, her character — from the 19...
Harriet,
Harriet the Spy (Michelle Trachtenberg) An aspiring investigative journalist more so than a pure spy, her character — from the 1969 novel to the 1994 film adaptation — has served as inspiration for young, brainy girls everywhere.
Photo: Getty Images
Emma Peel,
The Avengers (Diana Rigg) A classic superspy with swinging '60s style.
Photo: ullstein bild/Getty Images/This content is subject ...
Emma Peel,
The Avengers (Diana Rigg) A classic superspy with swinging '60s style.
Photo: ullstein bild/Getty Images/This content is subject to copyright.
Valerie Plame,
Fair Game (Naomi Watts) Proof that a spy doesn't need fictionalized high-tech gadgets to be incredibly compelling.
Photo: River...
Valerie Plame,
Fair Game (Naomi Watts) Proof that a spy doesn't need fictionalized high-tech gadgets to be incredibly compelling.
Photo: River Road Entertainment
Dana Scully,
The X-Files (Gillian Anderson) No-nonsense pantsuits, alien interactions, and the strongest bullshit meter we’ve ever seen.
P...
Dana Scully,
The X-Files (Gillian Anderson) No-nonsense pantsuits, alien interactions, and the strongest bullshit meter we’ve ever seen.
Photo: Courtesy of Fox Broadcasting Co.
Evelyn Salt,
Salt (Angelina Jolie) Fun fact: This role was originally written for Tom Cruise, but Angelina Jolie was a major upgrade.
Phot...
Evelyn Salt,
Salt (Angelina Jolie) Fun fact: This role was originally written for Tom Cruise, but Angelina Jolie was a major upgrade.
Photo: Columbia Pictures
Jane Smith,
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Angelina Jolie) Back-to-back Jolie! In this, she proves that the couple that assinates together, stays to...
Jane Smith,
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Angelina Jolie) Back-to-back Jolie! In this, she proves that the couple that assinates together, stays together.
Photo: Fox
Bridget von Hammersmark,
Inglourious Basterds (Diane Kruger) A World War II double agent, and an exceptionally glamorous one at that.
Photo...
Bridget von Hammersmark,
Inglourious Basterds (Diane Kruger) A World War II double agent, and an exceptionally glamorous one at that.
Photo: Universal Pictures
Foxxy Cleopatra,
The Spy Who Shagged Me (Beyoncé) Before she was Queen Bey, Beyoncé was honing her comedic chops in an Austin...
Foxxy Cleopatra,
The Spy Who Shagged Me (Beyoncé) Before she was Queen Bey, Beyoncé was honing her comedic chops in an Austin Powers movie.
Photo: New Line Cinema
Carmen Cortez,
Spy Kids (Alexa Vega) Who among us didn’t want to be a tween spy who lived in a tricked-out house?
Photo: Dimension Films
M, James Bond movies from 1995–2012 (Judi Dench) Dame Judi Dench plays the boss — what’s not to love?
Photo: Eon Productions
Alex Parrish,
Quantico (Priyanka Chopra) Quantico’s first season was unbearably corny at times, but having Alex along for every plot twist made ...
Alex Parrish,
Quantico (Priyanka Chopra) Quantico’s first season was unbearably corny at times, but having Alex along for every plot twist made the journey worth it.
Photo: Phillippe Bosse/ABC/© 2015 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Malory Archer,
Archer (Jessica Walter) Jessica Walter basically plays an animated veteran spy version of Lucille Bluth, and it’s exactly great a...
Malory Archer,
Archer (Jessica Walter) Jessica Walter basically plays an animated veteran spy version of Lucille Bluth, and it’s exactly great as it sounds.
Photo: FX
Agent 99,
Get Smart (Barbara Feldon) Before Austin Powers and Archer, Get Smart skewered the sleek-spy-movie industry — but Agent 99 was hy...
Agent 99,
Get Smart (Barbara Feldon) Before Austin Powers and Archer, Get Smart skewered the sleek-spy-movie industry — but Agent 99 was hypercompetent.
Carrie Mathison,
Homeland (Claire Danes) Because Carrie made crying in the workplace okay.
Photo: Stephan Rabold/Showtime/Copyright: 2015 Sho...
Carrie Mathison,
Homeland (Claire Danes) Because Carrie made crying in the workplace okay.
Photo: Stephan Rabold/Showtime/Copyright: 2015 Showtime
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