Best Sci-Fi Actresses of All Time

Science fiction has given performers a chance to anchor sprawling universes, lead franchises across decades, and bring complex concepts to life through memorable characters. This list gathers actresses whose work spans films, television, and streaming, from space operas and cyberpunk thrillers to time travel mysteries and kaiju epics. Each entry highlights roles, franchises, and accomplishments that shaped the genre’s past and present. Use it as a guide to find new watches and revisit classics across galaxies and timelines.

Sigourney Weaver

Weaver led ‘Alien’ as Ellen Ripley across multiple films and returned to science fiction in ‘Avatar’. She appeared in ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Galaxy Quest’, bringing range across tones inside the genre. Her ‘Avatar’ work continued with new installments using performance capture and advanced 3D techniques. She has received Academy Award nominations that include recognition for genre work.

Carrie Fisher

Fisher played Leia Organa in ‘Star Wars’ across the original trilogy and the sequel era. She contributed to the franchise through acting, writing, and on set script work. Archival footage and digital compositing extended her presence in later chapters. Her portrayal influenced depictions of leadership and rebellion in space sagas.

Linda Hamilton

Hamilton starred as Sarah Connor in ‘The Terminator’ and ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’. She returned to the series in ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ with a story that continued Connor’s fight against Skynet successors. Hamilton’s role tracked changing timelines and future wars across entries. The character’s arc sits at the center of the franchise’s human resistance narrative.

Carrie-Anne Moss

Moss portrayed Trinity in ‘The Matrix’ series, including ‘The Matrix Resurrections’. The films used bullet time, virtual reality themes, and simulated worlds. She also appeared in science fiction television and games tied to the franchise. Trinity’s presence shaped the series’ action and philosophical elements.

Natalie Portman

Portman played Padmé Amidala in ‘Star Wars’ prequels and later joined Marvel as Jane Foster in ‘Thor’ films. Her role in ‘Annihilation’ explored cosmic horror and biology within a quarantined zone. She has balanced studio franchises with mid budget science fiction features. Awards recognition includes an Academy Award for work outside the genre.

Scarlett Johansson

Johansson headlined ‘Lucy’ and starred in ‘Ghost in the Shell’. She appeared as Natasha Romanoff across Marvel titles that fuse science fiction with superhero narratives. Voice work in ‘Her’ added an AI driven performance to her filmography. Her projects span cybernetics, transhumanism, and near future settings.

Zoe Saldaña

Saldana plays Neytiri in ‘Avatar’ and Gamora in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. She also portrayed Uhura in ‘Star Trek’ reboots. These roles connect her to three major science fiction franchises. Her work covers space exploration, alien cultures, and interstellar teams.

Charlize Theron

Theron led ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ as Imperator Furiosa and appeared in ‘Prometheus’. She returned to genre themes in ‘The Old Guard’ with immortality centered storytelling. Her filmography includes near future and post apocalyptic settings. Production roles have positioned her on projects that blend science fiction with action.

Emily Blunt

Blunt starred in ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ with a time loop combat narrative. She appeared in ‘Looper’ with focus on cause and effect across timelines. The ‘A Quiet Place’ series used alien invasion frameworks and sound design driven tension. Her roles track military strategy, survival, and family under extraordinary conditions.

Sandra Bullock

Bullock anchored ‘Gravity’ with a survival story in low Earth orbit. The film emphasized real time problem solving and orbital mechanics. She has also appeared in projects that incorporate speculative technology and future adjacent ideas. ‘Gravity’ received multiple Academy Awards across technical categories.

Jodie Foster

Foster headlined ‘Contact’ as a scientist seeking extraterrestrial communication. The film adapted Carl Sagan’s novel with attention to radio astronomy and policy. She has directed and acted in episodes of anthology series that include speculative elements. Awards include multiple Academy Awards for other work in her career.

Amy Adams

Adams led ‘Arrival’ as a linguist decoding an alien language. The film focused on semantics, non linear time, and first contact protocols. She has also appeared in projects that cross into speculative worlds. ‘Arrival’ received Academy Award recognition across categories including sound and editing.

Alicia Vikander

Vikander portrayed an AI in ‘Ex Machina’ with motion capture and nuanced performance work. The film examined consciousness, testing, and corporate research ethics. She has appeared in other projects that use advanced technology and identity themes. Awards include an Academy Award for a different role in drama.

Milla Jovovich

Jovovich fronted the ‘Resident Evil’ film series with bioengineering and dystopian storylines. She appeared in ‘The Fifth Element’ with a role tied to ancient technology and space travel. Her career includes genre entries that combine action with futuristic settings. The ‘Resident Evil’ series expanded through multiple sequels and international releases.

Noomi Rapace

Rapace starred in ‘Prometheus’ and in ‘What Happened to Monday’. Her roles explored xeno archaeology and population control in dystopian futures. She has worked in international productions with speculative frameworks. Streaming projects extended her science fiction presence to global audiences.

Rebecca Ferguson

Ferguson portrays Lady Jessica in ‘Dune’ adaptations. She appeared in ‘Life’ with an orbital biohazard narrative. Her career includes thrillers that intersect with speculative technology. The ‘Dune’ films combine political structures, ecology, and prophecy on a desert world.

Daisy Ridley

Ridley played Rey in the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy. The role spanned new Jedi training, legacy conflicts, and galactic politics. She has also worked on smaller projects that incorporate speculative elements. Franchise appearances placed her at the center of new trilogy arcs.

Felicity Jones

Jones led ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ as Jyn Erso. The film connected directly to events preceding the original trilogy. She has participated in projects that examine technology, surveillance, and resistance. ‘Rogue One’ expanded the franchise’s focus on ground teams and espionage.

Gillian Anderson

Anderson co led ‘The X Files’ as Dana Scully across television and films. The role paired medical expertise with investigations into extraterrestrial activity and government secrecy. She has worked on anthologies that explore speculative themes. The series produced seasons, specials, and feature entries over many years.

Millie Bobby Brown

Brown stars in ‘Stranger Things’ as Eleven. She also appears in the ‘Godzilla’ franchise with kaiju centered narratives. Her work spans telekinesis, lab experimentation, and cross dimensional threats. Streaming releases expanded audience reach across seasons.

Michelle Yeoh

Yeoh appears in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ with multiverse storytelling. She leads ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ in key arcs and returned in ‘Star Trek: Section 31’. Her career includes wirework action and sci fi fantasy hybrids. Awards include an Academy Award for a role in multiverse cinema.

Ming-Na Wen

Wen voices Mulan in crossover gaming and appears in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’. She played Agent May in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ with science fiction technology and enhanced individuals. Her roles connect television, streaming, and franchise spinoffs. She has worked in space western and superhero settings.

Nichelle Nichols

Nichols portrayed Lieutenant Uhura in ‘Star Trek’. She collaborated with NASA on recruitment efforts that reached diverse candidates. Her work included series, animated entries, and films. Preservation projects continue to document her contributions to space themed media.

Katee Sackhoff

Sackhoff played Kara Thrace in ‘Battlestar Galactica’. She appears in ‘The Mandalorian’ with Mandalorian culture and galactic politics. Voice and live action work connect her to multiple science fiction properties. Her roles involve starfighter combat and leadership arcs.

Tricia Helfer

Helfer portrayed Number Six in ‘Battlestar Galactica’. The character explored AI identity and human Cylon relations. She has appeared in additional genre series with speculative premises. ‘Battlestar Galactica’ expanded through webisodes and extended cuts.

Mary McDonnell

McDonnell played President Laura Roslin in ‘Battlestar Galactica’. The role tracked civil governance under constant threat and resource scarcity. She has worked in films that cross into extraterrestrial contact themes. Her television work includes arcs in multiple serialized dramas.

Jeri Ryan

Ryan portrayed Seven of Nine in ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ and later in ‘Star Trek: Picard’. The character deals with Borg technology and regained individuality. Appearances span episodic missions and serialized plots. She has also guest starred in other speculative series.

Kate Mulgrew

Mulgrew captained ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ as Kathryn Janeway. She has voiced Janeway on ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ with a training ship framework. Her career includes voice roles in games and animation linked to science fiction. Janeway’s decisions shaped exploration and Delta Quadrant storylines.

Marina Sirtis

Sirtis played Deanna Troi in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and related films. She has returned for guest appearances in later ‘Star Trek’ series. The character blends counseling, diplomacy, and empathic abilities. Her work extends to voice roles in science fiction animation.

Gates McFadden

McFadden portrayed Dr. Beverly Crusher in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and ‘Star Trek: Picard’. She contributed to choreography in other projects outside acting. The character’s arcs include medical ethics and long running family threads. Appearances span television seasons and feature films.

Sonequa Martin-Green

Martin-Green stars as Michael Burnham in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’. The series introduced spore drive travel and reexamined federation origins. She previously appeared in ‘The Walking Dead’ with science fiction adjacent elements. Streaming distribution placed the series at the center of franchise expansion.

Karen Gillan

Gillan plays Nebula in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and related ensemble films. She led ‘Dual’ with cloning themes and appeared in ‘Doctor Who’. Her roles cover cybernetics, time travel, and space conflicts. Work spans television and large scale features.

Letitia Wright

Wright portrays Shuri in ‘Black Panther’ titles that incorporate advanced technology. She has appeared in ‘Black Mirror’ with near future speculative plots. Her character leads innovation inside Wakanda. Projects include crossovers with team based narratives.

Danai Gurira

Gurira plays Okoye in ‘Black Panther’ entries and related ensemble films. The role aligns futuristic design with tactical leadership. She also appears in series that blend science fiction with survival themes. Work includes motion capture informed action and large scale set pieces.

Lupita Nyong’o

Nyong’o portrays Nakia in ‘Black Panther’ titles and provided voice and performance elements in ‘Star Wars’. She has worked in projects that explore technology and societal change. Her roles span live action and voice driven characters. Awards include an Academy Award for a role outside science fiction.

Brie Larson

Larson stars as Carol Danvers in ‘Captain Marvel’ entries and ensemble crossovers. The character operates across space settings and military backgrounds. She has appeared in projects that use time travel and alternate timelines. Her work includes live action and credit scenes that connect franchise phases.

Tessa Thompson

Thompson plays Valkyrie in films that integrate science fiction with fantasy. She starred in ‘Annihilation’ with expedition based storytelling. Her television roles include speculative worlds with corporate and AI themes. Projects cover urban futures and cosmic realms.

Ana de Armas

De Armas appeared in ‘Blade Runner 2049’ with AI companion dynamics. The film expanded on synthetic life and memory constructs. She has worked in near future stories that use surveillance and biotech concepts. Roles include both supporting and lead positions in speculative settings.

Jane Fonda

Fonda headlined ‘Barbarella’ with space adventure and technology centered plots. The film influenced later visual design in science fiction media. She has appeared in projects that reference futurism and space age aesthetics. Preservation and retrospective screenings keep the title in circulation.

Sean Young

Young starred in ‘Blade Runner’ as Rachael with replicant identity themes. She returned in later material through archival and digital methods. The role engaged questions about memory, empathy, and corporate power. ‘Blade Runner’ influenced cyberpunk and neo noir science fiction.

Share your picks and overlooked favorites in the comments so we can keep building this list together.