8 Movie Characters From Your Childhood Who Are Actually Feminist Icons

Let's hear it for the girls.

1. Matilda, Matilda (1996)

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Not only did she fight the patriarchy (and the matriarchy) on a daily basis, she also taught all of us the importance of reading, studying, and independently making something of our intelligence. (And please: A moment of silence for the greatest shampoo prank of all time.)

2. Mia Thermopolis, The Princess Diaries (2001)

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When intense power and responsibility were forced upon her while she was still a teenager, Mia did things her own way, growing into a leader in the first installment of the series, and subsequently rejecting the antiquated values of her monarchy in The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement. You don't have to look far to see where Mia's feminist prowess comes from: her grandmother, Queen Clarisse (the iconic Julie Andrews), was no stranger to kicking butt and taking names.

3. Anastasia, Anastasia (1997)

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With her past shrouded in mystery, orphan Anya set out to discover where she came from and who she could be in a world completely unknown to her. She called upon her own courage and perseverance on her journey to the past, and while friends Dmitri and Vladimir helped her along the way, it was clear from the beginning that Anastasia was running the show. Let's hear it for taking destiny into your own hands. 💪

4. Megara, Hercules (1997)

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Meg was the breath of fresh air the Disneyverse needed, rejecting the 'damsel in distress' stereotype and (at least attempting) to subvert Hercules's advances in hopes of protecting her own heart. Although Meg eventually gave into her feelings, she never resorted to being merely a hero's arm candy. Girl even jumped in front of a falling pillar to save her man! But still, she won't say she's in love.

5. Hermione, The Harry Potter Series

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Where do we even begin? Anyone who's read even a chapter of the Harry Potter series knows that Harry and Ron would be utterly f*cked without Hermione Granger. When she wasn't spending her time doing the boys' homework, reading up on valuable magical information that would inevitably help them in future quests, or saving the lives of her friends time and again, she was championing the crusade against literal elfish slavery, despite the fact that Harry and Ron found S.P.E.W so unbearably annoying. (Also, can we talk about that? The whole house elf thing was seriously messed up, right?) Thanks for being you, Hermione.

6. Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins (1964)

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The OG girl power icon, Mary Poppins was the magical nanny we all wished we could have had. She instantly brought happiness and love into the lives of Jane and Micheal, unafraid to take them on adventures and show them a world they'd never known. Even when their strict father protested against her methods, Mary persisted, eventually changing even George Banks's ways for the better.

7. Chihiro, Spirited Away (2001)

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At just 10 years old, Chihiro lived out all of our worst nightmares when she found herself in an unknown world, separated from her parents, her home, and even her own identity. Still, she navigated her situation with exceptional courage and determination, promising to save her parents, Haku and herself from an unknown fate. (P.S. Enduring that winding staircase alone was enough to prove that she's some kind of superhero.)

8. Colette, Ratatouille, (2007)

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If you're under the impression that Gusteau's kitchen could have run a day without Colette's brains, skills and and killer attitude, you'd be seriously mistaken. This badass female chef taught Linguini everything he knew, sacrificed her success for his own, and saw potential in creatures much lesser than herself. Also, her knife skills are #goals.