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• 1 2024-11-27T17:35:31-08:00 Women of Future Action 11 Women 45 & Up Who May be the Next 50+ Action Star plain 2024-12-15T14:38:42-08:00
  Shared here is a list of actresses ages 45 and older who have the potential to join this list in the future based on their current filmography. The actresses are listed in general order of likelihood to join the list based on age and/or existing filmography. Due to the time it takes between a casting announcement for a film to final distribution, actresses will stay on this list for at least three years after a near-qualifying film is released. 
  Kate Beckinsale (51) 

  Kate Beckinsale has an extensive action filmography that indicates she will soon join this list. Beckinsale is best known for her role as Selene in the Underworld series and filmed the fifth installment at 42 years of age. She recently held the lead role in two action films, Jolt (2021) and Black Canary (2024), and has her first potential contender for this list with Stolen Girl (post-production). Stolen Girl was not added at this time due not enough information shared about what type of action her role will encompass, but 2025 may offer clarification as trailers are released. 
  Angelina Jolie (49) 

  Angelia Jolie is an honorary mention for the Women of Action page and most likely to join the list next with her upcoming project Maude v. Maude (currently in pre-production). Maude v Maude is described by Deadline as an action packed “[James] Bond vs. [Jason] Bourne” (Read the Deadline article). At this time the details of her character, as well as when production will begin, is unknown. If filmed in mid-2025 or later, both actresses will be over fifty years of age. Jolie is also an Oscar winning actress, with her action-packed roles pre-50 including Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021), Salt (2010), Wanted (2008), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), and her role as Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).  
  Charlize Theron (49) 

  Charlize Theron is a consistent action star with roles in such as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Cypher in the Fast & Furious franchise, and Andy in The Old Guard film adaptation series. Theron starred in Atomic Blonde (2017), a film many compare to John Wick (2014) for stunt-work and action, with an upcoming sequel in development. Other films in her action filmography that meet the criteria except for age includes Hancock (2008) and Æon Flux (2005). It is notable that while Theron has been recognized for her dramatic work, all of the roles listed here involve extensive fight scenes, demonstrating her love for action-packed roles, too.

   
  

  Michelle Rodriguez (46) 

  Michelle Rodriguez is best known for her role as Letty in the Fast & Furious franchise and is a series fan favorite. The franchise killed off her character in the fourth film, only to bring her back due to popular demand by fans. In the latest Fast & Furious film, Fast X (2023), there is an extended fight scene between Letty and Charlize Theron's character, Cypher, that demonstrates the musculinity of both characters. Other popular action roles she’s held includes Rain in the Resident Evil film adaptation series and Holga in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023). 
  Carla Gugino (53) 

  Carla Gugino starred in Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) at 47 years old alongside Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, and Lena Headey. Although her character in the film, Madeleine, is arguably the most feminine of the group of women, she operates a machine gun and fights a mercenary in one-on-one combat near the end of the film. To see more about the queer subtext in her role as Madeleine in Gunpowder Milkshake, see Yeoh's page. Her filmography suggests she has an interest in the Action genre, but it is unclear if she will choose another role that will qualify her for this list in the future.

   

  Poorna Jagannathan (52) 

  Poorna Jagannathan starred alongside Ellen Barkin in The Outlaws (2023) as the villain. She is an award-winning actress mainly known for her television roles in The Night Of (2016) and Never Have I Ever (2020-2023). Like Carla Gugino, Jagannathan does not have a large action filmography that indicates a high chance of her choosing another action centered role, but her film is recent enough that she is included on this list for now.