"Who's going to play me? I think I should play me." ~Adaptation, Film (2002)
I have been trying to determine for quite some time which fictional character I would want to be … or which ones more closely represent the me that I am. This process actually began before I published the lists of fictional places I want to visit and those you can’t pay me to visit and will be my final (maybe) entry in what somehow became a short little series.
I considered, at some point, listing those fictional characters with whom I have been infatuated, but I covered that subject last year when I created this mosaic. It is a fairly accurate list minus the noticeable absence of Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly who was omitted in an obvious moment of insanity. There were only nine in that mosaic, so we’ll add Mal at the top of that list and consider it complete. Ta da! That was easy.
I wish selecting my own representation of fictional characters was as simple. Let me begin by confessing that none of Jane Austen’s heroines made the list. I came to the Austen party late in life. I thought reading Austen was too “girlie” for me. But, as an English Literature major in university, it was inevitable that I would find myself with one of her six novels in hand … eventually. Now I own them all. I started with Persuasion (still my favorite) and found myself an Austen convert. There are a number of online “Which Austen Heroine Are You?” quizzes. Confession: I have taken several of them and the answer is always the same. Elizabeth Bennett. On some levels, Lizzie and I are very much alike (beyond sharing the same name). She is headstrong, quick tempered, witty, independent and honest. I carry those characteristics as well; however, I also tend to be very stoic, practical, and firmly ensconced in responsibility … much like Elinor Dashwood. Truthfully, I find several things in common between myself and most Austen heroines with the exception of Emma. No, there is no part of me in Emma. Thank goodness.
After much deliberation, here is my
I’ve always said my superpower would be the ability to speak to animals. Well, Princess Adora (aka: She-Ra) has that power … telepathically, of course. I was one of those girls that wanted to be He-Man until his twin sister, She-Ra, was introduced to the cartoon world. She has superhuman speed and is also able to heal by touch. And, like He-Man, she has her own sword. This one: The Sword of Protection. (In truth, I had difficulty choosing between She-Ra and Cheetara from Thundercats. Both of them almost made the list, but it was not meant to be.)
Yes, she is Anakin Skywalker’s (aka: Darth Vader) padawan, but she is spunky, determined, aggressive, talented, mouthy, and reckless. Not to mention, I needed an excuse to be a Jedi … even only one in training … and the personality fits.
Let’s forget for a moment that T’Pol is the science officer onboard Enterprise and that science was one of my worst subjects. Let’s also forget that she is Vulcan and I’m not terribly logical most of the time. Over-analytical? Yes. Logical. Not so much. She is actually much more emotional than the average Vulcan. I, on the other hand, tend to be more stoic and less emotional (on the surface) than the average human female. Perhaps our personalities meet somewhere in the middle. T’Pol is seen in the Vulcan community as a rebel, especially for the curiosity she exhibits in regard to human culture and emotions.
“Jo is independent, tempestuous, vivacious, clever, and self-confident. She struggles throughout the story to learn to control her temper and her tendency to hold a grudge. She is a tomboy who is more interested in reading and playing games than in primping or gossiping with girls her age.” ~enotes.com (They said it better than I can.) Again, sound like anyone you know?
In the book she’s Honeychile Rider. In the movie she’s Honey Ryder. Either way, she is the iconic Bond girl. Like many of the characters on this list she is independent and headstrong. I like that.
Oh, come on … this is me. You had to know I would choose to be a
Her name is Felicia Hardy and, much like my favorite comic character Bruce Wayne/Batman, she has no superpowers. Well, in the beginning she had no superpowers (long story). She trains her body, uses her own wits and ingenuity and has great gadgets. She is also a semi-reformed thief. I won’t delve into her history but she is an awesome anti-heroic character: streetwise, strong and a wee bit morally ambiguous. And … she has my eyes.
Methinks Shakespeare liked his women sassy. Beatrice may not be his most in depth female character, but she is the wittiest. She is sarcastic and jaded and lively. A master of quick wit she uses masterful word artillery against Benedick in their brilliant verbal sparring that is, without question, the highlight of the play. But, behind Beatrice’s laughing eyes and witty mouth hides a woman capable of loving deeply, as well as a woman with an incredibly fierce temper. Sound familiar?
A Shieldmaiden of Rohan, Éowyn is one of the great literary tomboys. She feels trapped in her life of nobility and longs for glory and honor … which she eventually earns by disguising herself as a man and joining the Battle of Pelennor Fields where she defeats the Witch-King.
"But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him." ~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
I have claimed to “be” Éowyn since I first read The Lord of the Rings in junior high. We have much in common and I often feel caged by female responsibility … longing for something more. In the beginning, I took issue with the casting of Miranda Otto for the films. But, she has grown on me and I feel she brings authenticity to the character.
Let me be honest. I might give up my first born child to have the body that Angelina Jolie was sporting in the first Tomb Raider movie. I’d be tempted, but that isn’t all I want. Characteristically Lara is strong-willed, brave, super confident, a risk taker, and completely bad ass. Born into English nobility she is also well-educated, worldly, shrewd and bloody brilliant … traveling around the world
I’m done. Whew. Runners-up: Buffy Summers (Buff the Vampire Slayer) and Zoe Washburne (Firefly) came so close (as in they were on the list and then I took them off) but I had to limit the list to a top ten and not a top twelve.
Of course, in the end, it’s always better to be one’s authentic self. Don’t you think?
“The authentic self is the soul made visible.” ~Sarah Ban Breathnach
