Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, transformer III

"Thor": Natalie Portman plays Jane Foster, an astrophysicist who steals the heart of Norse god Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth. (Zade Rosenthal/Marvel Studios)

"Thor": Kat Dennings plays Darcy Lewis, kooky assistant to scientist Jane Foster. (Zade Rosenthal/Marvel Studios)

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides": Penelope Cruz plays sultry piratess Angelica, Blackbeard's first mate and daughter, and Capt. Jack Sparrow's former love interest. (Peter Mountain/Disney Enterprises)

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides": Astrid Berges-Frisbey plays Syrena, an enigmatic mermaid with a soft spot for a young missionary. (Peter Mountain/Disney Enterprises)

"Super 8": Elle Fanning plays Alice Dainard, a hard-luck girl whose decision to make a movie with some kids from school lands her in the middle of mysterious happenings in a small town. (Francois Duhames/Paramount Pictures)

"X-Men: First Class": January Jones plays Emma Frost, a telepathic mutant who possesses indestructible, diamondlike skin. (20th Century Fox)

"X-Men: First Class": Jennifer Lawrence plays the shapeshifting mutant Mystique. (20th Century Fox)

"X-Men: First Class": Rose Byrne plays Dr. Moira McTaggert, a CIA agent and Charles Xavier's lady love. (Murray Close/20th Century Fox)

"Green Lantern": Blake Lively plays Carol Ferris, a fighter pilot, vice president of Ferris Aircraft and childhood sweetheart of Hal Jordan. (Francois Duhamel/Warner Bros. Pictures)

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon": Rosie Huntington-Whiteley plays Carly Miller, Sam Witwicky's new love interest. (Robert Zuckerman/Paramount Pictures)

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2": Emma Watson plays Hermione Granger, a brainy witch whose skills with a wand save her pals Harry Potter and Ron Weasley from many a magical scrape. (Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures)

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2": Bonnie Wright plays Ginny Weasley, a shy witch with a tender heart, sister to Ron Weasley and longtime crush of Harry Potter. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2": Evanna Lynch plays Luna Lovegood, an oddball Ravenclaw who helps Harry Potter and the gang in their battle against Lord Voldemort. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

"Cowboys & Aliens": Olivia Wilde plays Ella, an elusive traveler who crosses paths with Jake Lonergan in a Western town facing alien attacks. (Zade Rosenthal/Universal Pictures)

"Captain America: The First Avenger": Hayley Atwell plays Peggy Carter, a World War II freedom fighter and Steve Rogers' love interest. (Jay Maidment/Marvel Studios)

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes": Freida Pinto plays Caroline, a voice of reason among scientists experimenting with genetically modified apes. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

"Conan the Barbarian": Rose McGowan plays Marique, a powerful witch and daughter of ruthless warlord Khalar Zym. (Matt Sayles/Associated Press)

"Conan the Barbarian": Rachel Nichols plays Tamara, the queen's servant and best friend and Conan's love interest. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

As the summer ramps up with a slew of testosterone-fueled action hero flicks such as "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" and "Cowboys & Aliens," here's a gallery of 18 women from the big screen who can do everything their male counterparts can, and often in heels and lipstick.
– Noelene Clark
twitter.com/noeleneclark
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via Hero Complex - movies, comics, fanboy fare - latimes.com by Noelene Clark on 6/26/11