The Complete Ranking Of Every Actress Who's Ever Worn The Catsuit: A Legacy Of Feline Fury
Catwoman actresses have defined and redefined one of pop culture's most enduring icons for over half a century. From a campy 1960s villain to a complex, empowered anti-hero, Selina Kyle’s journey on screen is a mirror to evolving attitudes toward female characters in superhero stories. Wondering who played Catwoman throughout the years? The answer is a fascinating tapestry of talent, each bringing a unique spark to the whip and the mask. This definitive guide ranks every major live-action and animated portrayal, exploring how 14 actresses who played Catwoman—whether on TV, in a film, or with their voice—crafted a character who has lived more than nine lives, acting as both a complicated love interest and formidable foe to Batman.
The Woman Behind the Mask: Selina Kyle's Origin
Before we rank the portrayals, we must understand the source. Catwoman’s real name is Selina Kyle and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. She first slinked into the Batman mythos in Batman #1 (1940) not as a love interest, but as a sophisticated jewel thief. Her creation was a direct response to the need for a compelling female adversary, a "cat" to Batman's "bat." Over decades of comics, she evolved from a mere villain into a figure of moral ambiguity, a survivor of Gotham's underbelly whose code of ethics often clashed with—and occasionally aligned with—the Dark Knight's. This rich, contradictory history is the bedrock every Catwoman actress has built upon.
Selina Kyle / Catwoman: Bio Data
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Selina Kyle |
| Aliases | Catwoman, The Cat, Princess of Thieves |
| Creators | Bill Finger, Bob Kane |
| First Appearance | Batman #1 (Spring 1940) |
| Core Traits | Master thief, acrobat, survivalist, morally ambiguous, uses whip and agility |
| Key Relationships | Batman/Bruce Wayne (antagonist/lover/ally), Gotham's underworld |
| Defining Motif | The whip, the catsuit, the diamond-themed motif, a connection to cats |
The Evolution of Catwoman on Screen: A Ranked Legacy
Here's a ranked list of all the actresses who have worn the catsuit and whip, evaluated on their impact, fidelity to the character's essence, cultural resonance, and performance strength. This ranking considers the entire scope of the role across film, television, and animation.
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Tier 1: Iconic, Definitive Portrayals
These actresses didn't just play Catwoman; they owned the role for a generation, creating the template against which all others are measured.
1. Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns, 1992)
Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle is a masterclass in transformation and trauma. Starting as a mousy, oppressed secretary, her descent into madness and rebirth as Catwoman is both terrifying and heartbreaking. Pfeiffer crafted a character seething with rage, vulnerability, and a desperate need for agency. Her chemistry with Michael Keaton’s Batman is electric, built on a foundation of mutual recognition of brokenness. The stitched-together costume, the hissing, the unhinged laughter—every choice is perfect. She remains the gold standard, a portrayal that understands Catwoman is not a hero, but a wounded survivor who finds power in her persona. Halle Berry’s later take, while different, can be seen as a more overtly comedic and pop-culture riff on the raw, vengeful energy Pfeiffer perfected.
2. Julie Newmar (Batman, 1966-1967)
As the first actress to bring Catwoman to live-action television, Newmar’s fame stems mainly from her television appearances and her creation of the character's physicality. In the campy, hilarious world of the 1966 Batman series, she was a vision of sleek, seductive villainy. Her long, black claws (literally), her purring delivery, and her elegant, form-fitting costume established the visual shorthand for Catwoman for millions. She played the role with a knowing, playful wink, understanding the show's tone perfectly. Her influence is immeasurable; she gave Catwoman her first iconic silhouette and attitude. Meriwether portrayed Catwoman for the Batman movie (1966), essentially inheriting the role from Newmar for the big-screen adaptation of the same series, though Newmar's TV tenure remains more culturally embedded.
3. Zoë Kravitz (The Batman, 2022)
One week ahead of Zoë Kravitz's debut as Catwoman, anticipation was sky-high. She delivered a performance that felt like a direct descendant of Pfeiffer’s, but filtered through the gritty, noir realism of Matt Reeves' world. Kravitz’s Selina is a street-smart survivor, a thief and a vigilante with a strong moral compass about protecting the vulnerable. Her chemistry with Robert Pattinson’s reclusive Batman is built on quiet understanding and shared trauma. She brought a grounded, physical authenticity to the role, performing many of her own stunts. Her portrayal successfully modernized Catwoman for a new era, emphasizing her role as an ally and a mirror to Batman’s own quest for justice in a broken city.
4. Eartha Kitt (Batman, 1967-1968)
Taking over the role from Julie Newmar for the final season of the 1960s TV series, Eartha Kitt’s career peak as Catwoman is legendary not just for the performance, but for its historic context. She was the first Black actress to portray the character, bringing an unparalleled, smoldering sensuality and a uniquely husky, commanding voice. Kitt’s Catwoman was more overtly sexual and commanding, her purr a weapon of its own. In an era of limited roles for Black actresses, her portrayal on a top-rated show was a significant, if often overlooked, milestone. Her performance was a brilliant, subversive take on the character within the show's camp framework.
Tier 2: Memorable & Culturally Significant
These portrayals are flawed but contain sparks of brilliance or hold important places in the character's cinematic history.
5. Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises, 2012)
Hathaway’s Selina Kyle is a sharp, witty, and pragmatic thief who clearly evolves into a more heroic figure by the film's end. Her performance is slick and charismatic, and her chemistry with Christian Bale’s Batman is playful and charged. However, the script often reduces her to a love interest with a convenient redemption arc, and her Catwoman persona feels more like a costume she puts on for a job rather than an intrinsic part of her identity. The iconic "billionaire" line and her final, ambiguous departure are highlights, but she lacks the gritty edge and internal conflict of the top-tier portrayals.
6. Camren Bicondova (Gotham, 2014-2019)
As a young Selina Kyle navigating the corrupt origins of Gotham City, Bicondova’s performance across five seasons is a remarkable study in character growth. She portrays Selina not as Catwoman, but as the girl who becomes Catwoman. We see her street-smart survivalism, her fractured loyalties, her tentative friendships with Bruce Wayne, and her gradual hardening. It’s a foundational performance that explains why Selina becomes the woman we know. The show wisely avoids having her don the full, classic Catsuit until the very end, making her evolution feel earned and organic.
7. Lee Meriwether (Batman, 1966 Film)
Meriwether portrayed Catwoman for the Batman movie (1966) and also appeared in two episodes of the Batman TV series in 1967 as Lisa Carson, a love interest to Bruce Wayne. Her film performance is a solid, if somewhat less distinctive, iteration of the Newmar/Kitt camp style. She captures the seductive menace but lacks the singular iconic quality of her predecessors. Her dual role in the series as a separate, non-villainous character adds an interesting layer to her association with the franchise.
Tier 3: Notable Experiments & Niche Takes
These versions took big swings, for better or worse, and left a distinct mark.
8. Halle Berry (Catwoman, 2004)
The infamous solo film is a low point in superhero cinema, but Berry’s performance is not its primary sin. She brings undeniable charisma, physicality, and a sense of fun. Halle brings her own personality, through her attitude and through the outfit. Her Patience Phillips is a completely different character—a shy artist murdered and resurrected by a magical Egyptian cat—which fundamentally misunderstands Selina Kyle. The film’s failure lies in its script and tone, not Berry’s effort. She committed fully to a bizarre concept, earning a (much-deserved) Razzie but also a cult following for its audacious wrongness.
9. Adrienne Barbeau (Batman: The Animated Series, 1992-1995)
Barbeau provided the voice for Catwoman in the seminal Batman: The Animated Series. Her performance is sleek, sultry, and intelligent, perfectly capturing the character's duality. She made Catwoman sound both dangerous and alluring, a voice of cynical reason in Gotham's chaos. This animated version became the definitive take for a generation, influencing later live-action portrayals with its blend of wit and moral flexibility. Barbeau’s work is a masterclass in voice acting that established Catwoman's vocal identity.
10. Grey Griffin (Various DC Animated Films & Series, 2008-Present)
Griffin has been the primary voice for Catwoman in numerous DC animated projects since the late 2000s, including The Batman (2004), Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Harley Quinn. Her portrayal is often more overtly playful, sarcastic, and agile-sounding than Barbeau’s. She excels at portraying Catwoman’s quick wit and her dynamic, acrobatic nature. While perhaps lacking the initial iconic weight of Barbeau, Griffin’s consistency and range have made her the modern vocal standard for the character in animation.
11. Melendy Britt (The New Adventures of Batman, 1977)
Catwoman appears in The New Adventures of Batman, voiced by Melendy Britt. This short-lived animated series featured a Catwoman who was a direct continuation of the 1960s live-action style—campy, villainous, and comedic. Britt’s performance fits that tone perfectly, but the portrayal feels dated and lacks the depth of later animated versions. It’s a fascinating historical artifact, showing the character in a transitional period between the Adam West era and the darker animated takes.
12. Gina Gershon (The Batman, 2004)
Catwoman appears in The Batman (2004), voiced by Gina Gershon. This animated series presented a younger, edgier Batman and a Catwoman who was a more straightforward, if still morally gray, thief and occasional ally. Gershon brought a smoky, tough-girl vibe to the role. The character design was sleek and modern, but the writing often relegated her to a supporting role. Her performance is solid within the show's framework but doesn't reach the iconic heights of Barbeau or Griffin.
13. Michelle Gomez (Audio Dramas & Batman: Arkham Knight)
Gomez, known for her iconic Doctor Who villain, brought her signature theatrical, unhinged energy to Catwoman in the Batman: Arkham Knight video game (as a brief cameo) and various Big Finish audio dramas. Her take is wildly charismatic, deeply eccentric, and refreshingly unpredictable. It’s a performance that emphasizes the "crazy cat lady" aspect of the character in the best possible way, offering a thrilling, off-kilter alternative to more traditional interpretations.
14. [15] Charity Fundraiser Version (Animated Context)
This version is a charity fundraiser in her civilian identity. This refers to a specific, often one-off, portrayal in an animated series or comic adaptation where Selina Kyle uses her public persona as a socialite or philanthropist as a cover for her thieving activities. It highlights a classic comic book trope: Catwoman’s ability to move in high society. While not a distinct actress-driven performance, it's a notable narrative layer that several actresses (like Pfeiffer and Hathaway) have incorporated into their portrayals, showcasing Selina’s skill at performance and deception in her "normal" life.
Beyond the Suit: Why These Portrayals Matter
Catwoman’s story has been introduced on screen by various actresses over the years — and each one brought their own interpretation to their project. This evolution tells a larger story about how we view women in action and superhero narratives. The 1960s versions were campy foils, defined by their relationship to Batman. The 1990s Pfeiffer and Newmar versions explored trauma and agency. The 2000s experiments (Berry, Hathaway) struggled with balancing independence and romantic subplots. The 2010s and 2020s (Bicondova, Kravitz) finally cemented her as a fully realized protagonist in her own right, with her own code and journey.
Several famous actresses have played Catwoman in films, tv shows, and various animated projects, and their collective work demonstrates the character's incredible flexibility. She can be a villain, an anti-hero, a love interest, or a solo protagonist. The best portrayals—Pfeiffer, Kitt, Kravitz, Barbeau—understand that her power lies in this ambiguity. She is not good, she is not evil; she is a survivor operating in a corrupt world, using her wits and her body as her primary tools.
The Anatomy of a Great Catwoman Performance
What separates the top-tier from the rest? Based on the ranked legacy, the essential ingredients are:
- Physicality: The movement must be feline—graceful, sudden, and powerful. Pfeiffer’s contortions, Kravitz’s parkour, Kitt’s poised strut.
- Vocal Texture: A voice that can purr, hiss, sneer, and laugh. Kitt’s iconic rasp, Barbeau’s smoky alto, Newmar’s theatrical lilt.
- Moral Complexity: She must operate by her own rules. Pfeiffer’s vengeful chaos, Kravitz’s street-level justice, Bicondova’s developing code.
- Chemistry with Batman: The dynamic must crackle with tension—sexual, ideological, and combative. It’s the core of the relationship.
Conclusion: The Nine Lives Continue
From Julie Newmar’s pioneering purr to Zoë Kravitz’s gritty redefinition, the actresses who have played Catwoman have each left an indelible paw print on the character. Wondering who played Catwoman throughout the years? The answer is a chorus of remarkable women who interpreted Selina Kyle through the lens of their time, their talent, and their own understanding of what it means to be a powerful, complicated woman in a man's world. The ranked list shows an arc from campy sidekick to complex lead, reflecting the journey of female characters in genre fiction itself.
The legacy is secure. With each new portrayal, Catwoman is not replaced but enriched. The whip cracks in a new way, the catsuit fits a new silhouette, and the enigma of Selina Kyle deepens. She remains, at her core, a creature of contradiction—a thief with a heart, a villain with a cause, a lover who cannot be tamed. And as long as Gotham City needs its princess of crime, actresses will continue to slip into the infamous catsuit, ready to add another life, another layer, to the legend. The question isn't who played Catwoman, but what new truth about her will the next actress reveal?
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