Female Film Archers: From Jennifer Lawrence of 'The Hunger Games' to Jennifer Garner of 'Elektra' [PHOTOS]
Suzanne Collins best-selling post apocalyptic novels, "The Hunger Games", brought a heroine to life in the form of Katniss Everdeen. While actress, Jennifer Lawrence, encouraged a few kids to take on archery, a few femme fatale heroines have wielded the iconic bow and arrow before her.
Since "The Hunger Games" have hit the big screen, Jennifer Lawrence's onscreen portrayal of Katniss Everdeen with her exquisite archery skills have inspired hoards of fans to pick up a bow and strap on a quiver.
In Australia alone, archery ranges have a 75% spike in traffic thanks to the box-office film. Though Jennifer Lawrence may have inspired the revival of the old sport, there have already been an abundance of a few female film archers that have inspired a few followers of their own.
Gwyneth Paltrow in her 1996 film, "Emma" may have played the role as a meddling matchmaker but her archery skills are not to be totally ignored. The same goes for the sexy, Jessica Biel, who plays the bow and arrow wielding vampire slayer, Abigail Whistler, in the 2004 film, "Blade Trinity."
While Keira Knightley's sword fighting skills in the film, "Pirates of the Caribbean" holds proof she's one pirate not to be badly dealt with, her archery in the 2004 film, "King Arthur" also prove she's one bulls-eye killer with the bow and arrow.
Another quiver & bow wielding warrior is Anna Popplewell who plays Susan Pevensie of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian". As for Elektra of the 2005 film, "Elektra" played by Jennifer Garner, her bow & arrows are another bonus to her bladed sai trademark weaponry.
Though Zoe Saldana's character in the 2009 box office hit, "Avatar" is far from reality, Neytiri's archery proves to be one-of-a-kind along with her blue slender body. Also from a CG directed film or more of an animated movie is Princess Merida of "Brave". This red haired protagonist voiced by Kelly MacDonald also wields a bow and arrow in search of a way to undo a beastly curse placed over her kingdom.
Oscar nominated Irish actress, Saoirse Ronan portrays a 16-year old assassin in "Hanna" who meticulously murders ruthless intelligence agents and operatives using guns, knives plus a bow and arrow. Another Oscar related actress who won Best Actress is also quite skilled with the bow & arrow onscreen is Natalie Portman in the comedy film of 2011, "Your Highness."
Butt-kicking female leads appear to be a style in today's films and with the rise of "The Hunger Games" then a few would most likely expect that female leads would also be wielding a bow and arrow to simply flow along with the trend.