20 Of The Coolest Female Robots In Science Fiction

Dot Matrix and Princess Vespa in Spaceballs (Screenshot image courtesy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

4. Dot Matrix (Spaceballs)

Spaceballs is, well, an acquired taste. If you’re a die-hard Mel Brooks fan, you’ll enjoy it. If you’re a Star Wars nerd, chances are you’ll also have fun with it, assuming you don’t get too up in arms about parodies. Box office returns at the time of its release (four years after Return of the Jedi) were pretty modest, but it’s since become something of a cult classic. Also, Mel Brooks wanted to call it Planet Moron, which would have won my heart immediately.

Dot Matrix is the stand-in for C-3PO in the film. Beyond a similar body build and paint job, however, she’s a welcome departure from her predecessor. This means that I have to pause here to confess, however apologetically, that I can’t stand C-3PO. He’s no Jar-Jar Binks, to be sure, but he definitely not in my personal list of top ten Star Wars characters.

Dot Matrix, though? She can stay. First of all, Joan Rivers lent her voice acting talent to the role, so that’s an instant plus. She’s sarcastic and quippy, in true Rivers fashion. The physical performance was thanks to Lorene Yarnell, who was then part of a relatively famous mime duo called Shields and Yarnell. Today, she’s best remembered for her part as the physical side of Dot Matrix.

She’s also a great way for the movie to take the air out of its protagonist’s tires. Poor Dot Matrix, tasked with chaperoning spoiled Princess Vespa, certainly has her work cut out for her.