Princess Leia’s top 20 bravest moments

Still from The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Image is a screengrab via 20th Century Fox/Lucasfilm

18. That time she acts like a lieutenant and a princess

Princess Leia is a little ball of energy with a strategic mindset. Throughout the trilogy, we don’t see her literally taking the driver’s seat, except in Return of the Jedi when they’re racing after storm troopers in the woods (very cool). Figuratively, though, she is almost always the captain.

For example, when she and the Rebel Alliance were working to take over the Death Star, she deftly directs her pilots to divide and conquer in the raid. Of course, she is met with doubt and criticism by her men, which she quickly disregards. Women are better at seeing the big picture, and we’re better at multitasking. End of story.

Leia is very good at asserting herself, almost too good. Her quips with Han Solo are hilarious, as she backseat-drives the Millennium Falcon. Even in the most desperate scenarios, she’s able to pull herself — and others — up and succeed. When she gets stuck in that trash compactor on the Death Star, the first thing she says is, “Quick find something to brace it! Don’t just stand there!” And before that even happens, she beat a giant garbage worm off of Luke’s body with a stick. Is this woman fazed by anything? I think not.