Princess Leia’s top 20 bravest moments

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

17. She doesn’t ask for respect, she demands it

This kind of goes hand in hand with that venomous shade that we love. It comes from a place of expecting a certain degree of respect from everyone around her, especially those who are fighting for the same freedom as she. So when she doesn’t get that respect, she throws her weight around like one of the guys.

This behavior yields a lot of really funny lines (“Get this big walking carpet out of my way!”), but moreover it begins a paradigm shift. To be honest, Han Solo represents a longstanding Hollywood trend of leading male roles — cocky, forceful, and misanthropic, even misogynist. He is a flawed man who needs a flawless female to accessorize and perfect his life. Well, Leia is not going to do that for anyone. She is fighting for a cause that means more than fulfilling Han Solo’s personal shortcomings.

In addition, she’s not going to take his flack. She thwarts his many attempts to make her submit to his whims. We know how it ultimately works out, but at least she doesn’t indulge his bad behavior. Princess Leia rightfully demands respect from her contemporaries, but most importantly, she respects herself.