Catwoman is among the most prolific and iconic of Batman's foes. Her playful and confident nature, as well as her ability to skirt the moral gray area so gracefully, have enchanted fans for decades. She brings a sense of flirty fun to her thefts, making her nearly as popular as the Dark Knight himself.
As such, Catwoman has seen many portrayals over the years, many of them live-action. These have varied in quality, and not all of them have done the character justice. Granted, success sometimes depends on the style of the work or material given. At the end of the day, though, it all comes down to how well the actresses capture the confidence and sexiness of the lovable anti-hero.
8 Halle Berry - Catwoman
Catwoman's 2004 solo outing is among the most notorious comic book flicks out there, and its protagonist's portrayal is just as bad as you'd think. It's not all Berry's fault, though, as the film was ill-conceived from the start.
It comes from a music video filmmaker. As such, the script and direction are utterly cartoonish. Subtlety was never in the cards. The movie calls for Catwoman to purr like a kitten, play with yarn, lick up milk, and parade around in a dominatrix outfit without a hint of irony. Berry fully commits to all of this. She just looks totally ridiculous while doing so.
7 Zoë Kravitz - The Batman
For Matt Reeves's noir take on Batman, fans were curious to see a complementary approach to Catwoman. Sadly, Kravitz sleepwalks through the film with the same somber disinterest as most of her roles. One would think that fits with the downbeat tone.
Because of her connection to the villains, though, Catwoman has more agency than Batman himself. That personal investment should let her emotionally engage the audience, but she just can't muster up the energy. Needless to say, that's a big problem for a three-hour movie, as it makes even the most wide-eyed fans nod off.
6 Camren Bicondova/Lili Simmons - Gotham
This wouldn't normally count since it's a younger version. That said, Gothamcan't resist shoving its characters toward their future selves. Little Selina is no exception. The upside is that the actress is up to the task.
Bicondova successfully embodies many of Catwoman's traits. Her athleticism lets her glide through the graceful movements with ease, and she's equally at home with the street-smart sass. The writers don't delve into the seductive side for obvious reasons.
Although she does an admirable job, she ultimately can't escape the stupidity of the scripts. The hissing, for instance, is nearly as embarrassing as Berry's. In the end, a solid primordial Catwoman is hampered by sloppy writing.
For the show's finale, Lili Simmons takes over after a time jump. She lives and dies in the same ways as Bicondova. Because she's only around for one episode, she doesn't have a chance to do much else.
5 Lee Meriwether - Batman (1966 Film)
Meriwether steps into the catsuit for the 1966 Batman movie, replacing Julie Newmar from the TV series. That's exactly what she feels like. She imitates the sultry, commanding presence of her predecessor, but it's not quite as natural. Her portrayal is somewhat stiff by comparison, not helped by the fact that the other villains are more comfortable and colorful with their respective characters.
On the other hand, Meriwether does get to play more with duality. She poses as a Soviet journalist for much of the adventure. The layers in her performance bring some novelty to this "master of disguise" rendition, differentiating her from many other Catwomen.
4 Michelle Pfeiffer - Batman Returns
This is the portrayal most associated with the character, and she definitely leaves a lasting impression. Thanks to Tim Burton's bizarre style, Pfeiffer's Catwoman is more unhinged than any before. Her primal quality means she's prone to guttural screaming and other crazy mannerisms. This makes her the center of every scene. However, she takes the same no-holds-barred attitude when playing the seductive temptress, and that's when she becomes ridiculous.
It's during Pfeiffer's quieter moments that she's most effective. Her damaged psyche slipping through the cracks is truly chilling, and Burton's operatic direction enhances this sensation beautifully. Other times, though, it hinders what should be a more affecting portrayal.
3 Anne Hathaway - The Dark Knight Rises
Coming in for the finale of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, this Selina Kyle takes cues from the other characters and presents a more grounded interpretation. Catwoman uses her devil-may-care attitude to hide her deep-seated fear, and Hathaway easily has the dramatic heft to pull it off. That weight places her among the most powerful yet sympathetic renditions in the purring pantheon.
True, she doesn't quite have the charisma of some others, but she makes up for it with her versatility. Hathaway can change personas in an instant, often doing so with the smallest nuance. She's probably the slickest Selina to ever don the catsuit. Viewers can truly believe she can steal any valuable she sets her eye on.
2 Eartha Kitt - Batman (1966 TV Series)
The third time's the charm. Eartha Kitt stormed onscreen as the new Catwoman for the 1960s Batman series' final season. Rather than imitating what came before, she makes the role entirely her own. Her performance goes bigger with more pronounced movements and a sharper tone. These give her a commanding regality which is endlessly fun to watch.
More impressive is how Kitt accomplishes this without losing the alluring quality fans recognize. She has an exotic magnetism filling the entire room. Even her flamboyant fellow villains are no match for her charm. Plus, no Catwoman pulls off the purring quite like her.
1 Julie Newmar - Batman (1966 TV Series)
Sometimes, you just can't beat the classics. Julie Newmar was the first to play Catwoman onscreen in the '60s Batman show, and she's still the best. Her naturally sultry voice and killer smirk mean she's practically born for this character. As she slinks around the show, her mischievous charm is impossible to resist. As great as this is, it's not the only thing going for her.
Newmar imbues Catwoman with undeniable authority. She struts her stuff and easily holds her own against the most colorful adversaries. None of it is the least bit contrived; she simply has the presence to pull it off. If she says, "Jump," you say, "How high?".
More irresistible is her shaky relationship with the Caped Crusader. Her affection gradually grows throughout the show, and part of her even wants to go straight on occasion. It's here that she shifts from commanding to cute. You can't help but forgive her. When her crimes are this deadly, that's no small feat.
Everything people love about the felonious feline, Newmar has in spades. At the risk of sounding self-indulgent, she's simply purr-fect.