Few comic book characters have undergone as many cinematic reinventions as Selina Kyle. Whether stepping into Gotham’s criminal underworld as a villain, a vigilante or a complicated love interest for Batman, Catwoman remains one of DC’s most coveted roles.Across six decades of blockbuster films, five actresses have suited up as the iconic cat burglar on the big screen. Here is every star who has played Catwoman in a live-action movie, listed chronologically.Related: We Ranked Every Batman Movie From Worst to Best
Every Catwoman Actress So Far
Lee Meriwether20th Century Fox
Lee Meriwether (Batman: The Movie, 1966)
When the 1960s Batman television series made the leap to feature films in 1966, original Catwoman actress Julie Newmar was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts. Miss America 1955 winner Lee Meriwether stepped into the feline costume for the big-screen adaptation.
Meriwether played a dual role in the film, disguising herself as Soviet journalist “Kitka” to lure Bruce Wayne (Adam West) into a trap alongside the United Underworld villains. Her theatrical performance helped establish Catwoman’s signature blend of deception, glamour and camp on film.
Recalling her experience in the catsuit years later with Fox News in 2018, Meriwether said, “The only thing horrible that happened with the costume was when we were outside, we were under the sun and to have that glitter, glistening look, there were threads of metal in the material. I ended up with second degree burns on my shoulder.”
Michelle PfeifferWarner Bros. Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns, 1992)
Michelle Pfeiffer delivered what remains one of the most memorable performances in superhero cinema in Tim Burton’s 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Playing a timid secretary who transforms into a whip-cracking vigilante after surviving a murder attempt, Pfeiffer defined the character for a generation of fans.
However, the role almost went to another Hollywood star before Pfeiffer landed the part. As Pfeiffer recalled to the Golden Globes: “When I heard that Tim [Burton] was making the film and Catwoman had already been cast, I was devastated. At the time, it was Annette Bening. Then she became pregnant. The rest is history.”
Pfeiffer’s take on Catwoman remains a fan favorite decades later, with her stitched-together black catsuit, whip skills and unpredictable chemistry with Batman helping make the character one of the film’s most enduring highlights.Related: Michelle Pfeiffer Cracks the Whip in Resurfaced ‘Batman Returns’ Clip—and Fans Are Obsessed
Warner Bros.
Halle Berry (Catwoman, 2004)
Halle Berry took on the mantle in the standalone 2004 film Catwoman, which reimagined the character entirely. Rather than playing Selina Kyle, Berry played Patience Phillips, a cosmetics designer who gains cat-like agility after being revived by an Egyptian Mau cat.
While the movie bombed at the box office and drew harsh reviews, Berry won praise for her humor in handling the fallout. She personally accepted her Golden Raspberry Award (Razzie) for Worst Actress in 2005, famously telling the audience, per NYLON, “First of all, I want to thank Warner Bros. Thank you for putting me in a piece of s–t, god-awful movie!”
Despite the film’s poor reception, Berry’s willingness to embrace the joke and accept the Razzie in person (she even brought her Best Actress Oscar for 2001’s Monster’s Ball onstage with her) has become one of the most memorable moments in the award’s history.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises, 2012)
Christopher Nolan brought Catwoman back into a grounded reality for the final installment of his Dark Knight trilogy. Anne Hathaway portrayed Selina Kyle as a street-smart cat burglar desperate to erase her criminal record using a rumored software program called the “Clean Slate.”
Hathaway admitted she misunderstood what role she was auditioning for when she first met with director Christopher Nolan. In an interview recounted by The A.V. Club, Hathaway shared that she spent a week “developing demonic Harley Quinn energy…then Chris is like, ‘So, the part’s Catwoman.’”
Hathaway ultimately made the role her own, delivering a sleek, sharp-witted take on Selina that balanced her criminal instincts with a reluctant moral compass. Her performance earned widespread praise and helped cement Catwoman’s place among the trilogy’s most memorable characters.Related: Iconic ‘Batman’ Catwoman Julie Newmar Looks Stunning at 93: See Her Then and Now
Warner Bros. Pictures
Zoë Kravitz (The Batman, 2022)
Zoë Kravitz took over the role in Matt Reeves’ gritty 2022 reboot The Batman, starring opposite Robert Pattinson. Kravitz played a younger Selina Kyle working as a cocktail waitress and cat burglar at the Iceberg Lounge while investigating the disappearance of her roommate.
Kravitz underwent extensive physical conditioning to prepare for the film’s intense fight choreography. She explained her mindset to ELLE: “Obviously, you want to look good in a catsuit, but I wanted it to be realistic that I’m able to do anything in this film. So I had to be strong.”
As the latest actress to portray Catwoman in a live-action film, Kravitz brought a fresh, grounded interpretation to the iconic character. Her chemistry with Pattinson’s Batman and blend of vulnerability, independence and fierce determination made her a standout in Reeves’ dark reimagining of Gotham.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catwoman Actresses
Who was the very first live-action Catwoman?
Julie Newmar was the first actress to portray Catwoman on-screen in the 1966 Batman television series. Lee Meriwether was the first actress to play Catwoman in a feature-length live-action movie later that same year.
Why wasn’t Julie Newmar in the 1966 Batman movie?
Julie Newmar could not reprise her television role for the 1966 film due to prior filming commitments for the movie Monsieur Lecoq.
Has any actress played Catwoman in both animation and live action?
Yes. Julie Newmar reprised her live-action television role as Catwoman by voicing the character in the animated films Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) and Batman vs. Two-Face (2017). Zoë Kravitz also voiced Catwoman in The Lego Batman Movie (2017) before playing Selina Kyle in the live-action film The Batman (2022).
Related: Every Actor Who Has Played the Joker in a Live-Action Movie
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