Batman’s most formidable feline foe has leaped from the pages of DC Comics and into live action from the dawn ofBatmanlive-action media.The leather-clad cat burglar has made herself a prominent figure after her initial debut inBatman #1and has been part of the Batman story as long as The Joker has.Catwomanhas taken on a number of roles through Dark Knight lore as an enemy, a love interest, an ally, and a teammate. At one point throughout the comic canon, the couple even married.
Update August 18, 2025: This article has been updated following the release of The Batman and features more in-depth analysis of each incarnation of Catwoman.
The representation of Catwoman in live-actionBatmanprojects has been a critical need for DC films and television, even if she is brought about fairly often. Catwoman will likely play a role in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DCU in eitherthe upcomingBrave and the Boldor another project. The franchises that have chosen to revisit The Cat have delivered a mix of purr-fect performances and simply cat-astrophic ones. Here is a look back at the best (and worst) of Catwoman’s past that will go down in hiss-tory.
8Halle Berry
Halle Berry’sapproach to Catwomanwas more of a literal artistic stance than one of substance, though the 2004Catwomanmovie itself is an anomaly. Berry’s catlike behavior throughout the film—ordering a saucer of cream at a bar, batting around a ball of yarn, and hissing at dogs—hasn’t aged well. The overlooking of the sophistication of Catwoman as a character for the sake of reigning true to her namesake is an embarrassing erasure of the true nature of Selina Kyle.
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Berry, of course, isn’t solely to blame for the poor quality of the early-2000s cinematic disaster, having had with a pitiful script that doomedCatwomanfrom the beginning. At best, Berry’s all-too-exaggerated performance spins a cautionary tale for writing superhero spinoff films.
7Lee Meriwether
Sinking into the more seductive side of Selina Kyle,Lee Meriwethers' Catwoman was keen on preying on the World’s Greatest Detective himself inBatman: The Movie. She manipulates Bruce Wayne with such ease, so much so that in his frenzy of lust, he begins to quote poetry to her. Meriwether’s more cunning, clever, and deceptive Catwoman peers into the sly nature of the villain. Her ability to become a blind spot on Batman’s radar gives a more accurate glance at the character’s comic-inspired motivations and her scheming ambitions.
6Camren Bicondova
Gothambeat down on a familiar-yet-unique archetype of villainess and folded a teenaged version of the well-known character into the television series. Catwoman has been present since the beginning of the madness in Gotham, andGothamknows that quite well.Camren Bicondovalocks down every expected aspect of a young Selina Kyle: intelligent and tough with sticky fingers ready to steal. She’s acrobatic and skilled with the iconic whip that she keeps close to her. The actress peered into the Cat’s more impressionable earlier years and offered insight into how she became to be theiconic prowler seen in other Batman-based live-action media.
5Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathawaybrought an undeniably intense energy to an already-divisiveBatmanmovie through her role as Catwoman inThe Dark Knight Rises.Her look is a direct homage to Julie Newmar with an updated 2012 spin on the catsuit. Her motivations are built around the idea of class struggles, arguing that once someone has to do something to get out of a hole they are never truly free.
Hathaway focuses on the idea of Catwoman being a master thief without overdoing the “cat” tacked onto her alias. Her version of Selina Kyle makesThe Dark Knight Risesa bit more palatable through her humor, combat skills, and struggle with morality after Bruce Wayne admits to wanting to ditch the ego. Hathaway’s casting initiallygenerated backlash among fans. However, she went on to prove the haters wrong with a truly iconic take on the character.
4Zoe Kravitz
The most recent actress to take on the iconic role,Zoe Kravitzplays Catwoman in 2022’sThe Batmanopposite Robert Pattinson as the titular vigilante. Like other incarnations, the Selina Kyle inThe Batmanis a cat burglar whosemorality is ambiguous. In keeping with the grittier, more grounded nature of the film, Kravitz’s Catwoman has a relatively straightforward look, wearing all leather and a burglar’s mask with points like cat ears.
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Every bit Batman’s equal, this version has some of the best chemistry with the caped crusader of them all, with the pair even sharing a kiss at one point. Angrier, more cynical and more pained than her predecessors, her emotional arc plays a large part in the film’s narrative, and Kravitz does an excellent job of creating a fully realized character. Though she had big boots to fill, Kravitz managed to carve out her own unique take on the character while still honoring those that had come before her.
3Eartha Kitt
The reluctant malice that today’s industry standards are afraid to give to a woman is found inEartha Kitt’sCatwoman. Her version of the character became comfortable with the idea of being evil and ditched even the slightest idea of kindling a romance with Batman. The assistance of her natural magnetism and purring voice made Kitt an even more convincing Catwoman. The idea of letting evil women stay evil without having to water down their personalities through subplots or side stories was taken advantage of by Kitt’s performance in the 1966Batmantelevision series. She was allowed to fully revel in malevolent glory and held true to the contempt of Catwoman in the comics.
It is also a notably trend-setting performance. With how often today acertain subset of fans will complain when a character is race-swapped, Batman did it all the way back in 1966 during the Civil Rights movement. This showed that the character of Catwoman was not defined by her skin color and allowed for stars like Halle Berry and Zoe Kravitz to eventually step into the roles year later.
2Julie Newmar
Julie Newmarclaimed the likeness of a cat through her interpretation of Catwoman beyond her cat-like mannerism in two seasons of the 1966Batmantelevision series. The conviction of a playful, carefree villain through feline fickleness creates such effortless ease when it comes to Newmar trumping the role.
Her evil roots crack through, even when she’s not plotting away at her next grand feat. Her lust for the fun of evil is undeniable, even when she’s asked to take a more introspective look at her love for Batman. Her ongoing struggle with abandoning her life of crime contributes more to Newmar’s role as she goes one step beyond the simple surface approach to the character herself.
1Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer with a smirk on her face as Catwoman in Batman Returns
Seductive and over-the-top,Michelle Pfeiffer’sgrandiose take on Catwoman emphasizes the undoing of a villain as time goes on beyond the stitching of her catsuit. While her origin itself is a bit bizarre, it positions itself to be a strange means of motivation for revenge. The Catwoman plotline inBatman Returnscozies up to the idea of mental health deterioration and the means of salvaging sanity (or losing it along the way).
Perhaps it’s a cliche that’s been trodden over by DC Comics and their respected live-action properties, though Pfeiffer’s bewitchingly sleek portrayal of a villain losing their grip on reality breathes new life into an old story. This version is so popular thatfans were hoping to see her return alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman in The Flash. Pfeiffer redefined Catwoman for the modern age and is the version all modern takes on the character are trying to live up to.
