In the old days, girls were secondary characters in movies, one dimensional, superficial, sappy, weak and reliant on men to save them. Those days are over, and now we see a whole array of women and girls, who are girlie but strong, romantic but realistic, who fall in love easily while remaining fiercely independent.

For your viewing pleasure, we have put together our favourite speeches by our favourite heroines from our favourite movies. Enjoy!

Tina Fey talks about girl on girl crime in “Mean girls”

Julia Stiles heartbreaking poem about love in “10 Things I Hate About You”

Amrica Ferrera calls her Dad in “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants”

Viola Davis gives an acting masterclass in “Fences”

Vivien Leigh will never go hungry again in “Gone with the Wind”

Alicia Silverstone’s dinner party metaphor  in “Clueless”

Debra Winger’s last words to her son in “Terms of Endearment”

Hilary Duff  moves on in “A Cinderella Story”

Reece Witherspoon’s final speech in “Legally Blonde”

Jennifer Gray confronts her Dad in “Dirty Dancing”

Julia Roberts owns the room in “Erin Brokovich”

And finally, Emma Stone’s audition scene from “La La Land”

Did we miss any? Let us know….