Every story that has impressed the audience features proactive characters.

The reason we love stories is the characters. Sure, we like a good, exciting plot and an interesting world, but complex characters are what turn those worlds and plots into something memorable—they ...

There’s no single way for a woman to be a badass—she can kick ass like the Bride (Uma Thurman) in “Kill Bill,” solve a crime like Clarice (Jodie Foster) in “The Silence of the Lambs,” or lead a ...