Partnering with any strong-headed law enforcement type or do-gooder can be risky. Not only do they tend to be loners whose partners don't last very long, but they also have plenty of murderous enemies intent on the hero's demise. Pairing up with one of these He-Man macho-types can be even harder for a woman because some of these fellas think the fairer sex isn't up to the task of keeping the peace or taking down the bad guys. We plan on discounting that prejudice by presenting some of the most badass women around who proved themselves equal to or better than their male counterparts. Some of them actively signed up to protect the innocent while others were drafted into saving the world, but all of them proved their mettle alongside some of the most durable men in the world of action flicks. Note that spoilers follow for some of the movies mentioned.

10) Playboy Playmate Jordan Tate, Under Siege

She might have started the Steven Segal action flick Under Siege off as a simple stripper, but by the end of the flick about terrorists trying to steal missiles from a submarine, Erika Eleniak's Jordan Tate transforms from ass-shaker to ass-kicker. Heck, we know grown men who wouldn't have the stones to go up against the combined creepiness of Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey. Especially Busey, he haunts our dreams.

9) Flight Attendant Cindy, Commando

Commando's Cindy (Rae Dawn Chong) was just trying to go home after a long flight, but instead wound up as the at-first-unwilling accomplice to John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in his quest to not only reclaim his kidnapped daughter, but also get revenge on the men who took her. While not nearly as brutal or calculating as Matrix, Cindy did help Matrix get away from the cops, flew him to the bad guy's headquarters and called in the cavalry. That makes up for her trying to tell the cops she'd been kidnapped and kicking off a huge action scene in a mall, right? Matrix seemed to think so as he flew off into the sunset with her and his daughter at the end of the flick.

8) Inspector Kate Moore, The Enforcer

Getting partnered with Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan can be a dangerous gig. His partners have a tendency to, well, get murdered and maimed. But, Inspector Kate Moore (Tyne Daly) persisted even with his reputation and Harry's clear disdain for her as a cop in 1976's The Enforcer. That doesn't stop her from doing her part to help stop not one but two terrorist groups from holding San Francisco hostage. "You laugh at me you bastard and I'll shoot you where you stand," she said towards the end before blowing a guy away and saving the city's kidnapped mayor. Soon after she takes some slugs in the chest trying to save her partner. Moore (and Daly who suggested the script change) gets bonus points for doing her job and not getting romantically involved with Dirty Harry.

7) April O'Neil, TMNT

We all love April O'Neil for being the one human in the world who's not absolutely terrified by walking, talking turtles who carry weapons, know karate and love pizza just a little too much. However, in the movies, she doesn't get a whole lot to do. Sure, she throws a punch every now and then and distracts the occasional Foot Clan member so one of the Turtles can knock them out, but she didn't really get her chance to kick ass until the 2007 computer generated TMNT. Towards the end of the film, she donned a skin tight fighting suit, sword and actually got to help save the world with the fight skills she picked up from knowing the Turtles all those years... and dating Casey Jones.

6) Officer Anne Lewis, Robocop

It takes a certain kind of officer to partner up with an emotionless walking tank who sticks to the exact letter of the law. You've got to be tough and a little crazy, which describes Robocop's partner Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen) to the letter. At Robo's side she's taken on rampant street gangs, evil corporations, lethal drug runners, a murderous little kid and her fair share of robots. Officer Anne Lewis wound up giving her life to defend the people she swore to protect, showing exactly how heroic she was, a moment lessened by the goofiness of Robocop 3 as well as the fact that it was spoiled in the trailer.