Very few video game franchises celebrate women as often as they do Resident Evil. The series began with two campaigns that both featured playable women in Jill Valentine and Rebecca Chambers. There is a good balance between masculine and female heroesand Capcom even throws in the occasional villain who takes the spotlight (aka Lady Dimitrescu).
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While not primarily known for its complex writing, the series has produced an absurd number of iconic female characters synonymous with not only horror but gaming in general. Let's take a journey through history and highlight the best women in Resident Evil.
Updated March 3, 2026 by Mark Sammut: Resident Evil Requiem is finally out, and it's been a smash hit. Accordingly, I've added two female characters to this article: Grace (obviously) and Emily. While I tried to limit spoilers, don't read these sections if you plan on playing Requiem anytime soon.
30
Carla Radames
Involved in the creation and weaponization of the C virus
Resident Evil 6 was a divisive entry, with a greater focus on action gameplay and co-op over the survival horror that made the franchise so popular in the first place. It wasn't all bad, though RE6 gave players some strong female characters, like Carla Radames.
Carla is much more than an Ada Wong lookalike, as she is a brilliant and accomplished woman in her own right. She was responsible for the creation of the C-Virus and the Neo-Umbrella company. After her death at the hands of Ada, Neo Umbrella ceased to show how much of an important figure she was to the group.
29
Alex Wesker (Resident Evil: Revelations 2)
Maybe Alex never really died
The second episode Resident Evil the game brought back old favorites, like Claire Redfield and Barry Burton, while also introducing some newcomers, like Moira Burton, Natalia Korda, and Alex Wesker. Up to Revelations 2the latter had only been mentioned in a file in the Lost Nightmares DLC for Resident Evil 5.
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Not much is known about her origins, but Alex went on to make a name for herself after undergoing the Wesker Project. She was headhunted by Umbrella, which is a clear sign of her intellect. She became something other than human, and tried to transition into something more. Although she was ultimately defeated, it is implied that Alex lives on in Natalia at the end of Revelations 2.
28
Excella Gione (Resident Evil 5)
Strong enough to be a match for Chris and Sheva
When Albert himself approaches another character, it is a definitive proof of their worth. Originally in the lower ranks of Tricell's pharmaceutical division, her partnership with Wesker took her to new heights, and she became a force to be reckoned with, gaining control of the company she was once a youngster for, and controlling the mind-controlled Jill Valentine.
Inevitably double-crossed by Wesker, Excella transformed into a monstrous mass of flesh and tentacles that nearly interrupted Chris and Sheva's mission with her terrifying strength and speed.
27
Rachel Foley (Resident Evil: Revelations)
The reluctant agent became a monster
One of the monsters Jill will have the misfortune of encountering is Rachel Foley, once an FBC agent, and now another victim of the t-Abyss virus. Her original mission was to investigate what had happened to the ship and make it ready for disposal, to ensure that her boss would have nothing to trace back to him.
In typical Resident Evil fashion, nothing ever goes according to plan, and the skilled agent becomes a monster that Jill must face. Rachel's tenure in Resident Evil: Revelations was short lived but very memorable.
26
Ingrid Hunnigan (Resident Evil 4)
Provides invaluable support to Leon
Infiltrating a remote Spanish village to rescue the president's kidnapped daughter is a difficult task, and Leon might not have been able to do it without the support of Ingrid Hunnigan. Although she only communicates with Leon regularly throughout the game to keep track of his progress and give advice, she still serves as a key character for most of the game.
While it's unlikely gamers will ever see Hunnigan return in a later title, the role she played in RE4 will remain in the minds of the players. Her intelligence and straightforward attitude shone through in every conversation, and she even resisted Leon's joking attempts to flirt with her.
25
Annette Birkin (Resident Evil 2)
Where she fails as a mother, she shines as a scientist
Although most people think of the warped Dr Birkin or terrifying Mr X when they think of it Resident Evil 2 villains, there is another who is equally deserving of praise, as she is a very underrated character. It is Annette Birkin, wife of William, mother of Sherry and an accomplished scientist.
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She cares to investigate the effects the virus had on her husband first and foremost, also over her own life and even her children. But her character shows more complex depth here than a single-minded scientist, as she seems genuinely sad to abandon Sherry in her hour of need as she pursues her work. These nuances are really what make her shine as a character, reminding players that this villainous woman is just as human as they are.
24
Alexia Ashford (Resident Evil Code: Veronica)
Gifted with the highest intelligence and high ambitions
Mad scientists are nothing new in the world REas they serve as the main antagonists in almost every game, and Alexia Ashford stands out as one of the best with her calculating demeanor and goals to rise as queen of the entire world.
Created as a clone of Dr. Alexander's ancestor Veronica, Alexia was blessed with supreme intelligence that saw her graduate from a prestigious university at the age of 10 and join Umbrella as a virologist, her intellect on par with her colleagues even at such a young age. Her attention eventually shifted to experimenting with certain infamous viruses, resulting in a horrible creature known as Nosferatu, which eventually infected itself to become an even greater creature.
23
Moira Burton (Resident Evil: Revelations 2)
Grows and matures throughout the game
Introduced in the spin-off titled Revelation 2, Moira serves as a sidekick to the franchise's famous Claire Redfield, and Barry Burton's eldest daughter. An incident involving a gun and the injury of her younger sister, Polly, opened up a rift between Moira and Barry, resulting in her rebelling against her father. At Claire's urging, Moira joined TerraSave and happened to be at the party that served as the catalyst for the rest of the game.
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Although she acts like a typical sour teenager at the start of the game, Moira's arc sees her grow and mature as the story progresses, ultimately making her a special and enjoyable character. She even reconciles with her father in a genuinely touching scene at the end of the game.
22
Jessica Sherawat (Resident Evil: Revelations)
Behind her playful demeanor is a calculating triple agent
Jessica, a presumed member of the BSAA, debuts as Chris's new partner when they are tasked with investigating Veltro. She always seems to have a very relaxed attitude to her assignments, and teases Chris about the exact depth of his relationship with Jill, but all of this can be an elaborate distraction from the truth of her character.
Jessica is actually a triple agent, working for Tricell while masquerading as a BSAA agent, shooting Jill's new partner Parker and activating Queen Zenobia's self-destruct mechanism to destroy the laboratory and evidence that would implicate Morgan Lansdale.
21
Donna Beneviento (Resident Evil Village)
A soft-spoken character with an air of mystery
The Village introduced Ethan and the players to a host of new characters, including the Four Lords. Although Angie appears to be the one doing the talking, she is rarely seen without Donna Beneviento, the maker of the doll.
Suffering from deep-rooted issues such as anxiety stemming from childhood tragedies, she prefers to talk through her doll and delved deep into the hobby of making dolls to replace her lost family. After being infected by the cadou parasite, she became adept at creating a chemical that could cause vivid and sometimes violent hallucinations. To underestimate the gentle Donna would be a serious mistake.
