'Birds of Prey': Mary Elizabeth Winstead's crossbow-toting Huntress is one badass queen and we adore her

Despite the tragedy that's been her past, Helena is an adorable little cookie and that's what makes her our favorite Bird of Prey. The fact that she could also give you a beatdown you'll never forget is just a bonus
UPDATED FEB 7, 2020
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (IMDb)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (IMDb)

Spoiler alert for 'Birds of Prey (and The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)'

She's the terror of Gotham's criminal underworld. She's an unstoppable force of nature. Some call her the Crossbow Killer, others call her Huntress. Most just call her "AAAHHHH! Please don't shoot me!"

Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Helena Bertinelli / The Huntress is easily one of the most badass characters in 'Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)', a movie that's already chock-full of badass characters. She's a crossbow-toting vigilante with a family fortune, a tragic backstory, and no compunctions about killing criminals. Essentially, she's like Batman, if Batman was a woman with a Robin Hood fascination and without his usual no-killing rule. But what makes Helena one of our favorites from the movie is her more human side. 

Despite the fact that she's probably the most deadly person in the movie, Helena is adorably awkward in social situations. Winstead plays the very nuanced character to perfection, nailing both sides of the character effortlessly.



 

Part of the credit has to go to the excellent writing and direction that has clearly gone into the movie. We get to see Helena as a badass killer but we also see her practicing her menacing lines in front of a mirror. Plus her frustration with people not remembering her superhero name was absolutely hilarious. 

Compared to the other Birds, Helena is quite possibly the most damaged. In fact, she could probably give Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) a run for her money in terms of traumatic experiences. But what's really beautiful about the character (and the movie in general) is that her trauma doesn't make her some dark, brooding monster, even though that's clearly the image she's trying to project.

Despite the tragedy that's been her past, Helena is an adorable little cookie and that's what makes her our favorite Bird of Prey. The fact that she could also give you a beatdown you'll never forget is just a bonus.

'Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn' was released in theaters on February 7.

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