At 17 years old, Camren Bicondova of Gotham is one of the youngest actresses to play Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) on screen. The iconic character made her first appearance in the Batman #1 comic back in 1940 (though called ‘the Cat’ at the time) and has since been featured as both a supervillian and nemesis to Batman, as well as an antihero and love interest for Batman. While Selina Kyle has been the alter ego of Catwoman the longest, characters Holly Robinson and Eiko Hasigawa also appeared at one point in the Catwoman persona.
The first onscreen appearance of Catwoman was in the 1966 Batman TV series, starring Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin). Julie Newmar played the femme fatale from 1966-1967. The Golden Globe nominated actress appeared in films such as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and television series including My Living Doll, before her appearance as Catwoman. Afterward she went on to appear in TV series such as Columbo, Monster Squad, The Bionic Woman, and Jason of Star Command. She also voiced Martha Wayne in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Catwoman in the video game Batman: Arkham Knight, and Catwoman again in the animated film Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (also starring the voice talents of Adam West and Burt Ward).
From 1967-1968, Eartha Kitt took over as The Catwoman on the Batman series. Her sultry, recognizable voice made her one of the most memorable actresses to play the role. Before Batman she appeared in series such as I Spy and Mission: Impossible. After her turn as the iconic DC villain, she went on to appear in movies and TV, with roles in Erik the Viking, Ernest Scared Stupid, Boomerang, The Emperor’s New Groove (voice), Holes, and My Life as a Teenage Robot (voice).
When Batman jumped from the small screen to the big screen in 1966 with Batman: The Movie (starring the cast of the television series), The Catwoman was recast with Lee Meriwether. Her iteration of the character was the first to have an alter ego, though it was as Kitka, and not Selina Kyle. A regular face on television screens, she had appeared in Dragnet, Leave It to Beaver, Bringing Up Buddy, The Man From UNCLE, and My Three Sons. After the release of the Batman film, she returned to TV with roles in The Time Tunnel, Mission: Impossible, The New Andy Griffith Show, and The Munsters Today (as Lily Munster).
In 1992 Batman Returns, the sequel to the 1989 Batman feature film, was released. Michelle Pfeiffer appeared as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, a revenge seeking villainess who falls into something of a star-crossed relationship with Bruce Wayne/Batman (played by Michael Keaton). Before Batman Returns, the Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee and winner had appeared in Grease 2, Scarface, Ladyhawke, The Witches of Eastwick (with Jack Nicholson, the Joker from the previous Batman film), and Married to the Mob. After her stint as Catwoman she appeared in more films, including Up Close and Personal, The Deep End of the Ocean, and Stardust.
Up until 2004, all onscreen portrayals of Catwoman had appeared alongside Batman. In 2004, Halle Berry appeared as Patience Phillips/Catwoman in a standalone film that did not fall into the established DC universe. Though the Academy, Golden Globe, and Primetime Emmy Award winner did what she could with the role, the film was almost universally panned by critics and viewers alike.
It wasn’t until eight years later that Catwoman returned to the big screen. This time Anne Hathaway portrayed her in The Dark Knight Rises (the third Batman film from Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman). Her version of Catwoman (who is known by Selina and not by the Catwoman moniker) is a slick and sexy thief who ends up working with Batman by the end of the film. Before her role as Selina, Anne Hathaway appeared in The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, and Alice in Wonderland. Afterward she had roles in Les Miserables and Interstellar. Like several of the other actress on this list, she is an Academy, Golden Globe, and Primetime Emmy Award nominee and winner.
Several other actresses have had their names attached to the Catwoman role throughout the years. While their faces may have never appeared on screen, both Eliza Dushku and Tress MacNeille loaned their voices to the character in animated films and series (Eliza Dushku for Batman: Year One and a Catwoman short film, Tress MacNeille for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns part 2).
There are also some lesser known appearances of the iconic villain/antihero. Maggie Baird appeared in the short-lived 2002 television series Birds of Prey as the mother of Helena Kyle – rumored daughter of Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne. Almira Muhlach and Lotis Key both appeared as Catwoman in Batman films from the Philippines (Alyas Batman en Robin, Fight! Batman, Fight!). And Kelly Weston took on the role of Selina Kyle/Catwoman for two popular ‘fan films’ – Batman Revealed and Penguin: Bird of Prey.
Gotham returns to FOX Monday night lineup September 19th at 8pm. Be sure to tune in to see Camren Bicondova continue the evolution of her character Selina Kyle into the Catwoman.
Which is your favorite version of Catwoman? Who would you like to see play her the next time she appears on the small or big screen?
