The 1980s were the Wild West when it came to television and movie ideas. This era gave us talking cars, experimental helicopters, transforming superheroes, and hundreds of iconic characters to boot. Among them were, of course, plenty of unforgettable female characters.
Here are ten of the most remarkable female film and television characters who became ’80s screen crushes.
1. Daisy Duke — Catherine Bach (The Dukes of Hazzard)
Although The Dukes of Hazzard premiered in 1979, Daisy Duke became a full-blown pop culture phenomenon during the ’80s, mostly thanks to Catherine Bach and the Duke boys. Her famous cutoff denim shorts became so iconic that people still call the style “Daisy Dukes.” It just goes to show that men really don’t need much to start worshipping someone like Catherine.
2. Caitlin O’Shannessy — Jean Bruce Scott (Airwolf)
Airwolf had one of the coolest fictional helicopters ever put on television, but Jean Bruce Scott gave viewers a few other reasons to tune in. She played the badass pilot Caitlin O’Shannessy, who was also quite a catch. She could fly, think under pressure, and hold her own in a show packed with military hardware and dramatic aerial battles. She was a perfect ’80s crush!
3. Rachel Adams — Jeannie Wilson (Street Hawk)
Street Hawk lasted for only 13 episodes in 1985, but it gained a cult following thanks to its futuristic motorcycle and over-the-top premise. Of course, there was also Rachel Adams, played by Jeannie Wilson. Wilson’s spectacular screen presence made the character stand out, even when she wasn’t the one zooming through city streets on a superbike. It was a short-lived project, but Rachel certainly made an impression.
4. Jody Banks — Heather Thomas (The Fall Guy)
In The Fall Guy, Heather Thomas played Jody Banks, an attractive stuntwoman who worked with Colt Seavers. People loved seeing her perform dangerous stunts, conduct investigations, and go on bounty-hunting adventures. Thomas also had the classic blonde-bombshell look that the ’80s loved. Her posters were a hot commodity back then, and it is easy to see why.