The Poster Memorabilia blog

A Killer Cast of Women

Four Deadly Vipers, collected one at a time — from Hall H to the steps of the Met.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

Sometimes, I think women in movies peaked in Kill Bill. I've never seen a group of female characters all be that badass before. They were strong and skilled, and were always ready to kill if it meant protecting something or someone. And that cast? Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, and Daryl Hannah? Insane!

Is it a feminist movie? Well, that's the question of the century. There's no doubt seeing women be just as killer as men was truly something. They were athletic, agile, and astute. No other film had shown female characters quite like that before, which is why it's so iconic.

It also helps that the women who starred in it are iconic, too. All of the actresses I've mentioned are known for their tough female roles over the years. They've cultivated powerful personas that have helped push women in film from submissive romantic leads to active protagonists with real agency.

“Sometimes, I think women in movies peaked in Kill Bill.”

Having met them myself, I can happily confirm that these women truly have unique auras in real life. It goes beyond the fact that they're famous movie stars. These A-list women all have a solid confidence that reminds you of their characters in Kill Bill.

I first met Lucy Liu at San Diego Comic-Con in 2012, when she introduced her new series at the time, CBS's Elementary. I was excited to see her leading something again, especially on TV, since I'd last watched her tear through a Tokyo ballroom as O-Ren Ishii.

As I expected, she looked great and was very nice in person. She was the first cast member who signed my Kill Bill movie poster, and I couldn't have asked for someone better. Well, maybe Uma Thurman, but I only met her much later.

Two years later, I met Daryl Hannah at the premiere of Above All Else, an environmental documentary she took part in, at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2014. It was one of the rare times she made a public appearance, as she was never a fixture on red carpets.

Though she did feel shy, which is far from what I expected from the actress who portrayed Elle Driver, she still had undeniable star quality. Not to mention her famously good looks. Daryl Hannah is one of those women who just looks better with age. That's the only way I could describe her.

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2014 was a great year for me because I met not just one, but two of my favorite cast members from Kill Bill. The first was Daryl Hannah, who I just mentioned, and the second was Vivica A. Fox, who I also met at Comic-Con. She was there for the Sharknado 2: The Second One panel, and honestly, she was having more fun with it than anyone in the room.

She looked great and clearly enjoyed being there. She also talked about making Kill Bill during the panel, which was a welcome surprise for a huge fan like me. And when I finally met her and showed her the poster I brought, I saw her eyes light up for the first time that day.

Finally, there was Uma Thurman, who I caught during the 2015 Met Gala. I was in the crowd outside with everyone else hoping for a glimpse, and looking all statuesque in her white gown, she looked every inch the movie star I always knew her to be. I was so overwhelmed by her presence that I almost missed my chance to ask for her autograph.

You can't blame me, though. I was finally meeting the lead star of my favorite movie of all time. Could you keep it together if you were me? I still did, but only barely. And I'm grateful I snapped out of it just in time to ask her to sign my poster.

I eventually met Julie Dreyfus, Sonny Chiba, and of course, Quentin Tarantino and got them to sign the same poster too, but these four women will always stick out in my mind. For me, Kill Bill was their movie, equally, even more so than Tarantino's.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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