Making her debut in the 1995 indie film Kids, Rosario Dawson is both a talented actress across movies and television, as well as a noted activist and philanthropist. Her work in film across a wide variety of genres and tones demonstrates a brilliant range in ability that has won recognition in the industry, and solidified her reputation as a versatile and reliable casting choice in any role. Over the years, she has become a presence on-screen that any fan would instantly recognize, and with her upcoming roles in Disney’s highly anticipated Ahsoka and Haunted Mansion, Dawson shows no signs of slowing down.

Able to deliver a powerful dramatic performance in one film and then a silly, hilarious one in another, Dawson’s portfolio covers everything from small independent projects to major blockbuster franchises. Her dramatic roles such as in the film Seven Pounds opposite Will Smith, and the Hulu series Dopesick stand alongside appearances in popular series such as Netflix’s Daredevil, and the upcoming series Ahsokaon Disney+ as a clear showing of this actress’ talent and range. Here’s a look at some of her absolute best characters across both movies and TV, ranked.

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10 Nevada — Zombieland: Double Tap

     Columbia Pictures

Dawson joins the original cast of Zombieland in the sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap, playing the tough as nails Nevada. Her performance alongside co-star Woody Harrelson raises the action comedy to a standard that just wouldn’t have worked nearly as well with any other actress in the role.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Persephone — Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

     20th Century Studios

In Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Dawson joins an impressive cast of actors and actresses as the goddess Persephone. This role was one where she clearly got to have a lot of fun, effortlessly stealing the scenes that featured her and delivering a unique take on a familiar figure from classical myth.

8 Wonder Woman — DC Animated Universe

     Warner Bros. Entertainment

Starting in 2015, Dawson lends her voice to Wonder Woman in DC’s Animated Movie Universe. Her performance brings the powerful and confident character to life with a mature edge that transcends what most people expect from animated films. Wonder Woman’s scenes never fail to entertain, and this is due in no small part to a brilliant performance by an actress who understands the essence of this iconic superhero.

7 Becky Scott — Clerks II

     Metro-Goldwyn Meyer

In the followup to Kevin Smith’s black and white indie film Clerks, Clerks II, Dawson portrays Becky Scott, the boss and romantic interest of series focal character, Dante. Playing within the outrageously raunchy material, Dawson turns in a hilarious performance that is relentlessly entertaining. The writing involves some of the most over the top filthy dialogue ever put to film, and relies on the cast to sell every joke well to avoid coming across as silly or juvenile, and Dawson manages to accomplish this while making it look easy. She also returns in Clerks III, helping to close out the trilogy.

6 Gail — Sin City

     Troublemaker Studios

In the stylish and violent film by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez, Dawson plays a vicious sex worker that leads a faction of women against the mob. Sin City tells a rain-drenched set of stories in black and white, creating a spectacle that is as true to the original comic as it is possible for any adaptation to be. Dawson’s acting brings the gleeful violence of the character to the screen beautifully and stands out against her other roles as being outright menacing. While adapting comics to film leaves a lot lost in translation, this example is widely considered to be one of the best attempts, and excellent performances like Dawson’s are a big part of why.

5 Chelsea Brown — Top Five

     Paramount Pictures

In 2014’s comedy Top Five, Dawson stars opposite Chris Rock as Chelsea Brown, a profile writer for the New York Times. Performing alongside several of the most prolific comedians on screen, Dawson brings a grounding element to a film that deals with where comedy really comes from, and what is actually important in life beyond fame and success. This role also won her a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy by the Critic’s Choice Movie Awards in 2015.

4 Ahsoka Tano — Star Wars

     Lucasfilm Ltd.

Bringing an established character from Disney’s animated Star Wars series, The Clone Wars, Dawson first portrayed Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian before later reprising the role in The Book of Boba Fett. Fan expectations were high for this character, who was a major focus of the animated series, which ran for six seasons from 2008 to 2014, before being revived for one final season in 2020. Dawson portrays the character at a much later stage in life than the animated series, and brings a more grounded and mature approach that has been extremely well received by fans and critics alike. She will continue to play Ahsoka in her own standalone series, expected to debut sometime in 2023.

3 Bridget Meyer — Dopesick

     Hulu

In Hulu’s drama series Dopesick, Dawson portrays DEA agent Bridget Meyer as she works tirelessly to combat the opioid crisis in America. The subject of this performance is something that may hit close to home for many viewers, and Dawson’s portrayal of a DEA agent determined to make a positive difference in the face of impossible odds is a powerful look at life beyond the headlines and statistics of a crisis that still rages today. The series examines the situation through many different lenses, and each given perspective is different. For Dawson’s character, we get to see a character that follows their convictions, even as the strain consumes her life. This is a role that Dawson is very connected to, per The Hollywood Reporter, and that comes across will in her stellar performance.

2 Claire Temple — Netflix’s Marvel Franchise

     Marvel Television

In Netflix’s take on Marvel Comics’ superhero mythologies, Dawson portrays nurse Claire Temple, who becomes involved in the lives and personal crusades of several characters including Daredevil, played by Charlie Cox, and Luke Cage, portrayed by Mike Colter. Surrounded by a cast of characters gifted with extraordinary abilities and dealing with larger than life problems, Dawson’s character brings a much more human perspective to their struggles, challenging the views and methods of the heroes and helping to guide them on their path to becoming the heroic figures that fans of the comics are so familiar with.

When the Netflix properties were canceled and all future Marvel properties were slated to be released exclusively by Disney, the future of Dawson’s character was brought into question. However, with Cox and Vincent D’onofrio reprising their previous roles in new MCU movies and TV shows, the is hope that we will get to see Claire Temple offer her medical services and human wisdom to the superheroes of New York once again.

1 Emily Posa — Seven Pounds

In a performance that earned her a nomination for an ALMA Award for Best Actress in Film, and won her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, Dawson plays a woman with a rare heart condition opposite Will Smith in Seven Pounds. In the film, Smith’s character, Tim, is compelled to improve the lives of seven people in atonement for an event in his past, and Dawson’s character Emily is one of these people. The chemistry between the two actors is outstanding, further sold by a masterful performance grounded in compassion and a beautiful perspective offered by a character who is, themselves, going through an ordeal that many viewers could only ever imagine. Dawson joins the rest of the cast in a bittersweet but powerful conclusion that inspires hope and gratitude in its audience, even as it leaves them in tears. This performance is instrumental in demonstrating the impact of the events in the story, and Dawson delivers every emotion flawlessly.