Angelina Jolie, Kate Beckinsale and Uma Thurman once ruled the big screen for beating up bad guys, performing impossible stunts and just being kick-ass film heroines. With a slew of film adaptations set for release this year until 2014, Hollywood offers a whole new line up of female protagonists. From Katniss Everdeen of "The Hunger Games" to Clary Fray of "The Mortal Instruments", here are the strongest film heroines of 2013.

Cassandra Clare's best-selling novels, "The Mortal Instruments" are finally getting the attention they deserve. The first book in a series of six has its film adaptation to be released in cinemas nationwide by August 21, 2013. "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" stars Lily Collins as the lead protagonist, Clary Fray who searches for her kidnapped mother. This leads Clary into a world of Angels, Demons and Downworlders.

"She has this kind of sassy comedic undertone, which Jace brings out in her as well as Simon," says Collins about her character, adding, "She doesn't choose to become part of this other world. She already is a Shadowhunter. Unlike Bella who chose to become a vampire, Clary is already a Shadowhunter, and she doesn't let romance define her. She's on this single track to get her mom back, and she doesn't victimize herself. She's always thinking of new answers to questions instead of kind of letting people solve them for her."

Suzzane Collins post-apocalyptic novel, "The Hunger Games" also has a kick-ass heroine by the name of Katniss Everdeen. Played by Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss stole the heart of both readers and viewers as a girl who fights for what she believes is right.

"I don't know what it's like to get ready for your death, but I do know what it's like to be almost a puppet. And then when I was making the second film, I had become more acquainted with that world, and I think that's something that Katniss experiences. She is different when she comes back. She does feel more comfortable in the Capitol; she understands the people more, and it's not as eerie and scary and unfamiliar. She kind of knows how to work the system," says Lawrence about coming back as Katniss in "Catching Fire" for Vogue September 2013.

Check out the slideshow to see other film heroines and what they had to say about their characters.

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