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Cynthia Rothrock

One of the few American actresses to enjoy stardom in action films, Cynthia Rothrock was a five-time undefeated World Karate Champion who parlayed her exceptional skills in martial arts into a career in direct-to-video features like "China O'Brien" (1988), "Martial Law" (1989) and "Fast Getaway" (1990). Though petite of stature and a somewhat wooden presence on screen, Rothrock was a formidable martial arts athlete, having proven herself in the Hong Kong action market for several years before returning to films in her native country. She soon became a highly marketable figure in B-action films, but found it harder to break into the sort of mainstream features that were dominated by her male counterparts like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Rothrock retired from acting in 2004 to open her own martial arts studio, but the enduring popularity of her '90s-era titles kept her in the public eye, prompting a comeback of sorts in 2011 and beyond. Though never a major Hollywood star, Cynthia Rothrock enjoyed a lengthy run as an action star, as well as the sole female actress to achieve that title.