The iconic women who took over San Diego Comic-Con 2025.
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 has been a triumph of genre, talent, and, especially, female power, with a spotlight shining brightly on a remarkable collective of iconic actresses. These stars took over panels, press lines, and fan events with their charisma, bold energy, and leadership! Keep reading to find out which of your favorites made an appearance!
Dafne Keen Returns with Whistle and Genre Power
Leading the charge was Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Dafne Keen, whose breakout as Lyra Belacqua in His Dark Materials established her as a force of nature in fantasy storytelling. At SDCC, Keen returned to thunderous applause as she promoted her upcoming project, Whistle, and her presence was a reminder of how young actresses can redefine genre expectations with a rare combination of vulnerability and fire.
Katie Douglas Brings Depth to Clown in a Cornfield
Katie Douglas, beloved for her work in Ginny & Georgia, Level 16, and the indie hit Believe Me, was also in attendance at SDCC! She brought raw emotion to her panel discussions, delving into the psychological depth of the troubled, complex young women she so often portrays. Specifically, she was helping promote her project, Clown in a Cornfield! The project has been one of the main highlights of SDCC, featuring an immersive experience for event attendees. Douglas attended the same panel as Keen for Collider’s Ladies Night, and her evolution as an actress has been quite the journey to see!
Marisa Bode Advocates for Disability Representation
Defying gravity was Wicked‘s Marisa Bode, one of the convention’s fastest-rising stars, who wowed audiences with both her poise and promise. Having recently gained acclaim for her haunting turn in a streaming fantasy adaptation, Bode used her SDCC appearances to advocate for better disability representation in genre film and TV—an area she navigates both personally and professionally with remarkable insight.
Bode also recently wowed on the runway, making an appearance as a judge at the Her Universe Fashion Show. “It was my first time attending San Diego Comic Con, and I LOVED seeing these one-of-a-kind geek couture designs come to life!” She captioned her Instagram post of the night! It’s essential to note that Bode has recently spoken out and raised awareness about the recent Medicaid cuts implemented by the American government. This issue, she says, affects the disabled community.
Since her stardom, Bode has continued to bring awareness to the many facets of the disabled community and what needs to be done.
Amanda Shipp Speaks Out on Typecasting and Strength
And of course, Amanda Shipp, meanwhile, emerged as one of the most grounded and emotionally intelligent voices of the weekend. Known for her nuanced performances in psychological thrillers and her fearless dive into morally complex characters, Shipp used the convention’s platform to speak candidly about the isolation of typecasting and her fight to redefine what strength looks like on screen.
Rebecca Romijn Stuns with Her MCU Return
The crowd erupted when The Librarians’ Rebecca Romijn took the stage at this year’s SDCC, with her legacy in the sci-fi and fantasy drama still legendary to this day. Romjin, like Keen in the X-Men universe, is also well known as Mystique in the X-Men films. She made headlines for her announced return for the 2027 MCU film Avengers: Doomsday, in which we’ll see her back on the big screen in her iconic role! She has noted at SDCC that her scenes are “not quite finished” and that her scripts are still in progress! It was also her continued excellence in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that reminded fans just how much she’s still shaping the future of science fiction.
Quinta Brunson Brings Satire, Heart, and Insight
Romijn was joined by fellow powerhouse Quinta Brunson, whose Emmy-winning work on Abbott Elementary brought levity, authenticity, and sharp critique to her panels. At SDCC, Brunson proved she wasn’t just a comedy genius but a multi-hyphenate creative redefining the space between satire and heart. Her commentary on education, media representation, and the need for more African-American-led narratives resonated across generations of fans.
Madelaine Petsch Embraces Her Dark Side
A surprise standout of the weekend was Madelaine Petsch, formerly of Riverdale’s Cheryl Blossom, who has been carving out a new path with darker, more psychologically complex roles. She was at the panel representing her latest project, The Strangers: Chapter 2. Petsch brought a gothic sophistication to the event, reflecting on how being underestimated early in her career gave her the resilience to now lead major horror and suspense features with unapologetic confidence.
Jamaica Vaughn Champions Black Women Behind the Camera
Jamaica Vaughn, whose directorial projects are garnering festival acclaim, also took the stage—not only as a performer but as a creative force in television production. Her SDCC presence symbolized the growing power of Black women behind the camera, and she used her platform to speak on intersectional inclusion, especially in fantasy worlds that have too often excluded or stereotyped women of color.
Sophie Skelton Reflects on Emotional Labor and Resilience
Finally, Sophie Skelton delivered a deeply moving appearance, reflecting on her journey portraying Brianna Fraser in Outlander, a character who has survived both physical and emotional trauma across centuries. Skelton’s reflections on navigating that role—often under the scrutiny of historical realism and fan expectation—offered profound insight into the emotional labor many actresses perform to bring authenticity to such complex narratives. Beyond Outlander, she teased new projects that explore women’s resilience through time travel, loss, and reinvention, further solidifying her reputation as one of the most emotionally versatile actresses of her generation.
SDCC 2025 Belonged to the Women
Together, these women were not just attendees—they were the moment. They took over Comic-Con not only with their talent but with their truths, their boldness, and their deep understanding of the power women have to drive genre storytelling into a more inclusive, emotionally authentic, and artistically daring future. Whether veterans or rising stars, each actress brought something singular to SDCC 2025, transforming it into a celebration not just of fandom—but of female legacy, leadership, and longevity.
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