11 sultriest lesbian and sapphic femmes in TV and film history

So we’ve told you who the sexiest butch characters of all time are, but what about the femmes?

Butch characters often stand out on screen because of the way they dress and their bold personalities, but the lesbian and sapphic femmes deserve your love and affection too.

Despite getting more and more queer women on our TVs and the silver screen every year, we still crave more femme and high femme representations. Luckily there are some amazing queer feminine characters that show that there isn’t just one way to show off your femme side.

Whether you’re looking for a sexy, powerful, or funny femme character, we've got you covered!

Violet in 'Bound'

Jennifer Tilly’s Violet is the high femme to Gina Gershon’s butch Corky and they are both equally hot (and even hotter together!). Violet is a former sex worker, and current conwoman, who falls for Corky while in a relationship with a mobster. This movie will have you questioning whether you’re more attracted to butches, femmes, or both. Por qué no los dos?

Where to watch:Paramount+

Bette Porter in 'The L Word'

Bette Porter is a divisive character that viewers rarely agree on. But between actress Jennifer Beals’ beauty and Bette’s feminine business chic wardrobe, she’s a femme dreamboat.

Where to watch:Hulu with Showtime

Carol Aird in 'Carol'

Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett stars in Carolwhere she plays the titular character who is having a forbidden love affair with a younger woman (Rooney Mara). Set in the 1950s, Carol’s mid-century wardrobe full of suits, pencil skirts, and fur coats will have you enamored with this femme character.

Where to watch:Netflix, Tubi, Roku, Hulu

Jennifer Check in 'Jennifer’s Body'

Jennifer’s Body was criminally underrated and misunderstood when it premiered, but has been reevaluated in recent years and has gained a rabid fan base — as it should. In this controversial horror movie, written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama, Jennifer is a high school student who becomes demonically possessed and starts killing her male classmates. Her relationship with her best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) makes this film decidedly queer and Jennifer is so femme that she even ends the film in a feminine prom dress covered in blood.

Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime

Helena Peabody in 'The L Word'

Helena Peabody joined The L Wordcast in season two as a foil to fellow femme Bette Porter. Helena is a flawed character who manages to be lovable because she manages to be suave and sophisticated as well as awkward and genuine, the longer she’s on the show.

Where to watch:Hulu with Showtime

Bina in Pariah

This beautiful indie film about a young lesbian trying to navigate life and find her first love, stars Adepero Oduye as the butch-leaning Alike who ends up befriending the vibrant and feminine Bina, played by Aasha Davis. Her bold and colorful fashion choices and femininity contrast with Alike’s more understated butch style.

Where to watch: Rent on Amazon Prime

Tara Maclay in 'Buffy'

Tara and Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer will forever be one of our favorite onscreen lesbian relationships. Willow may’ve a quirky sweetness that turns into power and darkness as the series goes along, but Tara remains empathetic, kind, and soft throughout her run on the show. Her feminine power and ‘90s fits ( think maxi skirts and chokers) make her an iconic femme.

Where to watch: Hulu, Tubi

Shug Avery in 'The Color Purple'

Every adaptation of The Color Purple portrays Celie’s lover Shug Avery as femme, but it's probably the most noticeable in the 2023 musical version, where she is played by Taraji P. Hendson. In it, she is not only loving and nurturing to Celie (Fantasia Barrino) but also bold, sexy, and beautiful, and her dance costumes are so feminine you can’t miss them.

Where to watch:Max

Santana Lopez and Brittany Susan Pierce in 'Glee'

In most movies and TV shows, there is ausually a butch and femme in every lesbian couple, but not with Glee. Santana and Brittany were both high femme cheerleaders amongst a sea of nerdy glee club kids.

Where to watch: Hulu

Sophia Burset in 'Orange is the New Black'

In Orange is the New Black, Laverne Cox portrays Sophia, a trans lesbian who styles the other women’s hair while in prison and manages to look stunning in full glam despite spending the majority of the show in orange or khaki prison garb.

Where to watch:Netflix

Megan in 'But I’m a Cheerleader'

To be fair, when But I’m a Cheerleaderbegins, Megan (Natasha Lyonne) has no idea who she is, but as a makeup and ‘50s hairstyle wearing cheerleader, she reads femme, especially opposite Clea DuVall’s cigarette smoking Graham.

Where to watch:Tubi