When you think about the feline fatale of Gotham City, your brain probably jumps to a specific actress. Maybe it’s the campy charm of the sixties. Perhaps it’s the gothic PVC of the nineties. Or maybe you're a fan of the modern, gritty realism. The question of who played Catwoman on Batman isn't just a trivia point; it’s a history lesson in how Hollywood views powerful, complicated women.
The character, Selina Kyle, first showed up in Batman #1 back in 1940. She didn't even have a costume then. She was just "The Cat." Since then, she’s evolved from a simple jewel thief into Batman’s most enduring love interest and most frustrating foil. Let's get into the weeds of who actually suited up.
The 1960s: Three Icons, One Role
The 1960s Batman TV show was a trip. It was bright, loud, and incredibly campy. Because of the way production worked back then, we actually ended up with three different women playing the role in a very short window.
Julie Newmar was the blueprint. Standing 5'11", she brought a literal height and a metaphorical stature to the role that made her unforgettable. She played Selina for the first two seasons of the show. Newmar wasn't just a pretty face; she was a classically trained dancer, and you can see it in how she moves. She didn't walk; she slinked. She’s the one who added the "purr" to the dialogue, a quirk that every actress since has had to decide whether to copy or ignore.
Then came the 1966 feature film. Newmar couldn't do it. She was busy filming Monsieur Lecoq in London. Enter Lee Meriwether. A former Miss America, Meriwether had a slightly different vibe. She had to play a double role, pretending to be a Soviet journalist named Miss Kitka to seduce Bruce Wayne. Her performance is often overlooked because she only did the movie, but she brought a grounded, almost serious edge to the absurdity of a giant exploding shark.
When the show returned for Season 3, Newmar was gone again. This time, the producers cast Eartha Kitt. This was groundbreaking. Casting a Black woman as a romantic foil for a white lead in 1967 was a massive deal, even if the "romance" was played for laughs. Kitt didn't try to be Newmar. She brought a distinctive, rolling "R" to her growls and a ferocity that made her genuinely intimidating. Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world," and if you watch her face off against Adam West, you'll see why.
Michelle Pfeiffer and the Latex Revolution
For a long time, the camp of the sixties was the only version of Catwoman the general public knew. That changed in 1992. Tim Burton’s Batman Returns gave us Michelle Pfeiffer.
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Pfeiffer’s Catwoman is, for many, the definitive version. It’s weird. It’s dark. It’s deeply psychological. The scene where she trashes her apartment and sews her own costume out of a vinyl raincoat is iconic. Honestly, it’s probably one of the most physically demanding performances in the franchise. She actually held a live bird in her mouth for a scene. No CGI. Just Michelle Pfeiffer being incredibly committed to the bit.
The suit itself was a nightmare. It was vacuum-sealed. She had to be covered in talcum powder just to squeeze into it and could only wear it for short bursts because it was so restrictive. Yet, she made it look effortless. She managed to balance the tragedy of Selina Kyle—the overlooked secretary—with the vengeful chaos of Catwoman.
The Hall of Fame (and the One We Forget)
The 2000s were a mixed bag for Selina.
In 2004, we got the standalone Catwoman movie starring Halle Berry. We have to talk about it. It’s widely considered one of the worst superhero movies ever made. But here’s the thing: Berry isn’t actually playing Selina Kyle. She’s playing Patience Phillips. The movie completely detached itself from the Batman mythos. While Berry is an Oscar winner and did her best with the material, the script and the "cat-nip" addiction subplot didn't do her any favors.
Then, Christopher Nolan brought the character back to Gotham in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Anne Hathaway took the mantle. People were skeptical. Could the princess from The Princess Diaries be a world-class thief?
Hathaway went for a "high-tech" approach. No supernatural feline powers here. She was a grifter. A professional. Her costume featured goggles that flipped up to look like cat ears—a clever nod to the aesthetic without being literal. Hathaway studied Hedy Lamarr, who was the original inspiration for the character in the 40s, to get the speech patterns right. It was a subtle, smart performance that focused on Selina’s survival instincts rather than her madness.
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The Modern Era: Zoë Kravitz and Beyond
Most recently, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), Zoë Kravitz stepped into the boots. This version of Selina is a bike-riding, wig-wearing waitress working at the 44 Below club.
Kravitz brought a vulnerability that we hadn't seen much of. Her chemistry with Robert Pattinson’s Batman was the heart of the film. She portrayed Selina as someone fighting for the "strays" of the city. It felt modern. It felt gritty. It also felt like a full-circle moment, as Kravitz had previously voiced the character in The LEGO Batman Movie.
Who Played Catwoman on Batman in Animation and TV?
We can't ignore the voices. For many fans of the 90s, Adrienne Barbeau is the voice they hear when they read a comic book. Her work in Batman: The Animated Series defined the character's personality for a whole generation. She was sophisticated, smoky, and independent.
On the live-action TV side, Gotham gave us a younger look at the character. Camren Bicondova played a teenage Selina Kyle for most of the series, showing her growth from a street urchin into a master thief. In the series finale, Lili Simmons took over to show the adult version of the character.
Why the Casting Matters
Every time a new actress is asked who played Catwoman on Batman, they have to contend with the legacy of those who came before. You can't just play a thief in a suit. You're stepping into a role that represents female agency in a world dominated by male heroes and villains.
Newmar brought the grace.
Kitt brought the fire.
Pfeiffer brought the pain.
Hathaway brought the intellect.
Kravitz brought the heart.
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The character is a mirror. In the 60s, she was a flirtatious nuisance. In the 90s, she was a manifestation of female rage. In the 2020s, she’s a survivor of a broken system.
Summary of Major Live-Action Portrayals
If you’re trying to keep track of the timeline, here is how the primary live-action theatrical and main-series television portrayals shake out:
The TV era began with Julie Newmar (1966–1967), followed by Lee Meriwether in the '66 film, and finished with Eartha Kitt (1967–1968).
The blockbuster era saw Michelle Pfeiffer (1992), followed much later by Anne Hathaway (2012).
The standalone and "alternate" versions include Halle Berry (2004) and the younger portrayal by Camren Bicondova in Gotham (2014–2019).
The current definitive version for the silver screen is Zoë Kravitz (2022).
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of these performances, here is what you should do:
- Watch the "Purrfect" Comparison: Check out the Season 2 episode "Catwoman Goes to College" to see Newmar at her peak, then jump to Batman Returns to see how the tone shifted thirty years later.
- Track the Evolution of the Suit: If you're a cosplayer or fashion fan, notice how the costume changed from Lurex fabric in the 60s to hand-stitched latex in the 90s, and finally to functional tactical gear in the 2020s.
- Listen to the Voice Work: Find clips of Adrienne Barbeau in Batman: The Animated Series. It's arguably the most "comic-accurate" version of the character's personality ever recorded.
- Read the Source Material: Pick up Batman: Year One or Catwoman: When in Rome to see the comic panels that inspired Hathaway and Kravitz specifically.
The mantle of the cat is never truly retired. It just waits for the next actress to find a new way to crack the whip. Whether you prefer the camp, the grit, or the glamour, each woman who played Catwoman on Batman left a permanent mark on the mythology of the Caped Crusader.