One of the greatest adventure movies of all time is The Great Escape. Based on a real event in World War II, the movie follows a group of British and American prisoners of war who plan a daring escape. The movie is also best remembered for its amazing ensemble of actors including Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Charles Bronson.
But as a movie with an all-male cast, it is interesting to think what it might look like now with female actors to fill these roles. With so many colorful and entertaining characters in The Great Escape, there are plenty of excellent female actors who could do the movie justice.
Ives: Imogen Poots
Ives (Angus Lennie) is seen as the sidekick to Hilts aka The Cooler King and joins him on many of his breakout attempts. While Ives is a determined and somewhat wild character, being locked away in solitary confinement takes its toll on him over time and he begins to unravel.
Imogen Poots is an actor who jumps between a lot of different genres. However, one of her standout performances was in the thriller Green Room. Poots excels at playing a character with a wild side who reacts in unexpected ways when being held against her will.
Danny: Zoe Kravitz
Though Charles Bronson was not yet the action movie icon he became when he took the role of Danny in The Great Escape, it was an early sign that he would be a star. Danny is a quiet and intense man who is in charge of digging the tunnel but must overcome some personal trauma to see the job done.
Zoe Kravitz is also on her way to being a huge star and has been impressive in a number of roles. Her performance in Big Little Lies also relies on a quiet intensity while also dealing with some deep secrets.
Willie: Nathalie Emmanuel
Willie (John Leyton) is Danny’s best friend in the prison camp and the man who assists in his digging efforts. He forms a close bond with Danny and helps him overcome his struggles to push himself forward. Their friendship is one of the more heartwarming aspects of the movie.
Nathalie Emmanuel got her big break as Missandei on Game of Thrones, but it is her recent role in Army of Thieves that makes her perfect for this role. She plays someone who is cool under pressure in high-stakes situations yet is also willing to sacrifice everything to help a friend.
MacDonald: Kelly MacDonald
MacDonald (Gordon Jackson) is the second-in-command for the escape plan and one of the key intelligence officers. He is a reserved and quiet man who ensures that the necessary work is getting done and that the men are all fulfilling their duties properly.
Kelly MacDonald is an excellent actor who has appeared in a variety of great projects. However, her role in the underrated Black Mirror episode “Hated in the Nation” shows her playing the dedicated and diligent professional who is more about action than words.
Ramsey: Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Ramsey (James Donald) is the commanding officer of the prisoners and a composed leader. Though he leaves others to plan and carry out the escape, Ramsey is in complete support of it while also maintaining the soldiers within the camp with respect and discipline.
With her role in Loki as Ravonna Renslayer, Gugu Mbatha-Raw is terrific as a tough and no-nonsense leader. She exudes authority and class while overseeing the mayhem of the complex job.
Blythe: Olivia Coleman
Blythe (Donald Pleasance) is the company’s forger who makes the fake documents for them to travel once they escape the camp. He is a friendly yet eccentric man who has a funny and strange quality about him while being very likable.
Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman can certainly handle heavy dramatic roles, but she is also very funny in comedic roles like in Fleabag and Hot Fuzz. She has that wacky energy to her as well that can really stand out in a larger ensemble.
Sedgwick: Samara Weaving
Though Sedgwick (James Coburn) doesn’t have one of the larger roles in the movie, he really stands out as an entertaining character. The Australian prisoner is meant to build the tools needed for the escape plan. Sedgwick is a reliable soldier but also has a wacky and outrageous quality to him that is a lot of fun.
Australian actor Samara Weaving has appeared in many intense movies, but she also is able to bring an oddball comedic style to it as well. This is best seen in her breakout role in the underrated horror movie Ready or Not.
Bartlett: Gemma Chan
Though he might not be as cool as some of the other heroes in the movie, Bartlett (Richard Attenborough) is the one who makes the entire escape possible. He is the man who comes up with the ambitious plan and oversees everything in a calm, professional, and rational manner.
Gemma Chan is currently starring in Eternals which is a role that shows why she is ideal for Bartlett. She is a reserved and intelligent member of the Eternals who looks out for others more than herself.
Hendley: Emma Stone
Hendley (James Garner) is one of the American prisoners and a very smooth operator. He is a charming and charismatic man who can seemingly talk his way through any situation. Garner is especially charming in the role, bringing a great sense of humor while still being heroic.
Emma Stone is one of the most popular actors in Hollywood today thanks to her terrific mix of dramatic skills and comedic energy. Her recent winning performance in Cruella shows how perfect she is in the con artist role as well.
Hilts: Tessa Thompson
Though The Great Escape is very much an ensemble movie, Hilts (Steve McQueen) stands out as the real star of the show. He is the confident and ultra-cool American soldier who is something of a lone-wolf yet steps up to be the hero when needed.
Tessa Thompson brings charisma and confidence to all of her roles. It is her scene-stealing performance as Valkyrie in the MCU that solidifies her as the perfect Hilts as she playing a badass hero who is impressive on her own but is willing to join a team and save the day in the end.
