Lynch's signature visual trademarks make it impossible not to recognize his work. One of the most obvious ways Lynch does this is with the creation of his iconic leading and ing characters. Every character seems to have a secret, or something buried beneath a highly stylized exterior — from 1950s pinup styles to moody trench-coat-laden detectives. In Lynch's films, no one character is exactly as they may seem.

Though Lynch had come under fire for putting his female characters through a series of traumatic events in his projects in the past, many of these leading ladies rise above their circumstances. Among his better-developed characters are Laura Palmer, the murdered high school student whose commitment to goodness beautifully touches those around her, and Lula Fortune, a runaway girl who refuses to give up on love. In the end, many of these characters embody the themes of Lynch's films: the triumph of goodness over evil, brave love, and maintaining a fierce sense of independence.

10 Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee)

Twin Peaks (1990 - 1991), Fire Walk With Me (1992)

Laura Palmer is arguably one of, if not the most famous, of David Lynch's heroines. Laura makes an appearance in both Twin Peaks, the television show about the investigation into her mysterious murder, and the Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, which chronicles her secrets and tumultuous weeks leading to her death. This Lynch lead is one of his most heartbreaking, because, at her core, Laura is meant to symbolize goodness and purity, in opposition to the evil, violent parts of humanity that stem from The Black Lodge.

imagery from Twin Peaks
Related
10 Best Twin Peaks Episodes, Ranked

David Lynch's best Twin Peaks episodes embraced his zany style while cleverly pushing along the plot, always in the most unpredictable way.

Though this darling homecoming queen of Twin Peaks is known around for her popularity and beauty, underneath she harbors the dark secret that she has been molested by the spirit “Bob” since she was a kid, who possesses her father. To deal with her struggles, Laura turns to drugs, sex work, and other means, acknowledging abuse and trauma have significant effects on the young girl. However, Laura's spirit perseveres in the end, and she is set free to her guardian angel by the end of Fire, Walk With Me. Posthumously, Laura's effect on the lives of the townspeople is undoubtable.

9 Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn)

Twin Peaks (1990-1991), Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)

Another equally interesting female lead is Audrey Horne, another town member of Twin Peaks and the neglected daughter of the town's wealthy businessman, Ben Horne (Richard Beymer). Known for her stylish 1950s pin-up inspired look, Audrey is restless and mischievous, desperate for a source of entertainment or purpose in her sleepy town. Over the course of Twin Peaks, Audrey finds her own, befriending Agent Dale Cooper to help discover Laura’s murderer. She then becomes a partner in her father’s business by the last season, earning his respect and that of her peers.

Audrey is more than the alluring girl she appears on the outside, but is incredibly intelligent and strong-willed.

In the end, despite her strange nature and attention-seeking ways, Audrey becomes one of the best Twin Peaks characters, finding a way to redirect her energy into a ion for crime-fighting, business, and social activism. In this way, Lynch transforms the "femme-fatale" image by giving it realistic context. Audrey is more than the alluring girl she appears on the outside, but is incredibly intelligent and strong-willed.

8 Lula Fortune (Laura Dern)

Wild At Heart (1990)

Laura Dern is one of David Lynch's frequently collaborated actors, but her most iconic role in his work is generally regarded to be Lula Fortune, in Wild At Heart. Here, Laura Dern plays the free-spirited girlfriend of Sailor (Nicholas Cage), an ex-con who wants to leave his troubled past behind and start a new life with his girlfriend. However, Lula and Sailor's future is compromised by her disapproving and controlling mother. Free-spirited and ionate, Lula is one of Lynch's most strong-willed heroines, determined to preserve her relationship with Sailor.

Lula ends up becoming a dedicated mother to Sailor’s child while he is in prison again, proving she is capable on her own, without her boyfriend’s help.

Unfortunately, Lula has a traumatic past of abuse and suffers more at the hands of criminals she encounters throughout the film, but her grit and power don’t allow Lula to give up on what she treasures most: love. Lula ends up becoming a dedicated mother to Sailor’s child while he is in prison again, proving she is capable on her own, without her boyfriend’s help. By the end, Lula is not beaten down by her circumstances, rather she remains positive and hopeful about the prospect of her future family, and breaks free from her toxic mother.

7 Renee Madison/Alice Wakefield (Patricia Arquette)

The Lost Highway (1997)

One of David Lynch's more underrated projects is The Lost Highway, where Patricia Arquette masterfully plays two female leads, whose stories intersect. Arquette is Renee Madison, the restless and unhappy wife of a jazz musician, Fred Madison (Bill Pullman), who is later killed by him when she is suspected of cheating. After that, Patricia becomes Alice Wakefield, the mysterious "femme fatale" who cheats on her gangster boyfriend with a mechanic. Though much of what audiences see from both women is through the objectified eyes of Fred Madison and the mechanic, it is clear this is Lynch's intention.

Lost Highway and Twin Peaks Connection
Related
Twin Peaks Theory: Lost Highway’s Mystery Man Is From The Black Lodge

David Lynch's Twin Peaks and Lost Highway both feature villains with similarly ominous characteristics, and they may both be from The Black Lodge.

On the surface, both Renee and Alice are ionate, mysterious, and outspoken in their own ways, but the men interpret this as seductive and alluring, rather than a testament to their independent natures. Though it is unclear whether Alice and Renee are indeed the same person by the end of the film, it can be argued that they demonstrate something deeper underneath their exteriors; a desire for fulfillment, adventure, and freedom from the oppressive boundaries of marriage and partnership which are thrust onto them by society.

6 Betty Elms/Diane Selwyn (Naomi Watts)

Mulholland Drive (2001)

One of David Lynch's best-known movies is Mulholland Drive, his haunting portrait of the dark side of Hollywood. In this film, Naomi Watts also plays two female characters — Diane Selwyn, the jealous and crazed failed actress, and Betty Elms, the bright-eyed Hollywood hopeful. When Betty stumbles upon an amnesiac woman, she embarks on an investigation in Los Angeles to discover her identity.

2:38
Collage of the Cast From Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive
Related
Every Way Mulholland Drive Is Just Like a Twin Peaks Episode

While Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks are not in the same universe, they share many similarities.

In the shocking ending of Mulholland Drive, audiences are stunned to realize that Betty is a made-up version of Diane who she wishes she was in real life. It is hard for audiences not to fall for Betty, innocent and altruistic, down to her classic character design and cheery way of speech. Diane is the opposite, shown as shy and anxious in comparison, and riddled with insecurity. However, her corruption is understood by the audience, as Lynch makes Diane sympathetic in her desire for love and appraisal.

5 Janey E (Naomi Watts)

Twin Peaks: The Return

25 years after the events of Twin Peaks, David Lynch revisits the story of Dale Cooper and the town's people. In this third season, David Lynch takes more creative liberties, embracing his surrealist style so that the simple series delves into multiple storylines across the United States, including that of Dougie Jones (a Dale Cooper doppelgänger) and his wife, Janey E.

...Janey E is a great example of the dichotomy that Lynch uses in the creation of his characters. Though she looks and acts like a traditional 1950s housewife, she is outspoken, gritty, and determined

Janey E is the disgruntled wife of Dougie Jones, whom Dale Cooper finds himself trapped in the body of, for a time. Though she may be the traditional image of a housewife, dedicated to creating an idealistic home life for her son, Sonny Jim, she is not to be underestimated. Janey E works tirelessly to settle her husband’s debts and adjust to her new charmed life with “Dougie”. Because of this, Janey E is a great example of the dichotomy that Lynch uses in the creation of his characters.

4 Nikki Grace/ Susan Blue (Laura Dern)

Inland Empire (2006)

Laura Dern collaborates once more with David Lynch in his twisted film, Inland Empire. Laura plays Nikki, an aging actress who takes on a challenging role in a new film that causes her to slowly question her sanity, blurring the lines between the life of her character, Susan Blue, and her real life. Along the way, she navigates a jealous husband and flirty co-star, complicating her love life as well.
Nikki is a quintessential model of the career-oriented woman who is determined to protect herself from the ageism that occurs in her industry. She successfully portrays the tug-of-war that many women experience in society: wanting to hold onto one's career and independence while also trying to appease her partner. In the end, she chooses to dedicate herself to the film. It is no wonder that, by the twisted ending, she is driven to a breakdown, yet her performance is finished.

3 Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton)

Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: The Return

One of the lesser-known, yet equally important female characters in Twin Peaks is Norma Jennings, the owner of the town’s popular café, the Double R. Diner. Known for her warm, warm nature, Norma is a source of for many of the townsfolk, including her younger waitress, Shelly (Madchen Amick).

Norma’s kindness and warm nature make her a natural matriarch-like figure for the town, and several times she demonstrates this through her relationships with her co-workers and neighbors.

Norma is one of David Lynch’s overlooked characters because she is not part of the main action in Twin Peaks. However, she is a memorable character despite this. Norma’s kindness and warm nature make her a natural matriarch-like figure for the town, and several times she demonstrates this through her relationships with her co-workers and neighbors. At the beginning of the show, Norma is freshly independent of her abusive husband in jail. Throughout, she demonstrates she is an intelligent business owner, determined to run Double R on her own despite financial challenges.

2 Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini)

Blue Velvet (1986)

After the discovery of a severed human ear in Blue Velvet, a young man named Jeffrey (Kyle MacLachlan) investigates its owner, leading him to a mysterious nightclub singer who is involved with dangerous criminals who threaten her well-being. This Lynch film features the singer, Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini), a deeply wounded woman who is being tormented by the gang who have kidnapped her husband and child.
Dorothy may be one of Lynch's darkest female characters. This controversial character may appear helpless at first glance, but it is clear that Dorothy is merely enduring suffering because of the love she has for her child, and as a result, begins to accept the very mistreatment she faces as a coping mechanism. Despite this, Dorothy manages to retrieve her son by the end of Blue Velvet, with the help of Jeffrey, and she is seen triumphant in the last shot. Gone is the dark makeup and clothing, but she appears fresh-faced and normal, having broken free of the nightmare.

1 Rita/ Camilla Rhodes (Laura Harring)

Mulholland Drive (2001)

Apart from Diane/ Betty, Mulholland Drive's other leading lady, Rita/ Camilla Rhodes, is also equally compelling, drawing audiences in through her mysterious allure and open-hearted nature. In many ways, Rita pulls attention whenever she is onscreen. Even alongside Betty, furthering the feelings of jealousy that Diane is revealed to have by the reveal at the end of the film.

Lynch also does a successful job not villainizing the real Camilla, despite her rejection of Diane's advances.

Rita is a tragic character in Mulholland Drive, as it is revealed that she is an imagining from the mind of Diane, based on her former lover and starlet, Camila Rhodes. Despite this, Rita demonstrates wit and determination in the dream, as she is not without agency though she suffers from amnesia. It is easy to root for Camilla/Rita, who is the first character pictured onscreen and whose mystery drives the central plot line forward. David Lynch also does a successful job not villainizing the real Camilla, despite her rejection of Diane's advances.