This jilted jester has certainly come a long way, hasn’t she? Ever since she debuted inBatman:The Animated Series, Harley Quinn has steadily grown in popularity with both hardcore fans and mainstream audiences. She may have started as a thrall of the Joker, but she’s since become every bit as big as other comic villains, starring in countless TV shows, video games, and feature films.
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Likethe theatrical baddies of the ‘60sBatmanshow, this energetic character has attracted numerous actresses across the industry. Various performers have tackled Harley over the years. Sadly, not all of them managed to capture Quinn’s clownish charm. For simplicity’s sake, cameos and sketches won’t be included, as it is hard to compare a brief appearance like that to a more substantial performance. Jenny Slate, for instance, voiced Harley inThe LEGO Batman Movie, but she only had a few lines. This list is to measure those who actually spent time with the character.
7Mia Sara
The2002Birds of Preyseries is often overlooked, and even the people who seek out underrated gems don’t count this among them, as it mires longstanding characters like Huntress and Black Canary in teen angst and faux edginess. Despite being the overarching antagonist, Harley also suffers from these script shortcomings.
Because of the bad writing, Mia Sara is never allowed to fully embrace the Harley Quinn persona. The show limits her to being a smirking schemer instead of a crazy clown. Granted, Sara still performs this admirably, but it makes her more of aBondvillain than the character fans know and love.
6Margot Robbie
As the resident Harley Quinn of theDC Extended Universe, Margot Robbie can definitely look the part (awful costumes aside). Sadly, her performance has been a work in progress. Her accent’s all over the place, and she constantly struggles to get her voice high enough. In short, her energetic routine never feels natural.
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Robbie always seems artificial, like someone deliberately putting on a persona rather than truly embodying the role. This was the case in both 2016’sSuicide Squadand theBirds of Preymovie. Granted,she’s noticeably better in 2021’sThe Suicide Squad. Maybe she’ll continue to grow into the character.
5Hynden Walch
Following an iconic portrayal is a tough task. Hynden Walch learned that in the 2004 series,The Batman, where she was the second voice actress to ever play Harley Quinn. While the responses to the show and her performance were mixed, she has nevertheless gone on to voice the character in other works likeBatman: Assault on Arkham. Why is that?
While she overdoes the New York accent, Walch does capture the mindset of a schoolgirl. She’s always been good at voicing youthful, innocent characters likeStarfireinTeen Titans, and that remains the case here. Her Harley is among the more endearing because of it.
4Melissa Rauch
Despite being a screen actress, Melissa Rauch showed an uncanny talent for changing her voice inThe Big Bang Theory. This made it fitting that she be cast as the iconic clown in the road trip comedy,Batman and Harley Quinn. Indeed, she ups her pitch to an insane degree, but she also makes the surprising choice to go “inner-city New Jersey” with the delivery.
This urbanite con artist schtick does well in scoring the punchlines. The problem is thatthe movie’s jokes are hit-or-miss. Half the time, Rauch is left with nothing except milking the scene with excessively loud freakouts. It’s a shame she can’t have another chance with more consistent material.
3Kaley Cuoco
ThesecondBig Bang Theorystar on this list, Kaley Cuoco took over the role for theHarley Quinnanimated show. This is a foul-mouthed, ultraviolent extravaganza every bit as crazy as its central character, and Cuoco clearly has a blast with the raunchy writing.
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This Harley is akin to an insecure cheerleader hopped up on energy drinks. It’s an interesting interpretation, to say the least, but it works when the jokes come at a mile a minute. The way Cuoco zips through the zingers, changing volume at the drop of a hat, always keeps viewers on their toes. This ensures that neither she nor the show are ever boring, which is among the most important parts of comedy.
2Tara Strong
When original Harley Quinn actress Arleen Sorkin retired from the role, voiceover vet Tara Strong took over. She’s no stranger to childlike characters in shows likeRugrats,The Powerpuff Girls, andMy Little Pony. This informsher turn as Harley Quinn inBatman: Arkham City.
She basically imitates what Sorkin did, albeit while stretching the pitch a bit more. This sometimes makes Harley sound as harmless as a spoiled brat. On top of that, it creates an amusing contrast when she starts spewing homicidal threats. Strong has since become the mainstay voice for Quinn, so she must have done something right.
1Arleen Sorkin
The one who started it all, Sorkin was the original voice of Harley Quinn inBatman: The Animated Series. The character was initially just a one-off henchwoman, but Sorkin brought the perfect balance of innocence, energy, and charisma to make the jester a fan favorite.
Sorkin was made to be Harley from the beginning, aswriter/friend Paul Dinibased the character on a similar role she played inDays of Our Lives. In short, it’s a seamless marriage of the actress and the character from the get-go. Everything people love about Harley Quinn can be traced back to this portrayal.
