Kristen Stewart, Ginnifer Goodwin and Other Fresh Takes on Fairy Tale Heroines

Kristen Stewart promises that her upcoming movie Snow White and the Huntsman won't be your average fairy tale.

For starters, the Huntsman, played by hunky Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, will help Snow White defeat the Evil Queen, rather than just let her run away into the forest, as he has done on multiple previous occasions. A promotional image shows Stewart's Snow White dressed up to do battle in full armor.

Stewart recently spoke to Jay Leno about her Snow White role.

Basically I'm protecting everyone, yes, she told Leno of her character. I don't seek any pleasure. It's very cool to do an action movie where you couldn't be more compassionate. And it is anguish basically to do what you have to do. It's a good little paradox on the whole thing.

She also spoke about hitting co-star Hemsworth in the face by accident (she was supposed to miss).

It was in a scene, she said. Girls, if you've ever wondered if it works, it works. I mean it literally spun him right around.

Stewart's Snow White isn't the only female fairy tale character-type who has been allowed to kick a** onscreen.

Keira Knightley's Pirates of the Caribbean character, Elizabeth Swann, evolved from being a fetching piece of eye candy in the first movie to the captain of her own ship in the third.

Mia Wasikowska played an articulate, strong-spoken Alice in Tim Burton's film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

The movie Beastly, adapted from the novel of the same name, which was based on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, showed Vanessa Hudgens playing Lindy, the tough daughter of a drug dealing father.

In the BBC's Robin Hood television series, actress Lucy Griffiths played a more unconventional Marian. She battled, spied and manipulated the affections of Sir Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff of Nottingham's deputy.

And let's not forget Fiona.

Shrek's lady-love initially came off as an idealistic Disney princess, but she turned out to be a martial arts expert who can get herself out of a jam.

Ginnifer Goodwin plays a pretty spunky Snow White in the new ABC TV series Once Upon a Time.

In last night's episode, she gets into a short battle with Prince Charming. He manages to remove her mask and sees that she is female.

Girl, he says in confusion.

Woman, she corrects.