History Main / LadyOfAdventure

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* Mina Murray from ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen''.

* Jane Porter of Franchise/{{Tarzan}} gets this characterization in her Dynamite Comics appearances, most notably in the ''Swords of Sorrow'' crossover.

* ''ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}'' foe Lady Vic is a villainous version of this trope. Lady Elaine Marsh-Morton is descended from a long line of British soldiers and mercenaries, and a genuine English aristocrat. The money she earns from her secret career an assassin, bounty hunter, and mercenary helps prevent foreclosure on her impoverished family estate. She uses the vast collection of weaponry from the world accumulated by her ancestors as her personal arsenal.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

* A senior witch in ''Anime/KikisDeliveryService'' flies past Kiki to greet her while Kiki flies towards a new city. You can tell by the senior witch's prim and proper voice as well as expensive jewelry that she comes from a luxurious life style. She also talks about returning home from various adventures regarding fortune telling.

* Lara Croft in the ''Film/LaraCroftTombRaider'' films, crossed with a lot of ActionGirl. She even has the BigFancyHouse!
* In ''{{Film/Cracks}}'', Miss G. pretends to be this to impress her students.
%%* Adèle Blanc-Sec from ''Film/TheExtraordinaryAdventuresOfAdeleBlancSec'', as well as the comics upon which the film is based.

%%* Grace Cahill in ''Literature/The39Clues''

* Charlotte "Charley" Pollard in the ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'' audios, who (originating in the actual Edwardian era) frequently describes herself as "Edwardian adventuress". She has many amazing adventures with the Doctor, a Time Lord who can travel ''anywhere'' in space and time.

* Despite it being the 1930s in ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' lady adventurers are not uncommon. Exposure to alien cultures and a massive societal shift can cause that. The US Rocket Rangers even allows women into their ranks, though they are the only branch of the armed forces to do so.

* Lady Jane and Lady Jayne from the ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters'' series. (They might be the same woman- it's hard to tell with the difference in graphics between games.)
* ''Videogame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'' has Lady Aurelia Hammerlock, an EgomaniacHunter who comes from a wealthy family of upper-crust British stereotypes who travels the galaxy seeking dangerous game to hunt in order to alleviate the boredom that comes with being an exorbitantly wealthy heiress. As far as she's concerned, vault hunting on Elpis is simply a safari that gives her the chance to shoot lots of things.
* Phoebe from ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' is a rich heiress who happens to be an inventor and adventurer.
* After the events of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', Lady [[note]]an honorary title given to Yuna for her service to the people of Spira[[/note]] Yuna donned a skirt and twin pistols to hunt artifacts with a RagtagBunchOfMisfits. Unlike most examples of the trope, Yuna had a rather repressed childhood, so she's more making up for lost time than pursuing a lifelong career.
-->"We fly all over Spira... I'm really enjoying myself."
* ''VideoGame/TheAllianceAlive'' has Vivian von Esmerode, who is one of the Daemons who rule over all humanity but also a self-taught scholar who has just a lovely time fighting frontier beasts and clambering down factory ladders. (Her BattleButler is less enthused.) She gets involved in the plot because she's helping a famous scientist do field research.

%%* Vesper Grey from ''Webcomic/{{Plume}}.''
* ''Webcomic/DelilahDirk'' is this to a tee. Her dad was an ambassador, she adventures constantly, and has an appropriate outfit.

%%* Lady Potts from Theatre/TheLeagueOfSTEAM.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Bly Nellie Bly,]] one of the first investigative reporters in the world and almost certainly the first female investigative reporter. Her adventures included [[Literature/AroundTheWorldInSeventyDays a race to travel around the world in fewer than 80 days]]; she sent telegrams to her publisher from every country she visited as a means of tracking her progress. She also once faked insanity in order to be admitted to an asylum and write about conditions on the inside, which prompted severe changes to the inhumane system for treating the mentally ill. That said, she bucked part of the tradition by being born and raised dirt-poor and making her own advantages.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Bly Nellie Bly,]] one of the first investigative reporters in the world and almost certainly the first female investigative reporter. Her adventures included a race to travel around the world in fewer than 80 days; she sent telegrams to her publisher from every country she visited as a means of tracking her progress. She also once faked insanity in order to be admitted to an asylum and write about conditions on the inside, which prompted severe changes to the inhumane system for treating the mentally ill.

[[folder:Anime]]

%%* Lady Sharrow of ''Literature/AgainstADarkBackground'' is a [[IncrediblyLamePun dark]] take on this.

* The writers tend to forget this, but Comicbook/CaptainBritain and his sister Comicbook/{{Psylocke}} are members of a [[{{Fiction500}} fabulously wealthy family.]] While Captain Britain sometimes resents his calling, Psylocke fits this to a 'T', even after her {{Stripperiffic}} ninja makeover.
* Lady Johanna Constantine of ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' and ''ComicBook/TheSandman''.

* What Arya ends up being during the series finale when she travels outside of Westeros, in ''Series/GameOfThrones''.

* What Arya ends up being during the series finale when she travels outside of Westeros, in "Series/GameOfThrones".

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Mitford Jessica Mitford,]] who is stated by Creator/JKRowling to be one of her greatest inspirations.

%%* Evadne Stephens from ''Literature/TheExtraordinaires'' is a version of this in her late teens.

* ''Webcomic/DelilahDirkAndTheTurkishLieutenant:'' Delilah is this to a tee. Her dad was an ambassador, she adventures constantly, and has an appropriate outfit.

* ''Anime/SecretOfCeruleanSand'': After hearing the news that her brother, George, was allegedly [[spoiler: [[ShotAtDawn shot for treason]]]] while on a desert expedition, [[TheOjou Jane Buxton]] decides to learn the truth of what happened for herself. So she sets off on a grand adventure across the globe though her butler Chambellin insists on going with her. [[PluckyGirl She's only 14]], after all.

Compare and contrast LadyOfBlackMagic and LadyOfWar. Often wears a ladylike AdventurerOutfit.

* ''Anime/SecretOfCeruleanSand'': After hearing the news that her brother, George, was allegedly [[spoiler: [[ShotAtDawn shot for treason]]]] while on a desert expedition, [[TheOjou Jane Buxton]] decides to learn the truth of what happened for herself. So she sets off on a grand adventure across the globe, though her butler Chambellin insists on going with her. [[PluckyGirl She's only 14]], after all.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'': Jane Porter, a well-off English gentlewoman is happy to explore the depths of the African jungle with her scientist father. In fact, she enjoys the jungle so much she decides to stay there permanently, lives in a treehouse and even learns tree surfing and vine swinging from her husband. The spin-off TV series ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfTarzan'' has her involved in all manner of adventures from rogue elephants, leopard men and escaped fugitives.

* Olive Nolan in ''Literature/{{Tranquilium}}''. She is well-acquainted with many interesting people including [[ColonelBadass Chri Williams]], is very good with handguns and has had run-ins with pirates even before the beginning of the novel.

** Lady Christina de Souza in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E15PlanetOfTheDead "Planet of the Dead"]] combines this with ClassyCatBurglar, as she steals for the risk rather than the reward. The Doctor's parting gift to her is a ''flying double-decker bus'', so that probably won't be a problem anymore.

* Miss Ruby Ogden from ''Series/MurdochMysteries'' (set in late Victorian/early Edwardian Canada). She comes from an upper-middle class family (her father and her ''sister'' are medical doctors). She pursues travelling, becomes a journalist and aspires to be a writer. We hear for example that she's in South America.

%%* The Honourable Phryne Fisher from ''Series/MissFishersMurderMysteries''.

* ''Disney/{{Tarzan}}'': Jane Porter, a well-off English gentlewoman is happy to explore the depths of the African jungle with her scientist father. In fact, she enjoys the jungle so much she decides to stay there permanently, lives in a treehouse and even learns tree surfing and vine swinging from her husband. The spin-off TV series ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfTarzan'' has her involved in all manner of adventures from rogue elephants, leopard men and escaped fugitives.

* Lady Jane and Lady Jayne from the ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters'' series. They might be the same woman- it's hard to tell with the difference in graphics between games.

->''"Miss Vesper Holly has the digestive talents of a goat and the mind of a chess master. She is familiar with half a dozen languages and can swear fluently in all of them. She understands the use of a slide rule but prefers doing calculations in her head. She does not hesitate to risk life and limb -- mine as well as her own. No doubt she has other qualities yet undiscovered. I hope not."''

She is a [[{{Ojou}} high-class]] [[BlueBlood lady]] (though usually not [[RoyalBlood a member of royalty]]), self-sufficient, but not willing to get tied down in marriage (though she may find love in her travels, she will always [[InHarmsWay choose adventure]] over love -- not even [[DefrostingIceQueen defrosting]] will help). Sometimes, her BigFancyHouse will contain mementos of past adventures. At home, she may be a ProperLady but as a rule, crosses over into SpiritedYoungLady; quite frankly, her activities would frighten her more domestic counterparts.

For you see, she doesn't just find excitement -- she specifically seeks it out. She thinks nothing of beating up {{pirates}} off the coast of [[UsefulNotes/UnitedArabEmirates the Trucial States]] or outwitting remnant tribes of {{Mayincatec}} [[ImAHumanitarian humanitarians]].

[[folder:Film]]
* Evelyn "Evie" Carnahan-O'Connell from ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy'' becomes one of these.
* Elizabeth Swann in ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean''.
* Lara Croft in the ''Film/LaraCroftTombRaider'' films, crossed with a lot of ActionGirl. She even has the BigFancyHouse!
* In ''{{Film/Cracks}}'', Miss G. pretends to be this to impress her students.
* Adèle Blanc-Sec from ''Film/TheExtraordinaryAdventuresOfAdeleBlancSec'', as well as the comics upon which the film is based.

* Literature/SallyLockhart in the Creator/PhilipPullman novels involving her.
* Vesper Holly in Creator/LloydAlexander's ''Adventure'' books, starting with ''Literature/TheIllyrianAdventure''.
* Marguerite St Just, Lady Blakeney, from ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel''.
* Literature/AmeliaPeabody
* Lady Sharrow of ''Literature/AgainstADarkBackground'' is a [[IncrediblyLamePun dark]] take on this.
* Kate De Vris from the ''Literature/{{Airborn}}'' trilogy fits this reasonably well, although she's probably quite a bit younger than most of the other examples.

* [[Literature/SherlockHolmes Irene Adler]] is a globetrotter known for seducing high-ranking political targets for pay and pleasure.
* Olive Nolan in ''Literature/{{Tranquilium}}''. She is well-acquainted with many interesting people including [[ColonelBadass Chri Williams]], is very good with handguns and has had run-ins with pirates even before the beginning of the novel.
* Jane in Creator/EdwardEager's ''Half Magic'' and ''Magic by the Lake'', when she grows up.
* Alexia in ''Literature/TheParasolProtectorate''.
* Lady Sylvia in ''Literature/SorceryAndCecelia'' has the most amazing widowhood in all Regency England, involving international travel, politics, and spying.

* Evadne Stephens from ''Literature/TheExtraordinaires'' is a version of this in her late teens.
* In Geoph Essex's ''Jackrabbit Messiah'', old [[CoolOldLady Maggie Calloway]] is obviously a Lady Adventurer from an earlier time, with her AdventurerOutfit and unsubtle similarity to classic fiery Creator/KatharineHepburn characters.
* The eponymous Lady Trent from ''Literature/AMemoirByLadyTrent'' series, a naturalist who travels the world to study dragons and become famous in her field, [[StayInTheKitchen societal expectations]], CultureClash, deadly environments, and international politics be damned.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

** Lady Christina de Souza in "Planet of the Dead" combines this with ClassyCatBurglar, as she steals for the risk rather than the reward. The Doctor's parting gift to her is a ''flying double-decker bus'', so that probably won't be a problem anymore.

* Sarah-Jane Smith to a small extent in ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures''. She's not blue-blooded, but she is a grown-up former companion with an alien supercomputer in her attic, who now mentors several young adventurers.
-->"Maria, there are two types of people in the world. Those who panic, and then there's us. Got it?"
* Ronni Ancona [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPyuuUelnr4 did a lengthy impression]] of one of these (and read an actual journal entry from one) in the "Dictionary" episode of ''Series/{{QI}}''.
* Dr. Helen Magnus in ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}''.
* The female H.G. Wells in ''Series/{{Warehouse 13}}''.
* Marguerite Krux in ''Series/SirArthurConanDoylesTheLostWorld''. Although she has a shadier past than is usual for this trope, she still manages to pull off the typical attitudes and mannerisms.
* The Honorable Phryne Fisher from ''Series/MissFishersMurderMysteries''.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Vesper Grey from ''Webcomic/{{Plume}}.''

* Lady Potts from Theatre/TheLeagueOfSTEAM.

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Goldie of ''WesternAnimation/GoldieGoldAndActionJack''.
* ''Disney/{{Tarzan}}'': Jane Porter, a well-off English gentlewoman is happy to explore the depths of the African jungle with her scientist father. In fact, she enjoys the jungle so much she decides to stay there permanently, lives in a treehouse and even learns tree surfing and vine swinging from her husband. The spin-off TV series ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfTarzan'' has her involved in all manner of adventures from rogue elephants, leopard men and escaped fugitives.
[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'': Jane Porter, a well-off English gentlewoman is happy to explore the depths of the African jungle with her scientist father. In fact, she enjoys the jungle so much she decides to stay there permanently, lives in a treehouse and even learns tree surfing and vine swinging from her husband. The spin-off TV series ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfTarzan'' has her involved in all manner of adventures from rogue elephants, leopard men and escaped fugitives.

** Lady Christina de Souza in "Planet of the Dead" combines this with ClassyCatBurglar, as she steals for the risk rather than the reward. The Doctor's parting gift to her is a ''flying double-decker bus'' so that probably won't be a problem anymore.

[[folder: Webcomics]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

* Jade English of ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'': Adoptive granddaughter of [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Betty Crocker]] and [[CaptainErsatz Colonel]] [[Creator/MarkTwain Sassacre]], something of a GadgeteerGenius, and a counterrevolutionary who maintains a secret base on a tropical island filled with fantastic beasts.

->''"Miss Vesper Holly has the digestive talents of a goat and the mind of a chess master. She is familiar with half a dozen languages and can swear fluently in all of them. She understands the use of a slide rule but prefers doing calculations in her head. She does not hesitate to risk life and limb--mine as well as her own. No doubt she has other qualities yet undiscovered. I hope not."''

She is a [[{{Ojou}} high-class]] [[BlueBlood lady]] (though usually not [[RoyalBlood a member of royalty]]), self sufficient, but not willing to get tied down in marriage (though she may find love in her travels, she will always [[InHarmsWay choose adventure]] over love -- not even [[DefrostingIceQueen defrosting]] will help). Sometimes, her BigFancyHouse will contain mementos of past adventures. At home, she may be a ProperLady, but as a rule crosses over into SpiritedYoungLady; quite frankly, her activities would frighten her more domestic counterparts.

Most often, she will have no powers of her own to speak of (though she may have some small degree of [[ActionGirl physical prowess]]), but will surround herself with a [[TrueCompanions band of friends]] that will help her on her travails. She will almost certainly live to become a CoolOldLady.

* Emma Bishop of ''ComicBook/{{Ruse}}'' is described as "A fetching beauty whose spirit craves adventure." Her day job is as assistant to a danger-prone InsufferableGenius Victorian detective ([[Franchise/SherlockHolmes sound familiar?]]), compensating for his lack of social and linguistics skills. [[spoiler: Not mentioned: mysterious time-stopping powers, which she's not supposed to reveal under any circumstances...]]

* Dejah Thoris in ''ComicBook/WarlordOfMars'' is also like this, specially in her prequel series where she takes all kinds of crazy adventures that rival those of her husband John Carter like visiting other worlds, fighting vampires, finding lost civilizations and fending off alien invasions. What makes it impressive is that she is a BadassNormal instead of a HeavyWorlder like Carter.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' of Creator/AAPessimal, marginal canonical character Miss Alice Band is this. Daughter of an archbishop, and now a senior tutor at the Assassins' Guild School, the elegant and ladylike Alice combines taking on ''interesting'' Guild contracts, relaxes with a little recreational [[Franchise/TombRaider Stealth Archaeology]], and then passes her skills and knowledge to the student Assassins she teaches.

** Lady Christina de Souza in "Planet of the Dead" combines this with ClassyCatBurglar, as she steals for the risk rather than the reward. The Doctor's parting gift to her is a ''flying double-decker bus'', so that probably won't be a problem anymore.

---> "Careful? Tried that once. Ever so dull."
* Sarah-Jane Smith to a small extent in ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures''. She's not blue-blooded, but she is a grown-up former Doctor Who companion with an alien supercomputer in her attic, who now mentors several young adventurers.

* Several of the Seven Sisters in the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' setting ''Forgotten Realms''. Blessed by the goddess of magic to be her chosen servants, they are all powerful mages and almost immortal. Laeral, Dove, and Storm are all well known to have spend a lot of time digging through ancient ruins, but they also have very great reputations and are filthy rich.

* ''Videogame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'' has Lady Aurelia Hammerlock, an EgomaniacHunter who comes from a wealthy family of uppercrust British sterotypes who travels the galaxy seeking dangerous game to hunt in order to alleviate the boredom that comes with being an exorbitantly wealthy heiress. As far as she's concerned, vault hunting on Elpis is simply a safari that gives her the chance to shoot lots of things.

* After the events of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', Lady [[note]]an honorary title given Yuna for her service to the people of Spira[[/note]] Yuna donned a skirt and twin pistols to hunt artifacts with a RagtagBunchOfMisfits. Unlike most examples of the trope, Yuna had a rather repressed childhood, so she's more making up for lost time than pursuing a lifelong career.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'': Jane Porter, a well-off English gentlewoman is happy to explore the depths of the African jungle with her scientist father. In fact she enjoys the jungle so much she decides to stay there permanently, lives in a treehouse and even learns tree surfing and vine swinging from her husband. The spin off TV series ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfTarzan'' has her involved in all manner of adventures from rogue elephants, leopard men and escaped fugitives.

* ''{{Tarzan}}'': Jane Porter, a well-off English gentlewoman is happy to explore the depths of the African jungle with her scientist father. In fact she enjoys the jungle so much she decides to stay there permanently, lives in a treehouse and even learns tree surfing and vine swinging from her husband. The spin off TV series ''TheLegendOfTarzan'' has her involved in all manner of adventures from rogue elephants, leopard men and escaped fugitives.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Baker#Florence_Baker_and_East_Europe_experience Lady Florence Baker]], wife of explorer Samuel Baker. When Baker first met her she was a white slave destined for the harem of an Ottoman noble. Baker fell in love with her, and first tried to purchase her freedom. When that failed he bribed the guards and ran away with her. Then they fell in love and married and she followed him on his expeditions into the most unknown and dangerous parts of Africa. This story is so [[{{Melodrama}} melodramatic]] few writers today would use but [[RealityIsUnrealistic it really did happen]].