No one messes with Selena. No one. At first glance, she doesn’t say much. Her beautiful looks do not betray her enthusiastic will to survive. Not until the infected crash through a safe house does she show her true colors. With a machete in hand, she kills her best friend after seeing his arm bleeding from a bite wound. She would do it again in a heartbeat.
Adding to Women Who Wow Wednesday is Selena, the 28 Days Later character that shows no qualms in dispensing justice against the infected.
The story begins in a primate lab where scientists are experimenting with chimpanzees, infecting them with a virus called Rage. Animal rights activists overtake the lab’s security and quickly proceed to free the subjects of the experiments. Unbeknownst to any of them, they unleash the deadly virus on Great Britain, leaving the island in tatters from the devastating effects.
When Jim meets Selena (Naomie Harris), she and her fellow fighter, Mark, take him in as one of their own. Jim came from a hospital nearby, the sole survivor from the medical facility. The first thing Jim witnesses is Selena’s willingness to kill in order to remain alive. He can’t understand what drives her to want to destroy everything around her. Within days, he discovers her unyielding determination to survive—even if it means killing everyone around her that exhibits symptoms of the Rage virus.
Other characteristics set Selena apart from the rest of the survivors. She sees things as black and white. Do this, get killed. Do that, live. You get bitten, you die. Simple as that. Her definition of living is surviving. The infected are fast. The infected are strong. Nothing she will do can replace her life that was. But she can certainly ensure her safety by keeping her wits about her.
That is, until we see her eyes light up when passing a grocery store with the other survivors in the car. They go shopping. The first thing she advises everyone to do is to not take anything that needs to be cooked, which prompts Jim to say, “I think I can eat that raw.” Of course, Selena has her own weakness. “If I never see another chocolate bar again, it’ll be too soon. Not counting Terry’s Chocolate Orange!”
As tough as Selena appears, she also has a soft heart. Embracing the sight of horses running free on the moors warms her face with a smile that stretches from ear to ear. Talking with Jim, she states, “You were thinking that you’ll never hear another piece of original music ever again. You’ll never read a book that hasn’t already been written or see a film that hasn’t already been shot.” Huh, Selena—the softie.
Inasmuch as Selena sleeps with a machete in her hand, she’s very much a woman. Nonetheless, nothing will deter her to outlive the infected. She has life built in to her makeup.
Always cautious, always ready for a battle, Selena is a powerhouse fighter ready to take on anything that may get in her way.
Do you remember Selena from 28 Days Later? What did you think of her?
Looking to God 
She is awesome! 🙂 Love her!
Love Selena and this movie!
Real women sleep with a machete nearby. Just in case of an outbreak. 🙂
I have the second chapter of my Nuzlocke story up, if you’re interested. By the way, I should have a new chapter up every Thursday, unless something comes up, then it might be one or two days late. Here is the link:
http://strawberrytheglaceon.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/trainer-strawberry-chapter-2/
She is such a great actress!
Hey! I don’t know if you respond to these things, but I wanted you to know that I think your blog is pretty cool and I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award!
http://nofriendasloyal.wordpress.com/awards-2/versatile-blogger-award/
I have yet to see this movie, though I keeping meaning to since I love a good zombie movie. Selena seems awesome!
Always be wary of any woman so handy with a machete…
“Inasmuch as Selena sleeps with a machete in her hand, she’s very much a woman.” Love this description !!!
Haha! Thanks, Amb! I’m glad you liked it. Let me know if there’s ever a time you want me to describe someone else for you and I’ll give it my best boy scout effort! 🙂
That’s a big knife. No wonder she looks calm.
You haven’t seen her in action. She’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen!
Never saw the movie (cowardly when it comes to horror), but she sounds like a great example of a powerful woman who retains some femininity. Too often those characters are made more male-like in behavior to ‘prove’ their toughness.
Her character has the perfect balance of butt-kicking prowess and a gentle mannerism. She would look awesome in a dress and deadly in a jumpsuit! How’s that for a teaser introduction? Have I gotten you to want to watch it?
I’m curious. Need to get off my fear of zombies though. During the day, I can probably survive it. 🙂
If you’re serious, try either Zombieland or Shaun of the Dead as perfect introductions to zombie movies. 28 Days Later really changed my whole mindset about zombieism. It’s one of those movies that I can watch over and over again, always picking up something new and different the next go around. And, yes. I think you’ll survive during the day. Not at night–never, never at night!
I watched and own those two. Love them with the comedy part. It’s when there’s no comedy that I get a little twitchy. Trying to use Walking Dead to help with that.