So many April O’Neils, so difficult to choose your fave! Since the heroes in a half shell have been pop culture fixtures for over (gulp) 25 years, we have had a fair share of versions of all the characters. But the one with the most heart, the one who puts a non-green or furry face on the proceedings, is that of April O’Neil, the determined gumshoe journalist who is in on the big secret of these good guy bandits on the margins of society. Which version below does the character the most justice?
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The Original April Judith Hoag appeared in the first film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), and shared some fabulous onscreen chemistry with the half-shell foursome as well as Elias Koteas, who played Casey Jones. And no, she only looks like Felicity Huffman ofDesperate Housewives. |
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The Do-over April When Judith stepped down from her journalistic duties for The Secret of the Ooze (the unfortunate title of the film franchise’s second installment), accomplished TV actress Paige Turco was on hand, and she stuck around for the time-travel third sequel too. |
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The Cartoon April Renae Jacobs voiced the classic (yes, the 90s can now be termed as such) animated April O’Neil in the TV series that aired from 1987 all the way to 1996, with comic book hair and the brightest yellow outfit of them all. There have been other cartoon Aprils, but this one’s the bestest. |
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The Rebooted April Megan Fox is bringing Ms. O’Neil to sultry life in the all-out action reboot, fainting like a damsel in distress the first time she sees these radioactive reptile humanoids (wouldn’t you?). Rumor has it she even gets a backstory in this installment! |