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After that stimulating teaser for Joker: Folie à Deux, we’re convinced that Lady Gaga might be one of the greatest renditions of Harley Quinn to ever hit the big screen. Her only other live-action competitor is Suicide Squad‘s Margot Robbie, but over the last 30 years, several talented actors have portrayed the Clown Princess of Crime. From what little we’ve seen of Gaga, she’s no doubt a top contender for the best Quinn ever.
But even if Gaga dethrones Robbie, there will always be one Harley who stands high above the rest. Of course, it all boils down to personal preference and you might not agree with who I’m about to name, but many long-time DC fans have the utmost respect for where it all began: Batman: The Animated Series.
How Harley Quinn Came To Be
Aside from the comics, which have been in circulation since the ’30s, The Animated Series is one of our earliest examples of transferring these beloved characters from page to screen. Released in 1992, the cartoon was spearheaded by Bruce Timm, who fathered the animated Bat-verse as we know it, and Bob Kane, who co-created Batman and several other DC characters.
Running for four seasons, Batman: The Animated Series starred the late Kevin Conroy as the Dark Knight and Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, as his arch nemesis, The Joker. Writer Paul Dini and Bruce Timm created the character of Dr. Harleen Quinzel, whom we would soon come to know as Harley Quinn, specifically for the episode “Joker’s Favor.”
In “Joker’s Favor,” Harley was intended to be just a simple hench-wench of Joker’s, playing a slightly more prominent part than some of his other lackeys, but nothing substantial. She was not intended to return for another episode. She was voiced by Arleen Sorkin, who sadly passed away in August 2023. Fans were so enamored by Harley Quinn’s vibrant personality that they demanded Dini and Timm bring her back for future Joker-centric episodes, which they did. She would eventually have her own episode — “Harley’s Holiday” — and develop a friendship with Poison Ivy.
Arleen Sorkin IS Harley Quinn
Having known each other since college, Paul Dini requested that Arleen Sorkin step into the shoes of Puddin’ and record voice work for Harley’s character. She gladly accepted, under the impression that the character wouldn’t resurface beyond “Joker’s Favor.” Sorkin would go on to voice Harley for nine episodes of The Animated Series, six episodes of The New Batman Adventures, one episode of Superman: The Animated Series, and for a total of two years and 25 episodes on 2000’s Gotham Girls.
Sorkin was a trailblazer in the DC universe and a trendsetter for Harley’s character. Her iconic New York accent would be the basis for every portrayal since and her upbeat disposition derived from Sorkin’s liveliness. Many Bat-fans have argued that Sorkin herself “is” Harley Quinn, as she was intended for all of us to relate to and enjoy her presence. Sorkin’s dynamic with Mark Hamill is another argument for her solidified spot as Harley’s best actress. Their chemistry as Harley and Joker is utterly electrifying, unlike any other duo we’ve seen from the Clown Prince and his deranged lover.
Maybe if Heath Ledger and Brittany Murphy had ever made it to Hollywood as Joker and Harley (trust me, fans wanted it), they might have snatched the proverbial rug from under Hamill and Sorkin. Alas, those glorious fan edits never became a reality and Ledger died before he could even see The Dark Knight in theaters.
Honorable Mention: Tara Strong
Tara Strong would be an honorable mention if not for Arleen. Her work as Harley Quinn truly molded the character into who she is today, forming a foundation for future actors to build upon. Strong would voice the character for over a decade in projects such as Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, Batman: Arkham City, Injustice: Gods Among Us, and more.
Her latest portrayal of Harley Quinn came in the 2024 video game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and at just 51-years-old, she doesn’t show signs of slowing down. If Sorkin can’t portray Harley Quinn, we’re all very glad that she passed the baton over to Strong.
