Indiana Jones and his leading ladies

Indiana Jones is back on the big screen after nearly two decades. The adventuring archaeologist is known for getting out of tight spots, and bringing along lovely ladies for the ride. We thought we'd take a look back at the leading ladies who shared the silver screen with Indy over the years.

Back in the summer of 1981, Indiana Jones burst onto the scene along with a feisty sidekick, Marion Ravenwood. The role made a name for Karen Allen (born October 5, 1951). Twenty-seven years later, Allen and Indy star Harrison Ford would be reunited for the fourth installment of the movie series, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Fans flocked to theaters when the movie debuted, pushing it to the top of the box office.

The summer movie season of 1984 featured a second Indiana Jones installment, this time a prequel called "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." In this one Indy goes on an adventure with Willie Scott, a nightclub singer working in Shanghai. Kate Capshaw (born Kathleen Sue Nail) plays a "damsel in distress" type, unlike the strong heroine Allen played as Marion in the previous film. Capshaw went on to marry director Steven Spielberg in 1991. Capshaw made the cast despite heavy competition, including Sharon Stone.

The 1989 film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" was supposed to be the third and final chapter of the series. But it was not to be. The Indy character lived on in may ways. He showed up in a television series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," video games, toys, and even a fourth movie in 2008.
"Last Crusade" focuses on Indy's relationship with his father, who is played by legendary actor Sean Connery. Word is Connery was asked to reprise his role for the fourth film, but could not be coaxed out of retirement. When Indy goes out to search for his father, he meets a breath-taking Austrian art professor, Dr. Elsa Schneider. A young Irish actress named Alison Doody won the role. She was largely unknown as an actress at the time. She was born November 11, 1966, and a bit younger than the professor she portrayed.

In the years following the third movie, rumors circulated over the possibility of another Indy movie. Eventually plans were made for a fourth outing. Harrison Ford wasn't getting any younger, so the script would have to take into account the passage of time. Instead of being set in the 1930s, the fourth movie flashed forward to 1957, to adjust for the ages of the actors. Indy would be reunited with Marion, some 27 years after they battled the Nazis in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." This time around Indy goes up against Soviet agents, led by Irina Spalko, played by Cate Blanchett. Producer Frank Marshall says Spalko continued the tradition of Indy having a love-hate relationship "with every woman he ever comes in contact with". Spielberg praised Blanchett as a "master of disguise", and considers her his favorite Indiana Jones villain.

Oscars 2008: Cate Blanchett going for historic win

Cate Blanchett earned two slots in the acting races (for Elizabeth: The Golden Age and I'm Not There) even though the former was a flop at the box office.
The Australian screen icon joins an elite Oscars club after taking Academy Awards nominations in both the lead and supporting actress categories. No actor has ever won two acting Oscars in the same year, and only 10 others in Oscars history have been nominated for both acting categories at the same time.
The 38-year-old star won a best supporting actress winner in 2005 for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator".

BEST PICTURE: Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood
BEST ACTOR: George Clooney in Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood, Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd, Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah, and Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises
BEST ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Julie Christie in Away From Her, Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose, Laura Linney in The Savages, and Ellen Page in Juno
EW