Cheers, Love!

British women in popular culture tend to be prim and proper, but Bonne Jenet is defined by her wild side. Although she was born into wealth, she became bored with her tedious lifestyle and decided that she’d rather steal than ask her parents for money. Jenet could have filled her days with tennis and equestrian, but she had more ambitious goals in mind. After assembling a pirate crew and building a transforming ship, the adventurous teen began invading territorial waters for fun! You have to admire her gumption, and she truly embodies the spirit of British ambition. She once entered a fighting tournament just so she’d have an opportunity to rob a mansion. Like a certain heroic outlaw from English folklore, Jenet only steals from the rich. Don’t expect her to give her spoils to the poor, however. Sirloin steaks aren’t going to buy themselves.

A recurring character who has appeared in every TimeSplitters game, Captain Ash is an adventurer extraordinaire and a quintessential gentleman. While galavanting around the world, he has ventured into Nicaraguan jungles, explored Egyptian tombs, and fought with the Royal Flying Corps during the first World War. Whether he’s protecting Scottish isles from Russian soldiers or falling in love with jungle queens, his life is full of excitement. Captain Ash will gladly put up his fisticuffs when necessary, but he can also slow down to appreciate the finer things in life (like glamorous women and afternoon tiffin). His appearances are brief, and little is truly known about his background. The dude has an awesome moustache and he wears a monocle, however, so it’s safe to say that he’s a man of distinction. Tally ho!

The Power Stone series is set in an alternate, 19th-century world where dreamers from far-and-wide seek out a legendary treasure known as the One Piece Power Stone. The scion of the prestigious Falcon family, Edward bravely circles the globe in his biplane while searching for the treasure. No matter where his adventures take him, he never forgets his roots. The Union Jack is proudly displayed on the shoulder of his flight suit, and he frequently returns to his hometown of London Londo. As the star of the Power Stone series, Edward is a jack-of-all-trades. He’s an experienced aviator, an aspiring archaeologist, and a surprisingly effective boxer. Above all else, he’s defined by a strong sense of justice and he’s known to destroy evil with his explosive punches. When he’s not throwing fists, Edward is polite and amicable for the most part.

Lena Oxton was handpicked to pilot an experimental teleporting aircraft. She was presumed dead when the vehicle malfunctioned, but it turned out that her molecules had merely been desynchronized from the flow of time. A special device was later created that allowed Lena to remained anchored in the present, and she also gained the ability to control time in the process. Under the call sign Tracer, the energetic young woman became one of Overwatch’s most effective agents. She’s not especially patriotic and some of her British references are misplaced, but she’s a great fit for this list nonetheless. Tracer speaks with a cockney accent, her alternate outfits reference the Spice Girls, and she’s always up for a nip to the pub. If nothing else, she’s a quintessential Brit in a “Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins” kind of way.

The British Empire once ruled a quarter of the world’s population, and Haytham Kenway dates back to the days when the American colonies were under British control. He was trained to become a member of the Assassin Brotherhood from a young age, but he changed course after his father died and wound up joining the Templar Order’s Colonial Rite. Under his leadership, the Colonial Rite grew exponentially and played a significant role in guiding the regional governments. Haytham’s father and son are also playable in the Assassin’s Creed series, but he’s more sympathetic than either of them. His father is a hot-headed pirate and his son is an overly-sensitive emo kid, but Haytham is charismatic and dignified even though he’s technically the villain. He’ll go so far as to apologize to his victims before killing them. How courteous.

The British Army has helped establish the United Kingdom as one of the world’s leading military and economic powers, so it seems fitting to highlight an army man on this list. Arguably the most iconic member of the Call of Duty cast, Captain John Price is a member of the Special Air Service and the leader of a multinational task force. Humorless and straightforward, Price has no time for bullshit. He spends time in the gulag, he’s injured in action, and he’s briefly considered a war criminal by his own government. Regardless of how dire things get, the cigar-toting badass remains unscathed and unflappable. Captain Price is seemingly invincible, but this doesn’t make him any less heroic. He’s willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of his country, and his resolve is almost as remarkable as his moustache.

There were several British Street Fighter characters that were considered for this list. Birdie and Eagle were the first to join the roster and I’m rather fond of Cammy’s thong leotard, but Dudley is the obvious choice for this list. Everything from his bow tie to his fancy moustache paints the picture of a gentlemanly Brit. The well-mannered boxer has a disdain for fighting dirty, and he’s a lot more restrained than most of his Street Fighter rivals. He’s occasionally condescending and becomes more of a snob as he gets older, but he always fights fair and genuinely respects the rules of engagement. When he’s not busy fighting, Dudley can be seen driving his Jaguar, tending to his roses, or having a spot of tea. Remarkably, he manages to do all of these things while wearing his boxing gloves. A gentleman is always prepared.

British spy fiction was all the rage during the Cold War, and No One Lives Forever plays homage to the genre in a lighthearted way. Catherine Ann Archer grew up in the lap of luxury in Scotland, but she became a professional thief after her parents died. She soon gained the attention of a British-based counter-terrorism organization called UNITY, and she would eventually be regarded as one of their top field agents. Cate is stubborn, headstrong, and proficient with all sorts of high-tech gadgets. (She also looks great in leather, but that’s a topic for another day.) She has been described as a female counterpart to James Bond, but Emma Peel from The Avengers would be a more apt comparison. Cate encapsulates the fun-loving style of the 1960s, and she makes British-bent espionage seem classy as fuck.

An archaeology professor at Gressenheller University in London, Hershel Layton is know around the world for his ability to solve riddles. He was a member of the fencing club in his youth and can handle himself with a sword, but Layton avoids violence whenever he can and relies instead on his superior intellect. He’s a true gentleman and a scholar, and his penchant for puzzle-solving helps him catch criminals around the globe. His powers of deduction hearken back to Sherlock Holmes (another famous Brit), but Layton isn’t technically a detective even though he often gets roped into solving crimes. When he’s not busy mentoring students and helping out with police investigations, Layton likes to wind down with a nice cup of tea. His ability to keep his composure under any circumstances makes him the quintessential gentleman.

Lara Croft is a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic archaeologist who travels the world in pursuit of priceless artifacts à la Indiana Jones. Tomb Raider was a massive success from a critical and commercial standpoint, but Lara received more attention than the game itself and transcended the entire medium. In addition to video games, she was featured in movies, comic books, novels, and a series of animated short films. In 2006, she was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most successful human video game heroine.” Lara was an independent woman and great role model, but her sex appeal was the driving force behind her popularity. On that note, her British accent was almost as sexy as her massive rack. Anytime she opened her mouth, she sounded sophisticated, intelligent, and refined.