Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Clarice Starling

The odds are stacked against Clarice Starling from the get-go.

She's one of very few women in the FBI training academy. And, yes, we said "training academy." She isn't even a full-on agent, and she's thrown head first at one of the most dangerous serial killers of our time to catch another killer who doesn't have nearly as good manners. With some help from Hannibal Lecter, Clarice tracks down Buffalo Bill. And although she stumbles upon the true killer by accident, she ends up taking him down all by herself.