A hairdresser, an ace mechanic, a pool hall hustler, a legal strategist, a hunting critic, a fiancee and future mother — yes, we’re talking about none other than Mona Lisa Vito, from the 1992 comedy classic My Cousin Vinny.

Mona Lisa was played to perfection by Marisa Tomei, and it’s no wonder that the Italian American star took home the Academy Award  for Best Supporting Actress months after the film’s release. Mona Lisa is so appealing because, in the end, she’s a woman’s woman: she’s astute, vocal and strong, and best of all, she outsmarts the men around her.