Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn with the Joker on the cover of Batman: Harley Quinn; art by Alex Ross.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Batman: The Animated Series "Joker's Favor (September 1992)"
First comic appearance	The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993) Main DC Universe continuity: Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (October 1999)
Created by	Paul Dini Bruce Timm
Voiced by	Arleen Sorkin Tara Strong Hynden Walch Grey DeLisle Meghan Strange Laura Bailey Janyse Jaud Jen Brown Jenny Slate
In-story information
Alter ego	Harleen Frances Quinzel
Team affiliations	Secret Society of Super Villains Secret Six Suicide Squad Gotham City Sirens
Partnerships	Joker Poison Ivy Catwoman Deadshot
Abilities	Trained psychiatrist Skilled gymnast Immunity to most toxins and diseases Utilizes weaponized props

Harley Quinn (Harleen Frances Quinzel) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, and first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series in September 1992. She later appeared in DC Comics' Batman comic books, with her first comic book appearance in The Batman Adventures #12 (Sept. 1993).

Harley Quinn is the Joker's frequent accomplice and lover, whom she met while working as a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, where the Joker was a patient. Her name is a play on the name "Harlequin", a character which originated in the commedia dell'arte.

The character was originally voiced by Arleen Sorkin in various tie-ins to the DC animated universe. Since then, she has also been voiced by Hynden Walch and Tara Strong in either DC Animated Showcases or in various video games. In the Birds of Prey television series, she was portrayed by actress Mia Sara. The character made her live-action cinematic debut in the 2016 film Suicide Squad, portrayed by Margot Robbie.

Harley Quinn first appeared in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor", as what was originally supposed to be the animated equivalent of a walk-on role; a number of police officers were to be taken hostage by someone jumping out of a pop out cake, and it was decided that to have the Joker do so himself would be too bizarre (although he ended up doing it anyway). Dini thus created a female sidekick for the Joker. Arleen Sorkin, a former star of the soap opera Days of Our Lives, appeared in a dream sequence on that series in which she wore a jester costume; Dini used this scene as an inspiration for Quinn. Having been friends with Sorkin since college, he incorporated aspects of her personality into the character. Quinn was also inspired by a mutual female friend's "stormy (but nonviolent) relationship", according to Timm.