Brigitte Nielsen, who plays the character of Ingrid Knudsen, is one of the main characters in the film. In the movie, Ingrid is a fashion model who witnesses a brutal murder committed by the members of the "New Order" gang, who are led by the vicious Night Slasher (Brian Thompson). After the gang begins targeting her for elimination, Ingrid is placed under the protection of Lieutenant Marion "Cobra" Cobretti (Sylvester Stallone), a tough and no-nonsense cop who is assigned to keep her safe.

Throughout the film, Ingrid is portrayed as a strong and determined character, who refuses to be a victim and fights back against her would-be attackers. She develops a romantic relationship with Cobra and assists him in his mission to take down the New Order and stop their reign of terror. Ingrid's character is also notable for her distinctive hairstyle, which became popular in the 1980s and is often referred to as the "Brigitte Nielsen cut."