Historically, most TV shows and movies have focused on men, especially straight, white men. Diversity is something that is sadly often lacking in a lot of media, but there are some cases – and more and more cases – true strong, female characters are in the foreground.
These strong female characters are often fearless, powerful, independent and smart, taking on roles primarily filled by men, fighting zombies, caring for people and making a name for themselves.
While we’re seeing more and more leading women in roles that aren’t just about finding love, it would be great to see even more to further level the playing field. If you’re looking for some TV shows to watch with powerful female characters in the cast, check this one out.
10 Clarke Griffin – The 100
Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) is one of the main characters in the dystopian sci-fi series The 100. She becomes the leader of the 100 and helps keep the survivors safe as they battle the Grounders, Mountain Men, and other obstacles that crop up. Clarke is a born leader and automatically falls into her role among the survivors. Loyal, honest and strong-willed, Clarke is determined to save everyone’s lives and bring them to safety. While she is known to make some questionable, sometimes even impulsive decisions throughout the series, Clarke almost always operates with the best interests of the group in mind.
9 Leslie Knope – Parks and recreation
Leslie Button (Amy Poehler) is a strong-willed, feminist government representative whose heroes include female political leaders such as Hillary Clinton and Madeline Albright. She believes that government should serve the people and works hard to ensure that it always does. She constantly takes on the narrow-minded, often sexist government representatives who stand in the way of her making changes. The challenges Leslie faces on the show often mirror the realities women in political positions often face, but she tackles everything head-on with witty humor and sarcasm and doesn’t let anyone blunt her spark. She is a true inspiration to women who have historically held male-dominated positions, showing you how to stand up for yourself and stay true to your beliefs.
8 Dana Scully – The X Files
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The X files is by far one of the most recognizable, standout sci-fi/mystery series to date. The series follows FBI agents Dan Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) as they investigate unsolved paranormal cases dubbed “X-Files”. Scully is one of the most striking, powerful female characters in the sci-fi genre – a genre typically dominated by men. She is a fierce, intelligent researcher, a skeptic and can always hold her own. Her character is actually so beloved that it inspired a phenomenon called “The Scully Effect,” in which women began pursuing careers in STEM — just like Scully — after the show’s airing.
7 Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) was a normal high school girl until she experienced an overwhelming amount of trauma, changed her trajectory and started working alongside her father as a private investigator. A teen private investigator, she’s completely breaking with what a teen girl can do on TV. Tough and smart, she solves serious crimes while her peers have English lessons. Veronica is known for her wit and sloppy manner. She never backs down from anyone – the police or the spoiled rich kids at school – and inspires teenage girls to stand up for themselves and be brave.
6 Athena Grant – 9-1-1
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, 9-1-1 is a fast-paced drama that follows the lives and on-the-job experiences of a group of first responders. Essentially, all the characters on the show are inspirational heroes, but one of the fiercest is Athena Grant (Angela Basset). Athena is a sergeant with the LA Police Department. She is a very tough, blunt, no-nonsense woman who is extremely dedicated to her job, the people she loves, and saving lives. She is a strong example of how to balance work and personal life if you are equally passionate about both. She is also a woman of color who works in a high-stakes field, which can be very inspiring for those interested in taking a similar path.
5 Fiona Gallagher – Shameless
Shameless is a beloved dramedy series adapted by John Wells from the British series of the same name. The show introduced a number of characters throughout its 11 seasons and one of the most powerful is Fiona Gallagher played by Emily Rossum. Fiona is Gallagher’s eldest child and is tasked with playing mother and taking care of her siblings, home, finances and everything else in between. It’s a lot for one person to handle, and it often gets overwhelming, but – despite a few missteps along the way – Fiona constantly tries to give her best. It’s a situation that can be very real and relatable to some people and in a way, it’s her missteps and the way she’s always trying to do better that make her so inspiring.
4 Michonne – The Walking Dead
The living Dead presented some strong female characters throughout the show, but without a doubt, Michonne is one of the most powerful. Played by Dani Gurira, Michonne is a powerful warrior who can easily hold her own with only her samurai sword. She steals big scenes and she’s just so powerful and captivating that she almost immediately became a fan favorite and eventually a main character in the series. Michonne is a fearless fighter, but she’s also deeply complex, complete with a mysterious past and an emotional layer that makes her character both dynamic and relatable to viewers. In terms of women in zombie apocalypse media, Michonne is fierce, strong and inspiring.
3 Buffy Summers – Buffy the vampire slayer
What’s cooler than a woman who hunts and kills vampires? buffy summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a teenage vampire slayer who was originally uninterested in her unique calling, but eventually embraced her destiny and became one of the most powerful, powerful female characters in TV history. The concept of a female vampire slayer in the ’90s was way ahead of its time and that alone makes Buffy an inspiring female protagonist. In addition, she never takes any physical or mental garbage from men and always stands up for herself and holds her own. She’s not a damsel in distress by any means and underestimating Buffy would be a serious mistake – as seen many times throughout the show. She is strong, courageous and manages to kill vampires, save the world and attend high school at the same time, inspiring generations of teenage girls.
2 Annalize Keating – How to get away with murder
How to get away with murder follows a group of ambitious law students who work cases with their criminal defense professor Annalize Keating. Annalise, played by Viola Davis, is an intelligent, powerful force in the courtroom, always in control of the situation she finds herself in. Not only is she brilliant and tough in the courtroom and in her professional life, but she’s also a dynamic character with emotional depth and vulnerability, which just add to how much of a powerhouse character she is. Annalize is also a notable character in terms of representation of black women on TV, completely reimagining the way they are portrayed. Additionally, this character made Viola Davis the first black woman to win the 2015 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
1 Olivia Benson – Law & Order: SVU
When you think of strong, fierce women on TV who have inspired generations of women and girls, you’d be remiss to single out Olivia Benson. Law & Order: SVU. Played by Mariska Hargitay, Olivia is known for bringing a sense of sincerity and comfort to such a difficult, high stakes job – especially when it comes to victims of sexual abuse. Her empathy and emotional intelligence are a big part of what makes her so good at her job, and what makes her character so remarkable. She is extremely dedicated to the work and to getting justice for the victims she works so hard to save and protect. Olivia is just cool. She’s tough and no-nonsense, refusing to be phased and let the “bad guys” win, but she’s also sweet and sincere, always ready to fight for those who need her.