When television first began, it was (of course) a man’s industry. For years, we’ve seen strong, male leads hold dominance over their weak, female counterparts. For so long, female characters were viewed as damsels in distress–shows from the 50’s, like I Love Lucy, made every American woman feel like she would always be a mediocre housewife. As times changed, so did the film and television industry. Now, we see thousands of strong female characters (looking at you, Katniss Everdeen) and for the first time women have been given a chance to grow and show the world that there’s more to them than just cooking and cleaning. We’ve decided to highlight five of these amazing, strong-willed female characters in hopes that you, too, will feel just as confident in yourself as these characters do.
1. Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) – Scandal
Running her own private firm known as “Pope & Associates”, Olivia Pope is her own boss. When she’s not busy trying to fix the lives of her high profile clients before they are ruined, you can find Olivia eating popcorn for dinner, drinking copious amounts of wine and trying to keep herself away from her steamy love affair with the POTUS.
2. Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) – How To Get Away With Murder
Although this new show is only on its first season and sixth episode, it’s received praise from critics and many loyal viewers. Viola Davis plays a fierce law professor who also runs her own firm as a defense attorney. Along with her intriguing mysterious past, viewers are most hooked on her fearless attitude and her skills in the courtroom to help her clients get away with murder.
3. Elsa Mars (Jessica Lange) – American Horror Story Freakshow
Elsa Mars runs the show, literally. Being the fierce woman she is, Elsa recruits the best freaks around town for her freak show troupe, with the secret hopes of being able to fulfill her singing career. Although it’s still early in the season, we can see that Elsa’s mysterious character has a lot of jaw-dropping moments in store for us.
4. Regina Mills/Evil Queen (Lana Parilla) – Once Upon A Time
As the main antagonist of the show, Regina Mills is the true portryal of an icy evil queen. Although the job description for most evil queens is being completely heartless (which, at first, she was) Regina Mills has since showed she is capable of love and, perhaps, even being a hero. The Evil Queen proved her the capability of having feelings after she fiercely saved Maid Marian from a treacherous Frozen-esque death–even after she returned from the dead and stole Regina’s true love, Robin Hood. This Evil Queen has the power to kill and save.
5. Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson) – Pretty Little Liars
Hanna Marin definitely stands out among the rest of the liars as the most outspoken and impulsive–AKA badass. Ready to give a verbal beat-down at any time for any one of her friends, Hanna always seems to keep herself together. We also can’t help but stay hooked on her steamy romance with Caleb. She may be brutally honest, but her fearlessness and fiercness puts her aside from the others.