Television shows have given us some of history’s most raw, powerful, and compelling female characters! Their personalities, ambition, courage, and deception can outwit anyone they come up against! Not only have they solidified their place in mainstream culture and history, but they continue to inspire younger generations decades later. You are bound to see portrayals of them at cosplay events.
We’ve put up a list of on-screen characters who fans have identified with and who have inspired many people through their portrayals.
Agent Dana Scully (The X Files)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozJm3svkA7M&w=853&h=480]In the TV series spread out over three decades, Dana Scully is an FBI special agent and a medical doctor. She was placed in the X-Files unit for her expertise and to monitor and counter the works of ‘Fox Mulder’. With a strong sense of integrity, the character is firm and incorruptible. Her investigations are accurately reported with complete honesty. Being a skeptic and a doctor, she bases her conclusions on logic and reasoning.
Gillian Anderson plays Dana Katherine Scully, MD. Her depiction of medical doctor-turned-paranormal detective led to a phenomenon known as “The Scully Effect” in the 1990s. The character inspired a lot of women to take up professions in medicine, physics, and law enforcement.
Gillian Anderson has also played Margaret Thatcher in the drama series ‘The Crown‘ and reprised her role as Dana Scully in the 2008 movie ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’.
Watch ‘The X Files’ on: Disney+ | Apple TV (Australia, UK, US) | HULU (US)
Michael Burnham (Star Trek: Discovery)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZwCiTN-zV0&w=847&h=480]On the USS Discovery spaceship, Burnham is a science specialist. She was raised alongside the well-known character ‘Spock’ in the Vulcan culture and traditions. She received the Vulcan Scientific Legion of Honor after graduating at the top of her class. In the series, she is an accomplished ‘xeno-anthropologist’. Leading a dual life of a human and Vulcan, she is a defensive by-nature person who is learning to accept her emotions. She demonstrates high intelligence, leadership, and hand-to-hand combat skills throughout the series.
Michael Burnham is the main protagonist in protagonist on ‘Star Trek: Discovery’. She is played by Sonequa Martin-Green. She also played a battle-ready survivor ‘Sasha Williams’ in ‘The Walking Dead’ series. In 2019, the character was ranked 7th among The Best Star Trek Characters Of All Time by media company Cinema Blend.
Watch ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ on: Apple TV (Australia, US) | Paramount+ | Amazon (UK, US) | iTunes (UK)
[related-post id=”7890″]
Buffy Summers (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1v_q6TWAL4&w=853&h=480]Set in Sunnydale, California, was the 90s TV drama ‘Buffy, the Vampire Slayer‘. The Sunnydale High School was above a gateway of mystical energy. Buffy, a teenage high school girl, finds her world turned upside down when she learns that she is destined to be a vampire slayer. She gains improved talents such as immense strength, agility, resilience, and speed after being endowed with mystical powers.
Her premonitory dreams and visions guide her to futuristic events. She also has heightened senses that feel the presence of vampires. The Villains on the show included ‘The Master’, ‘Drusilla’, and ‘Caleb.’ Along with her gang of friends known as ‘The Scooby Gang’, they embark on hunting demonic threats coming through the mouth of hell.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7j_-yFbHE/
‘Buffy’ first appears in the 1992 film of the same name, in her own comic book series, and in the spin-off series ‘Angel’. Sarah Michelle Geller played ‘Buffy Summers’ and went on to play ‘Daphne Blake’ in the ‘Scooby Doo’ (2002) movie and its sequel (2004).
Watch ‘Buffy, the Vampire Slayer’ on: Apple TV (Australia, UK, US | Disney+ | Amazon Prime Video (US) | HULU (US)
Detective Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr8N3xwvonY&w=853&h=480]Rosa Diaz is a recurring character on the comedy series ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine.’ Her storyline comes full circle from a life of juvenile crime to a detective. Her anger management issues and lack of sympathy terrify her coworkers, and she is frequently seen publicly bullying them. She excels at gymnastics and archery. Her bold and intimidating nature brings out the comical laughs in the show.
Detective Rosa Diaz is played by Stephanie Beatriz. She has also voiced ‘Catwoman’ in ‘Batwoman Hunted’ (2022) and ‘Mirabel Madrigal’ in ‘Encanto’ (2021).
Watch ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ on: Netflix (Australia, NZ, India, UK) | iTunes (Australia, UK) | Neon TV (New Zealand) | Apple TV (US) | HULU (US)
[related-post id=”10825″]
Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiFGfA9nrCs&w=853&h=480]Xena was a popular television female character in the 1990s. The action, adventure, science fiction show was hailed as significant since it featured a strong female lead. Xena, the warrior princess, rides on horseback and wields a sword and her signature weapon, a ‘Chakram’. With her trademark backflips and ululating war cry, she hunts down brutal warlords and ancient Gods.
Originally, Xena was a warrior who would take part in devious activities, including raiding and plundering. She does a complete turn when she rescues a group of children from a warlord. Here she met her accomplice Gabrielle. Her known foes were ‘Callisto,’ Greek God of war ‘Ares’, ‘Mephistopheles’, and ‘Yodoshi.’
Xena’s first appearance was actually in the 90s television series ‘Hercules: The Legendary Journeys’. The character was so popular that it received its own spin-off series. Xena has been adapted into a variety of media, including films, books, comics, and video games. Lucy Lawless played the title character of the television series. One of her Xena costumes is currently housed in her home country of New Zealand at the Museum Of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Watch ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ on: Apple TV+
Grand Huntress Phara Keaen (The Foundation)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1edG9WPX1ec&w=853&h=480]The Grand Huntress Phara Keaen is found in a universe that uses ‘psychohistory’- a predictive model used for predicting the behavior of large segments of the population. A new colony called ‘Foundation’ is set to be built on the planet Terminus – a cornerstone of knowledge to rebuild humanity. Phara belongs to the group of hunters on the planet Anacreon. She is a high military officer who is ruthless, fanatical, and unforgiving in temperament. In the show, Keane is devious and cunning, scheming her ways to infiltrate the Foundation.
Indian Actress Kubbra Sait plays the role of ‘Grand huntress of Anacreon’.
Watch ‘The Foundation’ on: Apple TV+
Ruth Langmore (Ozark)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SgDmRtKois&w=853&h=480]Introduced in the drama series ‘Ozark‘, ‘Ruth Langmore’ is a street-savvy, foul-mouthed young woman. She is ambitious, bold and courageous, unlike the rest of her family. She is assigned numerous types of illegal activities in the show, all of which are simple for her to complete. When given the opportunity, she is able to run the Lickety Splitz club to greater profits. No tasks seem too difficult for her due to her awareness and common sense. Her intelligence throughout the show gets her out of tricky situations and better facilitates all of Martin ‘Marty’ Byrde’s money laundering schemes.
Julia Garner’s depiction of Ruth Langmore earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Watch ‘Ozark’ on: Netflix
[related-post id=”11074″]
Michonne Hawthorne (The Walking Dead)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WKQLZpCdd8&w=853&h=480]The second character played by
Danai Gurira plays ‘Michonne Hawthorne’, a katana-wielding zombie hunter and killer, she is unforgiving and ruthless in this TV series. Her first appearance on ‘The Walking Dead‘ is as a hooded person leading zombies walkers. She decapitates their arms and slits their jaws, putting them in chains as camouflage from the walkers. In the series spreading across the ten seasons, she adopts various roles, including a mother, soldier, head of security, and a scout. Michonne is the show’s third-longest-living female character.
Watch ‘The Walking Dead’ on: Netflix | Binge (Australia) | Neon TV (New Zealand) | Disney+ | Apple TV+
[related-post id=”15172″]
Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3XsWIj9wck&w=853&h=480]“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground” – Cersei Lannister.
Possible one of the most vicious, vengeful, and unshakable characters in ‘Game of Thrones‘ was Lena Headey’s Cersei Lannister. Her character outwitted and outplayed most of the lords, knights, the faith militant, and even fire-breathing dragons. Being the widow of King Robert Baratheon, she did ensure through her ambitious and cunning ways she always held her position at Kings Landing. A brilliant manipulator who always makes decisions in her own best interests.
The show boasts a host of strong female personalities with intriguing character growth and plotlines. It includes ‘Arya Stark’ played by Maisie Williams, ‘Ygritte’ portrayed by Rose Leslie, ‘Ellaria Sand’ played by Indira Varma, ‘Brienne of Tarth’ played by Gwendoline Christie, and ‘Daenerys Targaryen’ played by Emilia Clarke.
Watch ‘Game of Thrones’ on: Binge (Australia) | Disney+ Hotstar (India) | Neon (New Zealand) | Chili (UK) | HBO MAX (US)
You May Also Read:
10 Biographical Movies about Inspiring Women
17 Films Directed by Women You Need to Watch
Five Sandra Oh Movies You Should Watch Before ‘Umma’
Feature Image Via Comic Book.
