The 17 Most Powerful Female Characters In Television

Angela Chase

Though she only graced our television screens for 19 episodes between 1994 and 1995, Angela Chase endures as an accurate portrayal of being a teenage girl, in the series My So-Called Life. Played by Claire Danes, Chase was a 15 year old trying to determine her own identity in a somewhat stifling home and school situation. She purposefully navigated toward new friendships that broadened her horizons, while clashing within old friendships that previously provided stability.

In its short-lived broadcast, episodes of My So-Called Life tackled child abuse, alcoholism, violence, drug abuse, homelessness, homophobia, bullying, censorship and adultery – but never once with an air of condescension, thanks to Chase’s powerful nature. She was presented entirely without the traditional television pigeon-holing. She was neither stereotypically popular, nor was she a social ‘outcast’ – she had a group of friends, but was not representative of a particular type of clique. She was simply a person – ravaged by hormones, and attempting to buck the livery society was trying to saddle her with.

Willow Rosenberg

The show may have been called Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but it was the groundbreaking character of Willow Rosenberg – played by Alyson Hannigan – that was the real heart of the show. First appearing as a highly intelligent but shy teen, lacking any real confidence, Willow was initially depicted as being one third of a crush-triangle – having feelings for life-long friend Xander, who had feelings for new friend Buffy. From 1998 to 2003, she developed far beyond the wide-eyed innocent, however, to become one of the most powerful female characters ever written for TV.

She fell in love with a werewolf and began practicing magic and witchcraft. In college, she became more confident in her own intellect and abilities. She joined a Wicca group, met fellow Wiccan Tara and fell in love. Her developing powers allowed her to bring Buffy back from the dead, after which she became telepathic. She spiralled into an addiction to magic, trying to destroy the world, and then ultimately saving the world by imbuing Potential Slayers with the power of Buffy.

The character of Willow Rosenberg was so integral to the show that she only appeared in one episode less than Buffy herself. She also became one half of one of the first lesbian couples to be depicted positively in a drama of this type.