Hollywood has long loved a good anti-hero but in the last few years TV has embraced the anti-heroine. Strong, determined and somewhat morally suspect women who are forging ahead on their chosen path. In homage to these women who have it all, except boundaries, the Women in Leadership team and some of our readers have picked their current favourites. Add yours in the comments below.
Cristina Yang, Grey’s Anatomy - Harriet Minter
Forget Meredith Grey, the real star of Grey’s Anatomy has always been Cristina Yang. Her unbridled enjoyment in her own ambition made her stand out in a world where even the surgeons are more concerned with their personal lives than saving lives. Her terrible bedside manner and excitement over other people’s trauma, if it means she gets to operate on them, is both darkly funny and an accurate portrayal of what it’s like to be a woman who cares more about her career than what people think of her. If you’ve ever been confused as to why you’d want to have a life outside of your job, then Yang is your role model.
CJ Cregg, The West Wing - Emma Robinson
“Paranoid, Berkeley feminista” said Josh Lyman, The West Wing’s deputy chief of staff, of his colleague, press secretary C.J. Cregg. Translation? Real, razor-sharp and blazing a trail through the male-dominated corridors of power in a dowdy but refreshingly “my-intellect-does-the-talking” brown trouser suit. Unlike the stylish silhouettes of today’s anti-heroines, you won’t covet CJ’s wardrobe; more likely you’ll respect her grit, aspire to her ability to hold her own in the Brylcreemed world of politics and identify with her (arguably) very female neuroses. CJ’s charm is that her success is fueled by her humanity: crying at work, PR disasters and wardrobe malfunctions are all part of the journey.
Olivia Pope, Scandal - Harriet Minter
Look, I’m not saying she’s perfect but that’s the point of an anti-heroine. Olivia Pope has no qualms about literally burying the skeletons lurking at the back of her clients’ closets. She definitely has some serious daddy issues and she’s having an affair with a married man, all of which makes her flawed - if you want to be understated. But she’s also the best strategist on TV. Capable of seeing ten steps ahead of her current circumstances, she understands what people need to do their best work and how to use this to her advantage. She always has a plan and she doesn’t take no for an answer. Pope taught me about the importance of seeing the bigger picture, not just what you want right at that moment. Plus, she’s a gladiator.
Patty Hewes, Damages - Natalie Reynolds
“When in doubt, throw the first punch.” Powerful, ambitious, focused and in charge, Patty Hewes was the lead character in the legal drama Damages and my idol as I went back to law school as a mature student. Long hours and even longer textbooks were made bearable by tuning in to revel in her ballsy one-liners, cool composure and steely, silent stares. Patty represented a woman who had got to the top in a man’s world and was reaping the prestige, reward and influence that came with it. The downside? Patty seemed determined to stay at the top, at all costs. Cue backstabbing, lies, broken relationships and questionable ethics - in the end she symbolised every stereotype of the “business bitch” that we so desperately need to get rid of. While I might have envied her ability to have it all, I also know I don’t want it to be at all costs.
Alicia Florrick, The Good Wife - Lottie O’Conor
If we’re talking about TV anti-heroines, there’s really no competition: I have yet to meet anyone who has seen The Good Wife and not fallen for Alicia Florrick. The purposeful walk. Those killer closing arguments. That truly excellent hair, tousled but never scruffy. The way she always has a bottle of wine close by.
Alicia is relatable: she starts out, like most of us do, feeling out of her depth, rushed and a bit like a fraud. As the first series progresses, she starts to understand her worth, realise that she is good at her job and fight for her role in the company.
She’s flawed (come on Alicia, everyone knows that sleeping with your boss is never going to end well) but not weak; she suffers without being a victim and she’s ruthless and determined without being a total bitch, unlike many of her fellow TV lawyers (I’m looking at you, Patty Hewes). And then there are the outfits. Never has someone put together such devastating “my life is in turmoil but I have to get it together and go to work” ensembles. Ever. Alicia, we salute you.
Claire Underwood, House of Cards - Amanda Ciske
Claire Underwood’s character captures the complexity of an ambitious woman balancing the pursuit of power, marriage and her inner desires. What makes her a role model is her ability to double as feminine, yet sharp and decisive to get what she wants. Her flaw is this black and white approach to life, which forces her to make sacrifices rather than compromises, like relinquishing a family. I can relate to her battle between wanting independence and freedom and staying the course of a “perfect life”. Although I accept that success comes with some sacrifices, I think you can be ambitious and still be yourself. Perhaps we can all take a card from Claire’s deck to be more decisive but not be afraid to be human.
