20 women who played powerful leading characters

Even if Scandal's Olivia Pope made some questionable decisions about dating, friendship, and the state of the world, she was a powerhouse who made things shake whenever needed — whether in the DC streets or the White House. 

Charlie's Angels featured three rockstar women (Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu) fighting crime for a private detective agency in Los Angeles. Each character had different aspects that made them great, but Natalie Cook's quirkiness, coupled with her ability to handle herself at all times, made her our favorite. Plus, the movie's lead single, "Independent Women Pt. 1," by Destiny's Child, was a bonus that fans couldn't get enough of. It soared to the top of Billboard's Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for 11 weeks. 

Olivia Benson brings people to justice in Law & Order: SVU — how could we not admire her? 

What's not to love about Meredith Grey? Well, now that we think about it, we could name a few. Even then, there's still no other doctor we'd want to watch live a mess of life while saving lives at the same time. 

Shonda Rhimes is no stranger to helping create dynamic female leads, and Viola Davis as Annalise Keating is no different. The immoral attorney took fans on quite the journey as she struggled with alcoholism, the death of people close to her, and her many romantic situationships. But through it all, we couldn't help but root for her.

Elle Woods certainly wasn't the first lawyer to wear pink in a courtroom. However, she is the first to use the "Bend and Snap" to crack a case wide open. Plus, the move could be used in other scenarios as well. Elle said it best herself: “When used appropriately, it has an 83 percent rate of return on a dinner invitation." 

Barbie was the movie of 2023, and it was all thanks to Margot Robbie and the rest of the cast (excluding the Kens) helping guide us on our self-discovery journey. 

Yes, we're well aware that Taraji P. Henson's Cookie Lyon was a mess. But boy, did she handle business. Whether it be the side chicks disrupting her marriage or her husband himself, she made it clear you wouldn't mess with her. 

Cynthia Erivo has proved to be a force in the entertainment industry. She can sing and act, and her performance as Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film Harriet put that on full display. The film's lead single, "Stand Up," sung by Erivo, earned several nominations, including a Golden Globe, Grammy, and Critics' Choice Movie Award. 

We typically wouldn't agree with any character who thinks they're better than others unless it's true, and Hermione Granger fits the bill perfectly. She's got brains, skill, and a wand made of vine, signifying her best qualities.

When you think of Miranda Priestly, you could equate her to Anna Wintour or Jenna Lyons, the creative director of J. Crew for nearly 30 years. What do they both have in common? They're icons in the fashion industry, and if Meryl Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada were real, she'd be in the history books, too.  

Scarlett Johansson in Black Widow does it for us. After spending some time on the run, the former Russian spy has to address her problematic past when it comes back around.

Miranda Bailey is another Grey's Anatomy star we just couldn't leave off this list. She's all gas and no brakes and is well-respected among her peers. 

Vivian Carter turned her high school upside down when she published a secret magazine that addressed her peer's sexism in the Netflix film Moxie.

Raven Baxter was hilariously bold and extra in the Disney comedy That's So Raven. As a teen psychic, she always tried to use her powers to better a situation, but it always came back to bite in the end. 

Sanaa Lathan inspired us all to live our best lives after having a meltdown at a salon after her failed hair appointment in the Netflix film Nappily Ever After. 

Jennifer Lawrence is an actual hero in The Hunger Games, putting her life on the line for her family. She's worthy of all the praise. 

Yes, we're featuring Viola Davis twice on this list because her performance in Widows is too iconic to pass up. She leads a group of three other wives to get the revenge they've been seeking after their husbands were left dead during a robbery attempt in Chicago.

Colombiana told the story of a Cataleya Restrepo, an assassin on the hunt for the monsters who killed her parents when she was a little girl. She finished each job with a lipstick seal, marking her territory and letting the others know she was on to them. 

Angelina Jolie wowed us as Fox, the accomplished assassin in the movie Wanted, who took a clerical worker and turned him into a beloved member of a secret fraternity of other killers.