Kickass women - which film or TV character would you choose?

[Wonderbug81]

I was chatting to someone recently about imposter syndrome and they said that they when they needed to feel more confident at work they channelled a character from a film or TV show. People like Olivia Pope in Scandal or Elle from Legally Blonde.

Who would you choose..?

Xena. Or Ripley.

When I was very hormonal and very pregnant I was certain I was calling my daughter Ripley. To the relief of all, I didn't.

Dana Scully

Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley too.

Buffy was my first thought, plus Zoe from Firefly, Rose from African Queen, Laura Roslin from Battlestar, Ivanova from Babylon 5...

I have a trenchcoat bought so I could swish along pretending to be her!

May I be a rebel and select a radio character? Carolyn Knapp-Shappey from Cabin Pressure (played by Stephanie Cole). Dry wit and takes no nonsense. Adore her!

Actually Katherine Hepburn in general is a really good one.

Dr Beatrice Mason - Stephanie Cole's character from Tenko.

Emma Peel (TV series, not the awful film adaptation). Although also Ripley, of course.

The Bride Uma Thurman in Kill Bill

I also love Arya Stark for pure kick ass!

Melinda May from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Is literally kickass. Played by Ming Na Wen and it is great seeing an actress in her 50s being given all the best fight scenes.

Olivia Benson in Law & Order SVU. Love her.

Trinity from The Matrix

Victoria from RED and RED 2

Athena Grant in 9-1-1.

Cristina Yang in Grey's Anatomy.

Michonne in The Walking Dead.

Paris in Gilmore Girls? (Iffy towards the end)

I’d like to think I channel elements of Olivia Pope (especially in the early days, before all the things) Leslie Knope, and Liz Lemon.

I fear it’s more likely what I’m publicly presenting is more like Malcolm Tucker…

Peggy Carter or Buffy.

Lagertha from Vikings

Brida from The Last Kingdom

June from Handmaids is pretty kickass. Albeit a bit nuts too

Anna from This Life
Beth from Yellowstone
Diane from The Good Wife
CJ from The West Wing

My teenage daughter was giving me a pep talk before an interview once and she said ‘just be yourself mum, unless you can be Beyoncé, then be Beyonce’ so I always think of that when I need a little extra sass.

Emily Prentice

Buffy generally, but also Annalise Keating (how to get away with murder)

Beth from Yellowstone, definitely