Over the years, the female lead character has evolved to take on different forms and different genres.

What made her a strong female hero wasn’t just her superpowers, but her overall character.

10Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)

In 1995,Xena: Warrior Princessdid the unthinkable.

Austin Stowell as Leroy Jethro Gibbs looking offscreen in NCIS: Origins

The female characters face scrutiny for their profession but rise above to discover their own worth and redefine wrestling.

However, even without swords or big guns, Mrs. Maisel does something just as powerful as action heroes.

She stands up in a male-dominated world and fights to make her dreams come true.

Bail Organa to the left and Cassian Andor to the right in front of a vibrant background

In this case, she wants to be a standup comedian in the late 1950s, and she succeeds.

The series has been highly praised, winning Primetime Emmy Awards and two consecutive Golden Globes.

Seeing as the show was centered around female prisoners, there were plenty of female lead characters.

Alan Tudyk smiling as Harry Vanderpeigle in Resident Alien

That is the case onGrey’s Anatomy, which focuses on Meredith Grey.

Annalise Keating and Eve from female lead shows

Jessica Jones raising her and shrugging

Villanelle wearing a robe talking to Eve in Killing Eve

Tracey in a balcony at sunset in Chewing Gum

Annalise Keating entering court room in How To Get Away With Murder

Orphan Black Season One Promo

Xena Warrior Princess Finale

GLOW main characters standing by the ring rope

Rachel Brosnahan Miriam Maisel performing stand-up comedy in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Taystee, Piper, Janae, and Poussey in Orange Is The New Black

Ellen Pompeo As Meredith Grey With The Season 19 Grey’s Anatomy Interns.jpg