TMS picks their favorite female characters on Netflix

TMS Staff Picks: Our Favorite Female Characters on Netflix

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We’re huge fans of Netflix shows here at TMS. One of the things we love most is how female-centric a lot of their programming is and how, by nature of being a streaming service, they are able to take chances and give a platform to voices that aren’t heard too often anywhere else. To celebrate that, and International Women’s Day, the TMS staff has offered up their picks for their favorite female characters on Netflix. Check them out in the video above, or in the post below!

Sarah Gadon as Grace Marks in Netflix's 'Alias Grace'

Grace Marks, Alias Grace

“Everyone in the show—and the audience—wants to be able to define exactly what she is or isn’t, but she’s infinitely, unknowably more complex than any of that, just like any real human being.” – Dan

Renee Elise Goldsberry as Quellcrist Falconer in Netflix's "Altered Carbon"

Quellcrist Falconer, Altered Carbon

“She’s an incredibly badass fighter, a big-picture philosopher, and an inspiring revolutionary leader, who shows us that one woman has the power to potentially change the whole galaxy. She is not weakened by her love for a man, or reduced to a mere love interest—rather, he is strengthened by the many wise lessons that she teaches him.” – Kaila

Carrie Anne Moss as Jeri Hogarth on Netflix's "Jessica Jones"

Jeri Hogarth, Jessica Jones

“She’s an evil queer character who isn’t an “evil queer” character. She’s given all the selfishness and complexity we usually expect to see in male corporate power-mongers, as well as all the competence and badassery. She gets to be messy and human, and still have the show root for her, which I don’t often get to see with queer women be on-screen.” – Marykate

June Diane Raphael as Brianna Hanson on Netflix's "Gracie and Frankie"

Brianna Hanson, Grace and Frankie

“She is a bad-ass who learns to open herself up to love, while wearing a great pair of heels and a lot of sass.” – Princess

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Kelly in the "San Junipero" episode of "Black Mirror" on Netflix

Kelly, “San Junipero” episode of Black Mirror

“Not only was she just a cool human who vibrated with life (it was easy to see why Yorkie fell for her), but she was also a sensitive and accurate portrayal of a bisexual woman who would not let her previous marriage to a man be diminished just because she was now in love with a woman.” – Teresa

Ellie Kemper as Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix's "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

Kimmy Schmidt, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

“For a woman who has been in a bunker for 15 years, she seems to know a lot more about how the world ought to run. She’s uniquely feminist and unafraid to get what she wants. She knows how to be sweet and kind, but also strong and tough. I want to be her when I grow up.” – Daniella

Diane Nguyen on Netflix's "Bojack Horseman"

Diane Nguyen, Bojack Horseman

“Diane is far from perfect. She’s suffered from depression and exhibited some seriously self-destructive behavior, but she also stands up for what she believes in, no matter the consequences. She’s a dark, complicated character and we love her for it.” – Vivian

Who’s your favorite nuanced female character on Netflix? Share your picks below!

(image: screencap)

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Author
Image of Teresa Jusino
Teresa Jusino
Teresa Jusino (she/her) is a native New Yorker and a proud Puerto Rican, Jewish, bisexual woman with ADHD. She's been writing professionally since 2010 and was a former TMS assistant editor from 2015-18. Now, she's back as a contributing writer. When not writing about pop culture, she's writing screenplays and is the creator of your future favorite genre show. Teresa lives in L.A. with her brilliant wife. Her other great loves include: Star Trek, The Last of Us, anything by Brian K. Vaughan, and her Level 5 android Paladin named Lal.