Top 10 Most Empowering Women on TV Today

When Tina Fey accepted Emmys for both acting in and writing her sitcom "30 Rock" last Fall, it wasn't just a personal achievement. This was a coming-of-age moment for the New TV Woman, embodied by her character, Liz Lemon. Strong, talented, self-assured, and absolutely central to their shows, these characters are no one's second fiddle. Some actresses have said there's never been a better time to be a woman on TV, and even veteran movie stars, like Glenn Close and Holly Hunter, are choosing to grace the small screen. So it's high time we paid homage to the most empowering women characters on TV today.

Our criteria? We decided that a character must have strong faith in something important to her; she must have overcome or be struggling with hardships that make her a better woman; and she must empower or inspire viewers by the example of her own character. The decisions weren't easy, so check out these women who made the list.

Betty Suarez

Played by America Ferrera on ABC's "Ugly Betty"

Like Betty Suarez, I used to be an executive assistant. And like Betty, I spent more time working on my boss's personal errands than I ever did on business-related tasks. In the hands of the wrong actress, Betty could have been just another woman who helps out a man in his time of need. Instead, as portrayed by America Ferrera, Betty is the smart, strong, and ambitious girl next door. Her boss--and many others--has realized Betty's true potential, and it's safe to say that she won't be an assistant for long. There are times at work where I catch myself thinking, "What would Betty do?" The answer? Take even the smallest project and shine.

--Lilit Marcus

Kate Austen

Played by Evangeline Lilly on ABC's "Lost"

Imagine you're on a flight from Australia to L.A. Halfway there, somewhere way above the ocean, the plane breaks apart and hurls you and your fellow passengers onto a seemingly deserted island. Most of us would fall apart. Kate Austen, however, thrived. On this mysterious island, she hunts for food, chops down trees, and fights alongside the boys. Instead of panicking, she takes charge. Kate (the brilliant Evangeline Lilly) is a take-no-prisoners woman who, despite her imperfections, manages to kick butt. She inspires me to always take charge in situations, even when it's easier to let someone else tell me what to do.

--Lilit Marcus

Claire Bennett

Played by Hayden Panettiere on NBC's "Heroes"

It's hard to be 17. It's even harder to be 17 and have exceptional powers, especially when those powers put you in the crosshairs of a mass murderer. On the hit show "Heroes," Claire Bennett (a dead-on Hayden Panettiere) is one of a group of people all over the world who discover they have unique abilities they cannot explain--in her case, it's the ability to heal almost immediately. Those abilities have endangered her life on multiple occasions and taken her away from her own family, who sacrificed themselves to protect her. Claire may still be a teenager, but her maturity and bravery are an inspiration to women twice her age.

--Lilit Marcus

Lisa Simpson

Voiced by Yeardley Smith on FOX's "The Simpsons"

Lisa Simpson, the eternal eight-year-old girl, has always felt more deeply and thought more intellectually than her peers. Misunderstood by her schoolmates and her own family, Lisa forges her own path. She becomes a vegetarian, refuses to throw the national spelling bee, and always stands up for her principles, even when everyone around her says she is crazy. Because I came of age in the 1990s, I got to grow up alongside Lisa. I aspired to be a feminist, like Lisa, even before I knew what a feminist was. And even though I was never musically inclined, she made me--and millions of other little girls--want to play the saxophone. I may have moved beyond eight years old, but thankfully, Lisa has stayed the same.

--Lilit Marcus

Liz Lemon

Played by Tina Fey on NBC's "30 Rock"

Tina Fey was the first-ever female head writer on "Saturday Night Live," so it's clear where she got the inspiration for her character, Liz Lemon, on the sitcom "30 Rock." Like Fey, Lemon is the head writer for a comedy-sketch show. She's also the straight woman to a host of eccentric characters, from Tracy Morgan as the histrionic new star of the show, to Alec Baldwin as the pompous network executive who tries to boss her around. It's refreshing to see a woman in her 30s on TV who is single but not obsessed with finding a man. She's working at her dream job and involved in her friends' lives without forgetting about her own. If only I could say the same for myself.

--Lilit Marcus

Barbara Dutton Henrickson

Played by Jeanne Tripplehorn on HBO's "Big Love"

Being the first wife in a polygamous Mormon family has never been easy for Barbara Dutton Henrickson, but she takes a controversial situation and tries to make it work for everyone. In "Big Love," Barb (the fabulous Jeanne Tripplehorn) wears many hats as a wife who was her husband's sole mate for 10 years before agreeing to his taking on additional wives for a stronger family. She yearns for a higher profile in the community and has her own struggles with living in a big, joint family, but ultimately she believes in her faith and is willing to share her husband, in hopes of creating a solid, if nontraditional, family unit. I wouldn't want to be in a polygamous situation myself, but I admire her commitment to her family--her entire family.

--Dilshad D. Ali

Brenda Leigh Johnson

Played by Kyra Sedgwick on TNT's "The Closer"

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more fascinating, powerful female character on television today then Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a former Atlanta detective brought to Los Angles to crack high-profile cases. Kyra Sedgwick embodies Brenda perfectly, with a southern charm that masks a razor-sharp intellect and uncanny ability to reveal suspects' secrets and obtain confessions. Don't mess with Brenda. She will lock horns with anyone who gets in the way of her pursuit of justice. And sometimes she's so bull-headed that it ends up jeopardizing her own investigations. But that's what makes Brenda so human and so good at what she does.

--Dilshad D. Ali

More Women to Watch

We certainly couldn't fit every empowering female television character in this gallery. And with a whole slew of new shows coming out this fall, there will be more great women to watch out for. So here are some to keep your eye on as we get into the fall season. Some are newcomers; some are back for a second season. All are worth watching.

Glenn Close as Patty Hughes in FX's "Damages": This powerful litigator tries high-profile cases in New York. But how far will she go to win?

Angie Harmon as Lt. Lindsay Boxer in ABC's "Women's Murder Club": To circumvent the old boys' club, this detective assembles a cadre of women to help her solve homicides.

Sally Fields as Nora Walker in ABC's "Brothers and Sisters": Now in its second season, Fields won an Emmy for her portrayal of the powerful matriarch holding her family together.

Connie Britton as Tami Taylor in NBC's "Friday Night Lights": This show, with its huge fan base, was finally awarded a second season. Watch for Britton to steal more scenes as the football coach's wife.