This year gave us a lot of TV. And what’s the best part? We got to enjoy our favorite female characters! The ones who stayed with us and whom we love for their bravery. And if you want to know who they are, we’ve got your back! Here’s the list of our favorite female characters of 2025.
Ruby Bell — Maxton Hall: The World Between Us
From the moment we got hooked on Maxton Hall: A World Between Us, we knew Ruby had to be on our list of favorite female characters. Ruby went through hell in Season 2, and we’re proud of her. We love the way she always fights for her dreams, the way her ambition and vulnerability blend perfectly. The way she, even though she loves James with all her heart, sets boundaries so he understands that it’s not her responsibility to make him happy.
They’re either together as equals or they’re not together at all. And only when James shows her that he’s determined to do just that, when he shows her everything he is, including his most painful parts, does Ruby allow herself to give him another chance. Ruby isn’t the typical lead who’s blinded by love and, in its name, allows everything. She sets boundaries to avoid losing herself. And she also fights for what she wants, even if the world is against her, whether it’s going to Oxford or having a relationship with James Beaufort. That’s why we’re sure Ruby will manage to overcome Elaine and Mortimer’s latest trap.
Belly Conklin — The Summer I Turned Pretty
We can’t deny that we had our issues with Belly in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3. She shut down, buried parts of herself just to please Jeremiah and conform to him. She even pretended that his infidelity wasn’t a big deal. And she refused to accept her true feelings and continued to deceive herself until everything exploded in the worst way. In short, Belly lost herself to Jeremiah. But after all that, she was strong enough to realize it.
Belly was strong enough to see the love of her life at the airport and not run towards him because she knew it wasn’t the right time. That was her time. It was time to find out who Belly really was. Belly was brave enough to go to Paris, leaving everything behind, and stay, even when it would have been easier not to. And finally, she was brave enough to embrace Conrad, her true love, and everything she felt for him, without doubts, without questioning, without limits. That’s why she had to be on this list.
Aunt Gladys — Weapons
While some of horror’s best characters are innocent final girls, Weapons flipped the script, ensuring everyone who left the theater knew the name Aunt Gladys. Amy Madigan’s campy, brightly dressed villain can turn heads in any room. Yes, she’s flamboyant, but she’s also utterly unsettling, and it’s this wonderfully bizarre juxtaposition that’s made her so iconic. Gladys is for the girls, the gays, and anyone who appreciates a unique, female antagonist among horror’s mostly male line-up of villains. And, honestly, her ambiguous backstory only makes her more intriguing.
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Lucy Chen — The Rookie
Lucy’s the kind of character who sneaks up on you. The Rookie Season 7 gave her some tough turns, but she faced every single one. Lucy managed to rise through the ranks and get through her breakup with Tim without breaking herself. Chenford will be back in 2026 for sure, but in the meantime, Lucy set her boundaries even though she’s madly in love with Tim. She’s brave, sharp, and she’s real. Watching her this year felt like watching someone step fully into who they’re meant to be. And we love it!
Claire Fraser — Outlander
Claire faced a lot in Outlander Season 7, especially in the final episodes. As the war raged on, she tried to keep her family together and safe, while also trying to avoid being separated from Jamie and lost him forever. But the hardest thing for her to accept was that her daughter Faith was alive—or at least, was—after what happen in Paris. Claire managed to protect her family above all else and not lose the love of her life. So she earned a place on this list.
Wednesday Addams — Wednesday
Wednesday came back this season and immediately dominates a scene. She’s that girl. But the best part is how she’s always willing to do anything to save those she loves, like Enid, It, or her family. Even Tyler—she let him go, right?. Wednesday Season 2 leaned deeper into her humor and her sharp worldview. Wednesday is weird, and she knows she’s weird, and she refuses to exist any other way. And honestly? We all wish we had even half her confidence when dealing with people who test our patience.
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Carol Pierce — Brilliant Minds
Carol had to overcome several challenges in Brilliant Minds Season 2. Her divorce was one of them. Carol thought her marriage was forever, and it’s not easy to pick up the pieces when everything falls apart. She also lost her job and almost lost her license. But she came back stronger than ever! Carol fought tooth and nail for what was hers, for what was right. And that’s why we love her. And also we like that she’s giving herself the chance to love again.
Ellie — The Last of Us
Ellie’s journey in HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 was rough and gripping in a way that stays with you long after the episodes end. There’s a weight to her now—not dragging her down, just shaping her—and watching her push back against every impossible situation thrown her way was awesome. She had to watch her father die. And her rage, her pain, turned into vengeance…but she also found love with Dina and learned what it means to build a family…and what you’re willing to risk for it. Ellie survives, fights, and keeps going. That’s why she’s on this list.
Emily Cooper — Emily in Paris
Emily will return in season 5 of Emily in Paris—or was it Rome?—to remind us that life and love always move forward, even in spite of ourselves. And we loved every second. The new episodes of the show will put her through new disasters — some self-inflicted, some… very new — and she will handled all of it with her optimism and her love for all those who earned a place in her heart. And we have to confess that our day becomes more fun when Emily sprinting across the screen trying to fix something she accidentally broke five minutes earlier.
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Annabeth Chase – Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Annabeth showed up in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 like she had no time for nonsense — and we love it! We love her. She’s sharp, loyal, and has this thing that makes you instantly pay attention, even when she’s just raising an eyebrow at Percy because he’s being… well, Percy. And their slow burn? One of the best ships of 2025, we swear! The new batch of episodes gave Annabeth bigger challenges and questions about who she is and who she wants to be. And we root for her.
