The 23 Most Iconic Female TV Characters Of All Time

From tough-talking detectives to funny and relatable housewives, these women captured our hearts and minds and have become cultural touchstones for generations of viewers.

#23: Monica Geller

Played by Courteney Cox on Friends

#22: Sansa Stark

Played by Sophie Turner on Game of Thrones

#21: Jennifer “JJ” Jareau

Played by A. J. Cook on Criminal Minds

#20: Phoebe Buffay

Played by Lisa Kudrow on Friends

#19: Eleven

Played by Millie Bobby Brown on Stranger Things

#18: Lucy Ricardo

Played by Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy

#17: Temperance “Bones” Brennan

Played by Emily Deschanel on Bones

#16: Rose Nylund

Played by Betty White on The Golden Girls

#15: Dana Scully

Played by Gillian Anderson on The X-Files

#14: Wednesday Addams

Played by Lisa Loring on The Addams Family

#13: Abby Sciuto

Played by Pauley Perrette on NCIS

#12: Sophia Petrillo

Played by Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls

#11: Willow Rosenberg

Played by Alyson Hannigan on Buffy The Vampire Slayer

#10: Olivia Benson

Played by Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

#9: Michonne

Played by Danai Gurira on The Walking Dead

#8: Olenna Tyrell

Played by Dame Diana Rigg on Game of Thrones

#7: Xena

Played by Lucy Lawless on Xena: Warrior Princess

#6: Wonder Woman

Played by Lynda Carter on Wonder Woman

#5: Brienne of Tarth

Played by Gwendoline Christie on Game of Thrones

#4: Morticia Addams

Played by Carolyn Jones on The Addams Family

#3: Daenerys Targaryen

Played by Emilia Clarke on Game of Thrones

#2: Buffy Summers

Played by Sarah Michelle Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

#1: Arya Stark

Played by Maisie Williams on Game of Thrones

Source: www.ranker.com