15+ Actresses That Played Iconic Female Characters And 100% Carried The Whole Show

Some TV characters do not just support a show, they practically become the reason people keep watching. That is especially true when a sharp, chaotic, or unforgettable woman steals every scene she is in.

This roundup looks at actresses who played iconic female characters that viewers felt carried their shows, from teen dramas to long-running network hits. The picks come from BuzzFeed community reactions, and the common thread is simple: these women made their series impossible to ignore.

From fan favorites to scene-stealers, the list has plenty of familiar names and a few surprises. Read on.

1. Yael Grobglas as Petra in Jane the Virgin

"I love Jane, but Petra is just in a league of her own." —i_love_sex_and_chicken_nuggetsScott Everett White / The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection

2. Janel Parrish as Mona Vanderwaal in Pretty Little Liars

"She became such an interesting character to watch and was the only good aspect in the later seasons." —toastedbagelsDanny Feld / ABC Family / Courtesy Everett Collection

3. Holland Roden as Lydia Martin in Teen Wolf

"She was so brave and learned to become an independent woman who didn't need a man to make her whole. And she's a badass banshee who could kill anyone with her voice." —doseofdivineeeMTV

4. Lana Parrilla as Regina Mills in Once Upon a Time

"Regina needs a back massage from carrying Once Upon a Time for seven years. She was literally everything to the show and the fans." —galindafiedtwirler"Regina's evolution was what kept me there. I wish Lana [Parrilla] would get more work. She was amazing!" —tkgmABC

5. Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU

"She’s the only character who’s been there from the beginning and is still kicking ass over 20 years later! Her character has grown and developed so much throughout the years, from being a new detective to becoming a CAPTAIN this last season! I love how unapologetic she is and how she never takes any shit from men who try to bring her down. She also always fights for the victims on the show and battles the patriarchy every day. She’s a total badass, and I really don’t think the show would have lasted this long if it weren't for her character." —strawberrylumps22Will Hart / NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

6. Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things

"She was always so strong in the face of danger and saved all her friends multiple times." —eleven_11Netflix/ Courtesy Everett Collection

7. Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

"Obv she’s the main character, but so often we get tired of watching the main struggle through situations they’ve usually brought onto themselves. Not with Buffy. Whether she was a superficial, flighty teenager in the earlier seasons or battle-hardened General Buffy in the last season, we watched her learn, grow, and fight — and we never got bored!" —leighg492d3918e20th Century Fox/ Courtesy Everett Collection

Also worth reading: why Boy Meets World costume rules kept Danielle Fishel from showing her arms in the last season.

8. Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz in Riverdale

"Toni is the only reason I watch Riverdale anymore. Like, I cannot stress this enough. Toni deserves more love!!" —lov3li3sBettina Strauss / The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection

9. Kat Graham as Bonnie Bennett in The Vampire Diaries

"She was CONSTANTLY saving Elena, Damon, Jeremy, et al., and she didn’t even get a happy ending." —bobbobbingtonThe CW

10. Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision (and carrying the whole MCU)

"Breaking news: Wanda Maximoff hospitalized after carrying the entire MCU on her back." —mellowchef32Disney

11. Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones in Sex and the City

"She has the largest character arc of all the women in the show. She is confident, sexy, funny, and successful. She is a truly good friend to those women. She is who Carrie goes to when she is having an affair with Big. She is who comes to Miranda’s aid when Miranda is struggling as a new mom. She and Charlotte bump heads the most, but they are truly friends and bring out the best in one another." —khjakubecHBO

12. Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton in Bridgerton

"Eloise CARRIED Bridgerton. She was easily the funniest, wittiest, most entertaining character on the show. Don’t get me wrong, I love (most of) the other characters, but if you took Eloise out of the show, it wouldn’t be anywhere near as good." —shannonmcc230Liam Daniel / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

13. Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey in Grey's Anatomy

"She carried that whole damn hospital. She gets the job done and doesn’t take bullshit from anybody." —rachelsg1210ABC

14. Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester in Glee

"Boy, Sue's back must hurt from carrying the show for so long. Her tough attitude and hatred for the Glee club were brilliant. Her soft spot for Becky added some complexity to her character. Overall, Sue Sylvester probably singlehandedly managed to keep Glee on for six seasons." —jwedek5352"Without her, it would just be Rachel whining about not having enough solos, but Sue made it interesting." —seemssuspiciousMichael Yarish / Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

15. Viola Davis as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder

"Annalise 100% carried the show." —veritydaniels"The number of times I swore I wouldn't come back to the show with all its hijinks, only to return because Annalise KILLS it." —christiancanovargasABC

16. Priyanka Chopra as Alex Parrish in Quantico

"The rest of the cast was great, but she was what gave the show life." —shelleynicolePhillippe Bosse / ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

17. Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore in Gilmore Girls

"She had the best storyline (except for the seventh season). And when Rory's personality completely changed, she just stayed exactly the same. She also had the best jokes and one-liners." —copperboomgigiWarner Bros.

The main character or not, these women definitely spiced up their respective shows to a significant level, and if it weren't for them, we honestly aren't sure if the shows would have had as much success as they do now. Because let's face it, a lot of people seem to continue these shows only because they always anticipate every scene with these female characters!

Do you agree with the list? Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

Want more on Hollywood drama? See how Kaley Cuoco handled a tense “Charmed” moment with an A-list actress who overlooked her.