Before making a name for herself within the entertainment industry, Shonda Rhimes did everything she needed to work her way up the ladder as a woman working in a predominantly male field. In college, she majored in English as well as film studies, and she directed and performed in small student productions. Then, she moved to Los Angeles to study screenwriting. She also worked for newspapers and advertisement companies before getting the behind-the-scenes experience. Finally, Rhimes was interning with some big names, and in 2005, she got the green light for a new medical drama entitled Grey’s Anatomy. After three successful years, Rhimes created a spinoff series, Private Practice. By 2014, Thursday nights on ABC was overrun by Rhimes’ TV shows.
What makes this woman stand out from the rest is her determination to feature strong women characters in her series. Much like herself, Rhimes likes her leading ladies to have a strong opinion on matters, and when faced with a challenge, they attack it head on. At times her characters can be frustratingly rebellious, but they typically have good reasons for their crazy actions.
Check out the best women characters in Shonda Rhimes’ TV shows, ranked.
10 Lady Danbury — Bridgerton
Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) may not have a lot of time on screen, but when she is present, she certainly knows how to command a room — just ask the Bridgerton brothers who were unable to escape her during the ball. While she knows how to play the game and mind her manners, she is also one of the most cut-throat women in Bridgerton.
Given that she does not have a husband or children (that we know of yet), all of her focus goes into assuring that her late best friend’s son, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), is successful in his endeavors. Overall, she is the matriarch every woman with a rebellious side wants to be around because she simply does not conform to what is expected of a lady of a certain status.
9 Eloise Bridgerton — Bridgerton
Middle children always have peculiar personalities, and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) doesn’t mind it at all. As the fifth child in a lineup of eight, Eloise is very different from her sisters. When they fawn over dresses and boys in Bridgerton, Eloise focuses on her studies. She admires Lady Whistledown’s charisma and bold stance as a woman who not only writes about the gossip in town, but also has it printed and distributed to everyone on her own dime.
Eloise wants to be her own person and have her voice heard rather than be told to look pretty for a husband and bore his future children. In the end, Eloise’s mother tells her that she would only ever be disappointed in her daughter if she started caring about what others think.
8 Amelia Shepherd — Private Practice / Grey’s Anatomy
Before Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) was made a regular on Grey’s Anatomy, fans got to see her rollercoaster-like lifestyle on Private Practice. Amelia came from a rough childhood: her father was killed in front of her, and she grew up in the shadow of her brilliant siblings. This led to her abusing substances as she got older.
After she woke up to her fiancée who had overdosed the night before, Amelia immediately flew to Seattle to get away from her old self, but things did not go smoothly. Amelia has had one of the biggest character arcs in either series due to the amount of self-hate and ridicule she had been through. However, she somehow has always manged to overcome it by being honest with herself.
7 Mellie Grant — Scandal
In Scandal, Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) had it all: her perfect husband, good children, and a comfortable life as the First Lady. However, after certain secrets were revealed, Mellie decided to take her future into her own hands. Instead of being the prim and proper wife, she openly voiced her opinion, while also knowing when to play the game and hold her tongue.
She eventually climbed the political ladder and became the first woman President of the United States. This title was not earned without some scandals and a lot of help from her staff, but overall, fans were proud of how far she had come as a rebellious woman who simply knew how to play a man’s game.
6 Addison Montgomery — Grey’s Anatomy / Private Practice
Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) started out in Grey’s Anatomy as the woman who ruined Meredith’s relationship with Derek. However, like Meredith, fans quickly grew to like the brilliant and funny OBGYN. After her divorce and a couple failed attempts at new relationships, Addie respectfully decided to drive down the West Coast to visit a friend at a private practice. What no one knew at the time was that she would choose to stay and gain her own spinoff in Los Angeles.
Though Addison has had her fair share of mistakes, she always owns up to them and tries to make things right. In Private Practice, fans were happy to see the feisty redhead get her happy ending when she adopts a baby and becomes the very thing she always wanted to be, a mother.
5 Catherine Fox — Grey’s Anatomy
When Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) first appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, fans were amused and giggling with how she treated her dearest baby boy, Avery (Jesse Williams). Then, as she grew into a larger part, it was clear that Catherine was not a force to be reckoned with. Not only is she brilliant and savvy when it comes to knowing how to run an entire foundation, but she is always so put together and matter-of fact when it comes to getting things done.
While she may not always be the most warm and welcoming person in the room, it is refreshing to see a woman with a take-charge attitude who helps guide everyone around her to do the right thing in their field.
4 Miranda Bailey — Grey’s Anatomy
Formerly known as “The Nazi” due to how tough she was on her interns, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is one of the fiercest women in Grey’s Anatomy. She does not accept excuses, she expects the best from the people around her, and she is a big believer in tough love. As a woman of color who was shy and is short, she makes it a point to be one of the biggest personalities in the room. She gets her point across to those who need to hear it, and she never backs down from a challenge—whether that be personal or professional.
Fans are excited to see what is in store for Dr. Bailey as she and Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) are the last two original cast members going into season 20 of Grey’s Anatomy.
3 Cristina Yang — Grey’s Anatomy
When Grey’s Anatomy fans first met Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), they knew they were in for a treat. Cristina is a machine — sometimes she is negatively referred to as an emotionless robot — but for the most part, that is a part of her charm. She withholds a lot of outward expressions and feelings just like Meredith, but when she feels like her friends and colleagues need a helping hand, Cristina is willing to pick them up with a sincere yet firm conversation.
Cristina has a couple noteworthy (and toxic) relationships, but her one true love is with surgery. In the end, we were sad to see Oh leave the show, but Cristina did have the best reason to leave Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
2 Annalise Keating — How to Get Away With Murder
Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) is one of the most complex women in How to Get Away with Murder and, for that matter, all of Shondaland. She essentially lives two conflicting lives: one where she is confident, sophisticated, and a bit terrifying, and the other where she is sentimental and cares about what others think.
For the most part, fans and people in her life only ever see the former personality. Annalise prides herself on how she can turn the tables in court, and she is always able to evade personal problems by spinning the narrative. She is a brilliant and respectable woman on the surface, but those around her should be hesitant due to her master manipulation.
1 Meredith Grey — Grey’s Anatomy
As Rhimes’ very first TV protagonist, Meredith Grey makes it to the top of the list as the best woman character in all of her shows. For nearly 20 years, fans have watched Meredith go from the girl who chased after a married man to an award-winning surgeon who doubles as a fantastic mother. Though her philosophy of everything having a bit of a gray area may land her in trouble, Meredith always does what she believes in right.
She is never afraid to voice her own opinion, and when people needed a helping yet tough hand, she is there to support their needs. Though Ellen Pompeo is happy to have been written out of her role, fans will forever cherish everything Meredith Grey ever taught them.