Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a stack of tough characters, from Faith to Willow to Spike to Giles (remember this episode?), but no one beats the original slayer herself. Sarah Michelle Gellar knew how to turn on the sass and athletic skill, eliminating evil threats left and right. Her late night excursions, full of dedication and sometimes disaster, showed generations of teenage girls that being strong mentally and physically is very important. The show also sought to eliminate the notion of damsels in distress, instead showing strong, independent women that can fight their own battles. Gellar initially auditioned for the role of Cordelia, but it was the show’s creator, Josh Whedon, who felt she would better suit the lead role, beating out Selma Blair and Katie Holmes for the part.
