Top 5 TV

Since I never write stuff about TV even though I love it, I'm going to start doing these Top 5 TV posts on a non-specific day, at non-specific time intervals, just to make me happy and indulge my love of that most disrespected art form, the telly. I'm starting off with my Top 5 Red Haired Supporting Actresses...


Ever since Kate Winslet appeared in Titanic, I've harboured a secret (ok, not that secret) desire to have her exact hair in that film, lame as it may now be. It occurs to me, though, that the red-haired ladies are sorely lacking in starring roles, especially in TV-land. What's up guys?! Is there some kind of law that prevents red haired women being cast in lead roles, because TVs around the world with explode with an excess of awesomeness? That must be it, because the following women absolutely kill in their respective roles, and sometimes even overshadow their leading ladies. And, quite frankly, I'd pretty much watch Christina Hendricks do anything and be happy with it...

Top 5 Red Haired Supporting Actresses


1. Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris in Mad Men- I mean, I know technically Joan's a main character, but there was this whole time when she was hardly in it, and really, I'm going to say, Peggy is the leading female role on this show. I have a total girl crush on Christina Hendricks, but quite apart from that, I think she's a wonderful actress, and portrays in Joan a woman who is willing to do anything unconventional to get the conventional life that she dreams of. Also, is anyone else disturbed by the fact that her husband-to-be raped her, and yet this has never been mentioned again? Or is that just me?

2. Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenburg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer- I have been enjoying a total Buffy obsession of late, and (as well as fancying the pants of Giles whilst also considering how inappropriate that is) I've been finding the Willow love, especially through the development of her character which is considerably more than the growth of probably any other character (except maybe Spike). She's the perfect sidekick (the brains to Buffy's brawn) and I can't even express how much I love her and Tara's relationship (Tara's probably my actual favourite character in the entire programme. Except maybe Spike...) But yay, Willow! Now there's a character that would have done so well in a spin-off...

3. Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City- I do love Carrie and all (if we're ignoring the movies, which is always my aim in life) but I do feel like Miranda is so much more sensible and sorted than she is, as well as being totally sarcastic and dry and hilarious. I probably have the most consistent love for Miranda of the four women because she's the most awesome/least annoying of them all. Fun fact: Cynthia Nixon is actually blonde, but dyed her hair red to get more roles. I guess if she'd stayed blonde, she might have had a shot at a leading role though!

4. NiCole Robinson as Margaret Hooper in The West Wing- Yeah, I didn't know Margaret had a surname either. But there it is! Clearly the best of all the secretaries, I can only assume that Margaret has a less starring role than Donna because of her glorious red mane. She's very odd, which means she's very funny, and Leo and CJ both spar with her to great comic effect. Also, she basically runs the country, which, in my eyes=AWESOME.

5. Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica Hamby in True Blood- I think Jessica might technically count as a main character because this is a series that doesn't really have any, but she's not, let's just say, Sookie. What she is, though, is one of my very favourite characters in a TV show brimming with characters I love, and I think through her, they are really able to express the differences between humans and vampires as she learns them herself, as well as keeping her innate humanity. Also, she's hot.

Narrowly missing this list is Amy Pond from Doctor Who, basically because I can't call her a supporting actress (tentatively: she's the Doctor's sidekick, but only slightly less important than him. But sometimes more so). But she's pretty awesome too, as well as being another girl crush...
So, things we've all learnt today- I have a thing for red haired women! But enough about me, how about you? Can you think of any horribly overlooked (for leading roles) redheads? Or, alternatively, can you tell me about any redhaired leading ladies that I can't actually think of? I'll be waiting with baited breath...