Big-name women no longer hesitate when it comes to signing up for television shows, where parts richer than typical female movie characters await. Here are 12 roles showcasing powerful, complicated women.

Daenerys Targaryen

The actor: Emilia Clarke. The show: "Game of Thrones," returning 8 p.m. April 14, HBO. The character: She's a big favorite to wind up on the Iron Throne, thanks to her steely determination and bedside manner with dragons.

Selina Meyer

The actor: Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The show: "Veep," 9:30 p.m. Sundays, HBO. The character: Politics has never been so ugly or hilarious. If vulgarity and narcissism were selling points, Meyer would be president for life.

Eve Polastri

The actor: Sandra Oh. The show: "Killing Eve," 7 p.m. Sundays, BBC America and AMC. The character: This MI5 security operative may not be great with a knife, but cut in front of her in the buffet line at your own peril.

Ruth Wilder

The actor: Alison Brie. The show: "GLOW," Netflix. The character: Hulk Hogan has nothing on this plucky '80s wrestler who keeps proving to be a heavyweight inside and outside the ring.

Miriam "Midge" Maisel

The actor: Rachel Brosnahan. The show: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," Amazon Prime. The character: This promising stand-up comic may look demure on the outside, but sexist hecklers quickly learn she's no doormat.

Eleanor Shellstrop

The actor: Kristen Bell. The show: "The Good Place," nbc.com, Hulu, Netflix. The character: It's unclear whether purgatory's most radiant resident will end up in heaven or hell. Either way, she's forking amazing.

Sue Murphy

The actor: Laura Dern. The show: "F Is for Family," Netflix. The character: Hubby does most of the ranting in this '70s-set animated show, but steer clear of this desperate housewife when a corporation steals her invention.

Rosa Diaz

The actor: Stephanie Beatriz. The show: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," 8 p.m. Thursdays, KARE, Ch. 11. The character: Crime doesn't pay — and neither does disrespect — when this no-nonsense, intimidating detective is on the case.

Jessica Huang

The actor: Constance Wu. The show: "Fresh Off the Boat," 7 p.m. Fridays, KSTP, Ch. 5. The character: Mother knows best in this enduring sitcom — and anyone who disagrees is subjected to her steely glare. Or worse.

Sam Fox

The actor: Pamela Adlon. The show: "Better Things," 9 p.m. Thursdays, FX. The character: Her approach to parenting may not earn Emily Post's approval, but her three daughters are lucky to have her. So are we.

Cookie Lyon

The actor: Taraji P. Henson. The show: "Empire," 7 p.m. Wednesdays, KMSP, Ch. 9. The character: Prison did nothing to soften this record-label executive, a mashup of Berry Gordy, Alexis Carrington and Lady Macbeth.

Maeve Millay

The actor: Thandie Newton. The show: "Westworld," HBO Now. The character: She may be an android, but there's nothing mechanical about this brothel madam determined to lead her own #MeToo movement.

Sandra Oh stars in “Killing Eve.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Alison Brie in "GLOW." (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Rachel Brosnahan in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Kristen Bell in "The Good Place." (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Laura Dern voices Sue Murphy and Bill Burr voices Frank Murphy in “F Is for Family” on Netflix. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox on "Better Things." (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Taraji P. Henson as Cookie in “Empire.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Thandie Newton in “Westworld.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selena Meyer in "Veep." (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Stephanie Beatriz as Rosa Diaz in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat” stars Constance Wu as Jessica Huang. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Correction: Previous versions of this article misstated the channel for "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." The show airs on KARE, Ch. 11.

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.