There are some excellent women in crime dramas on our screens right now. It’s time to look at some of the most inspirational ones as we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025.
This is a day to celebrate all types of women. You see, the most inspirational ones aren’t the ones that kick down doors all the time. They can be the ones who are emotionally available to help their colleagues, or they can be the ones who use their brains more than their brawn.
We’re looking across the networks and the streamers. Here are the five women we find most inspirational right now.
Neagley from Reacher (and the upcoming Neagley)
Let’s start with a woman who is about to get her own show. Maria Sten has taken on the role of Frances Neagley in the world of Reacher on Prime Video, and she quickly proved why she is the one her former boss calls on when he needs help. She popped up in the first season to aid with Reacher’s search for his brother’s killer, and then she and the whole former unit found themselves in trouble and worked together to solve the crime.
Neagley knows her worth. She is smart and level-headed, but she is also able to kick some butt when needed. This is a woman who will look for the smarter ways of doing things, and she even has a company of her own to help keep people safe. We can’t wait to see what she can do when she runs the show in Neagley.
Olivia Benson from Law & Order: SVU
We cannot have this list without Olivia Benson. Throughout 26 seasons of Law & Order: SVU, she has shown her compassion for the victims of serious and traumatic crimes, while also fighting her way to get the bad guy. She is someone who will always listen, and she is not willing to rest until the job is done. Even when she is beaten down, she will get right back up again.
It is never easy to see horrific crimes. Benson deals with them on a daily basis, and she hasn’t let the seriousness of the assaults break her down. She is able to separate her life from her job, keeping the compassion needed for those around her.
Morgan Gillory from High Potential
One of the newest women in crime dramas is Morgan Gillory. She is a woman who doesn’t go in with fists swinging. She isn’t even an actual cop, and that’s what makes her so great. She’s a consultant for the LAPD Major Crimes Unit, as she works hard on figuring out the toughest of cases.
Morgan has a high IQ. She remembers things that nobody else would manage, and once her brain latches onto something, she cannot stop thinking about it. This does mean some issues in her personal life, but when it comes to her finding a person or solving a murder, she is the woman you want on the case. She does it all while being a single mom and finally hoping to get closure on a case from 15 years ago.
Lacey Quinn from Found
Now, I know a lot of people would put Gabi Mosely on this list, but I’m opting for Lacey Quinn. She is a woman who has been to hell and back, and she consistently comes out stronger and more compassionate. After the second time being taken by Sir, she could have easily shut down and found a way to protect her safety. Instead, she put the focus back on saving other people who had been taken.
She is also a woman full of love. While she was initially hurt by Gabi’s secrets, she figured out why Gabi did what she did. She can see an argument from the other side, and that’s not a skill a lot of people have in general. It allows her to empathize while also remaining strong and opinionated when the time calls for it.
Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds
Not all women who work in law enforcement want to get their hands dirty. They didn’t sign up to go in and actually save the day with their fighting and gun skills. Some of them do it from behind a desk, in a room that would seem like a prison to others. Penelope Garcia is one of those women, who loves her room full of computers where she can put her brains to the test to take down the bad guys.
In fact, Penelope hates some of the photos that she sees of the victims. This wouldn’t have been a job she chose willingly, but she has made it work, and the amount of compassion she has for finding the killer for the victims’ sakes keeps her going. Plus, she helps to keep the mood light even in the darkest of times. Everyone needs a Garcia!
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