Maggie Gyllenhaal Is Right: ‘Real Women’ Dominated TV This Year

3 minute read

After winning best actress in a mini-series for The Honorable Woman, Maggie Gyllenhaal said this in her Golden Globes speech: “I’ve noticed a lot of people talking about the wealth of roles for powerful women in television lately, and when I look around the room at the women who are in here and I think about the performances that I’ve watched this year, what I see actually are women who are sometimes powerful and sometimes not. Sometimes sexy, sometimes not. Sometimes honorable, sometimes not. And what I think is new is the wealth of roles for actual women in television and in film.”

She’s right. The women in her category were fortunate enough to play more than just ingénues, simple baddies or sex objects. Frances McDormand played a wholly unlikable and yet ultimately well-intentioned protagonist on Olive Kitteridge. Jessica Lange continued to play alternately wily, evil and sympathetic on her American Horror Story run. Allison Tolman could have been a simple “good guy” foil to Malvo in Fargo, but instead stood out as an imperfect but brave cop you might actually know (thankfully wearing boots instead of heels). And Frances O’Connor brought many dimensions to grief in The Missing.

Gyllenhaal’s character herself on The Honorable Woman was all but honorable. In trying to do the right thing for her family, Gyllenhaal made many ethically questionable choices. The show turned the “Can women have it all?” question up to full throttle, becoming not a show about power, but a show about deeply flawed love.

Her “real” women argument extends to other characters on TV like the women of Transparent, Julianna Margulies’ Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife or Ruth Wilson’s Alison Lockhart on The Affair, all of whom can be selfish, ruthless and stupid without turning into bland stereotypes.

Sure, lots of these female characters were powerful in the sense that they were defined by something other than their romantic interests — or even wielded influence in the Israel-Palestine conflict. But they also had moments of weakness: moments when they cried, when they thought about committing suicide, when they screwed up. They were real women, interesting women — and that’s even better than powerful women.

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MORE: Olive Kitteridge and Why “Likability” Is for Saps

Golden Globes 2015: Red Carpet Photos

NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals
Jessica Chastain arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015. Christopher Polk—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Anna Kendrick attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Salma Hayek Pinault attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
Jessica Chastain attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Jessica Chastain attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Emily Blunt arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin Clooney attend the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Amy Adams attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Eddie Redmayne attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Julianne Moore attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Tina Fey attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Amy Poehler attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Kevin Spacey attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Emma Stone attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Lorde attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.
Jeffrey Tambor attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Quvenzhane Wallis attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Lena Dunham arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Red Carpet Arrivals
Adrian Grenier arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Christopher Polk—NBC/Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Julia Louis-Dreyfus arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Allison Williams attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Keira Knightley arrives to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Patti Smith attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
James Corden attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Bill Hader attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Diane Kruger attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Kate Mara attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Lana Del Rey attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
NBC's "72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards" - Arrivals
Kit Harington arrives at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Giuliana Rancic attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jeff Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Pedro Pascal attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Conchita Wurst attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Kelly Osbourne attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 11: 72nd ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured: (l-r) arrive to the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2015. (Photo by: Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)
Naomi Watts attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Kevork Djansezian—NBC/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Gina Rodriguez attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Katherine Heigl attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Uzo Aduba attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Frazer Harrison—Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Felicity Jones attends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Steve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Reese Witherspoon ttends the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Calif.Jason Merritt—Getty Images

 

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