Girl Power: Ten Powerful Black Women in Films and Television

From Olivia Pope to Cookie Lyon, these ladies kick butt.

Kerry Washington in Scandal - We're commemorating Women's History Month (March 1-31) by paying homage to some of the strongest, most complex, bada** icons portrayed in films and television. As Olivia Pope on Scandal, Kerry Washington plays the person most speed-dialed by D.C.'s power players when they're in trouble. The crisis fixer is calm under pressure and the most competent person in the Beltway — except when it comes to her personal life. Pope's relationship with President Grant is her Achille's Heel. (Photo: ABC)

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Kerry Washington in Scandal - We're commemorating Women's History Month (March 1-31) by paying homage to some of the strongest, most complex, bada** icons portrayed in films and television. As Olivia Pope on Scandal, Kerry Washington plays the person most speed-dialed by D.C.'s power players when they're in trouble. The crisis fixer is calm under pressure and the most competent person in the Beltway — except when it comes to her personal life. Pope's relationship with President Grant is her Achille's Heel. (Photo: ABC)

Eat the Cookie Face - Sure, we should be thanking Lee Daniels for creating Cookie or even Taraji P. Henson for bringing this TV diamond to life on Empire, but Cookie made watching music on TV fun again.Plus, she makes current record-label executives seem just a little less crazy in comparison. We're kidding, guys! Kinda...(Photo: Chuck Hodes/Fox)

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Taraji P. Henson in Empire - Taraji P. Henson's been a leading force in Hollywood for some time now, but the masses finally took notice when she starred as Cookie Lyon in Empire. The no-nonsense, unapologetically honest businesswoman is determined to get what's hers all while keeping her family intact and we love every bit of it.(Photo: Chuck Hodes/Fox)

Viola Davis in How to Get Away With Murder - As Annalise Keating in ABC's How to Get Away With Murder, Viola Davis tackles a role like never before and owns it to perfection. The high power attorney and professor is sexy, scandalous and vulnerable, thanks to the vision of Shonda Rhimes.(Photo: Craig Sjodin/ABC)

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Viola Davis in How to Get Away With Murder - As Annalise Keating in ABC's How to Get Away With Murder, Viola Davis tackles a role like never before and owns it to perfection. The high power attorney and professor is sexy, scandalous and vulnerable, thanks to the vision of Shonda Rhimes.(Photo: Craig Sjodin/ABC)

Photo By Photo: ABC/Craig Sjodin

Gabirlle Union in Being Mary Jane - Having all the material possessions and career successes in the world can only do so much. Just ask Mary Jane Paul in Being Mary Jane. Gabrielle Union perfectly portrays the complexities of balancing work, family and love on the BET original series, all while looking flawless. She proves that a luxury-laced life probably isn't the most practical thing to aspire to have.(Photo: Daniel McFadden/BET Networks)

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Gabirlle Union in Being Mary Jane - Having all the material possessions and career successes in the world can only do so much. Just ask Mary Jane Paul in Being Mary Jane. Gabrielle Union perfectly portrays the complexities of balancing work, family and love on the BET original series, all while looking flawless. She proves that a luxury-laced life probably isn't the most practical thing to aspire to have.(Photo: Daniel McFadden/BET Networks)

Halle Berry in X-Men - Who knew talking about the weather could be this interesting? As Ororo Monroe, a.k.a Storm, a Harlem-born, Cairo-raised daughter of Kenyan immigrants, Berry's character plays a superhero with a seemingly mundane power: controlling the weather. Anyone who has lived through a nor'easter or superstorm knows how potent that power can be.  (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Halle Berry in X-Men - Who knew talking about the weather could be this interesting? As Ororo Monroe, a.k.a Storm, a Harlem-born, Cairo-raised daughter of Kenyan immigrants, Berry's character plays a superhero with a seemingly mundane power: controlling the weather. Anyone who has lived through a nor'easter or superstorm knows how potent that power can be.  (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Pam Grier in Coffy - In 1973’s Coffy, Pam Grier played a nurse-turned-vigilante (or, according to the tagline, a “one-chick hit squad”), known as much for her killer moves as her killer curves. Coffy's ensembles, comprised mostly of hot pants and triangle bikini tops, could disarm any enemy. (Photo: American International Pictures)

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Pam Grier in Coffy - In 1973’s Coffy, Pam Grier played a nurse-turned-vigilante (or, according to the tagline, a “one-chick hit squad”), known as much for her killer moves as her killer curves. Coffy's ensembles, comprised mostly of hot pants and triangle bikini tops, could disarm any enemy. (Photo: American International Pictures)

Danai Gurira in The Walking Dead - The Zimbabwean-American actress plays one of the most terrifying and complex characters on television. As the survivalist Michonne on The Walking Dead, Gurira counts only on herself, her sword and her zombie pets to stay alive. (Photo: AMC)

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Danai Gurira in The Walking Dead - The Zimbabwean-American actress plays one of the most terrifying and complex characters on television. As the survivalist Michonne on The Walking Dead, Gurira counts only on herself, her sword and her zombie pets to stay alive. (Photo: AMC)

Angela Bassett in Strange Days - Set in the dystopian future of 1999, Strange Days is one of the few fantasy films to explicitly tackle issues of race, class and sex. Bassett, in one of her most celebrated — and underrated — roles, plays Mace, best friend and bodyguard to Black marketeer Ralph Fiennes and the voice of conscience in the film. (Photo: Lightstorm Entertainment)

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Angela Bassett in Strange Days - Set in the dystopian future of 1999, Strange Days is one of the few fantasy films to explicitly tackle issues of race, class and sex. Bassett, in one of her most celebrated — and underrated — roles, plays Mace, best friend and bodyguard to Black marketeer Ralph Fiennes and the voice of conscience in the film. (Photo: Lightstorm Entertainment)

Zoe Saldana in Star Trek - No stranger to playing tough chicks after films like Avatar and even the ballet drama Center Stage, Saldana's no-nonsense attitude really got to shine in the Star Trek franchise reboot. As Uhura, the Starship Enterprise's most competent lieutenant, Saldana was the perfect choice to take over Nichelle Nichols' iconic role. (Photo: Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions)

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Zoe Saldana in Star Trek - No stranger to playing tough chicks after films like Avatar and even the ballet drama Center Stage, Saldana's no-nonsense attitude really got to shine in the Star Trek franchise reboot. As Uhura, the Starship Enterprise's most competent lieutenant, Saldana was the perfect choice to take over Nichelle Nichols' iconic role. (Photo: Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions)

Jada Pinkett-Smith in The Matrix - "I love being badass," Jada Pinkett Smith declared when talking about her role as Niobe in the Matrix trilogy. The role of the ship captain in the films was specifically created for Pinkett Smith by the Wachowskis, who were equally impressed by her take-charge demeanor and impressive physical form.  (Photo: Warner Bros)

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Jada Pinkett-Smith in The Matrix - "I love being badass," Jada Pinkett Smith declared when talking about her role as Niobe in the Matrix trilogy. The role of the ship captain in the films was specifically created for Pinkett Smith by the Wachowskis, who were equally impressed by her take-charge demeanor and impressive physical form.  (Photo: Warner Bros)