Buzz
Since the dawn of television and cinema, women have frequently been sidelined in comedic roles. That’s not to say that funny women were absent – Lucille Ball’s brilliance is undeniable. However, consider this: How many dull, complaining wives and irritating sisters can you recall compared to the sharp-tongued, irreverent husbands, sons, or brothers?
Well, that’s changing. Today, we have plenty of female characters who are just as bad as their male counterparts when it comes to being rude, obnoxious, and downright awful people.
And honestly, I love it! And I’m sure you do too. So here’s a list of female characters from TV and film who are so ridiculously terrible that they’re impossible not to laugh at.
10. Heather Chandler
You’d have to be completely clueless not to see this one coming.
One of the three Heathers in the film Heathers, Heather Chandler (Kim Walker) is undoubtedly the most detestable of the trio. This is probably why she gets killed off about 20 minutes into the movie. However, during those brief moments, she makes a lasting impact, delivering some of the most memorable quotes from this iconic Winona Ryder and Christian Slater dark comedy.
When one of the Heathers makes herself vomit in the bathroom, she retorts, “Bulimia is so ’87.”
I’d probably have her drink drain cleaner too.
9. Sue Sylvester
Glee is packed with female anti-heroes. From Rachel sending a glee club member to a crack house to avoid losing a singing competition to Santana threatening to out a gay character, the cheerleaders of Glee are known as the Unholy Trinity for good reason.
But there’s barely a gym coach on TV who can rival Jane Lynch’s Sue Sylvester when it comes to humor. Sue cares about nothing except her own personal gain. Whether it’s physically attacking the coach of a rival glee club by pushing him down the stairs to steal his job or constantly berating fellow teachers and students, Sue is a force of chaos. She’s basically blackmailing her boss, the principal of McKinley High, and operates with total freedom. And she takes full advantage of it.
Sue falsely accuses a teacher of molestation, attempts to fire a student from a cannon to win a cheerleading competition, and, in one of the weirdest moments, locks two students in a fake elevator to force them to kiss. As if that’s not enough, she releases aphrodisiac drugs into the air to make them desire each other. That’s probably illegal, but wow, is it entertaining to watch.
And that’s how Sue sees it.
8. Jacqueline White
Some actresses just seem to have a role type that fits them perfectly, and for Jane Krakowski, it’s definitely the ‘mean lady’ persona.
In Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
One of the more bizarre storylines on the show centers around Jacqueline’s upbringing on a Native American reservation. She desperately tries to distance herself from her heritage, leading to some hilarious exchanges between her and her parents.
Her children are more like accessories to her than actual kids, and one episode revolves around her medicating her child to calm his hyperactivity and, well, his childishness. Despite her flaws, Jacqueline ultimately experiences growth throughout the show, dedicating her efforts toward changing the controversial name of the Washington Redskins to honor her roots.
7. Hannah Horvath
Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham) doesn’t set out to be a bad person or even a funny one. And yet, she perfectly nails both roles.
In HBO’s Girls, the lead character, Hannah—according to her close friend—could be described as “an entitled narcissist.” While not as openly cruel as some others on this list, her actions make it clear that she’s incredibly self-centered. As a writer, she seems to only focus on herself, even going so far as to take cocaine just so she can appear cooler when writing an article about her life.
From the very first scene of the show, we get a glimpse of Hannah’s hilarious obliviousness to the feelings of others as she begs her parents not to cut her off financially. Her mother explains that since she graduated three years ago and hasn’t held a job since, they want to push her into action. Hannah complains to her friends about how unfair they’re being.
6. Regina George
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more iconic teenage movie character than Regina George (Rachel McAdams). With her platinum blonde hair, micro-mini skirt, and razor-sharp wit, it’s no surprise she’s the Queen Bee in Mean Girls.
Many teen movies attempt to give their “mean girl” characters a backstory, explaining that their cruelty often stems from insecurity or fear. Regina George, however, receives no such backstory: She’s simply awful for the sake of being awful.
Mean Girls is filled with unforgettable lines, but Regina’s quotes stand out above the rest: “Get in loser, we’re going shopping” and “Stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen” are two that immediately come to mind. Both of these lines perfectly highlight Regina’s harsh tone, even toward her closest friends, while also demonstrating how sharp and ruthless—yet strangely funny—teen girls can be.
Maybe she really did deserve to be hit by that bus.
5. Lindsay Bluth
There isn’t a single member of the Bluth family on Arrested Development who isn’t terrible. Well, except George Michael—unless you count making out with your cousin as terrible. Which it kind of is... but not in a moral way.
Lindsay Bluth (Portia de Rossi) is the adopted daughter of George Sr. and Lucille Bluth, and was raised alongside Michael as if they were twins. Her primary flaw is her overwhelming self-centeredness, which leads her to neglect her daughter, Maeby. She is completely oblivious to Maeby's needs, often forgetting her age or even failing to pick her up from school. Lindsay's complicated relationship with her husband, whom she married to provoke her mother, further highlights her self-absorption.
Lindsay’s situation is somewhat unique because, despite her many shortcomings, she genuinely believes she’s acting in the right. Whenever confronted with her mistakes, she becomes visibly distressed, which makes her a bit more sympathetic. While she's far from an ideal mother or wife, her intentions—however misguided—set her apart from other, more malicious characters.
4. Jenna Maroney
Unlike most shows on this list, 30 Rock isn’t centered around a group of fundamentally bad people. While the cast and crew at 30 Rockefeller Center do some questionable things, the show generally encourages viewers to sympathize with them.
However, Jenna Maroney—played by Jane Krakowski—stands as an exception. Her character is self-absorbed and often oblivious to the damage she causes, making her one of the more irredeemable figures in the series.
This self-absorbed narcissist will do anything to stay in the spotlight. One of her most iconic moments comes when she finds a pregnancy test in the trash and exclaims, 'Oh no… someone’s going to get more attention than me!'
She’s not just a terrible friend, she’s an even worse colleague. But she does have one thing going for her—her performance skills. And she’ll go to extreme lengths to ensure she’s always the one in the limelight. In one episode, when she discovers that a co-star can sing, she hires someone to punch him in the throat. In another, she threatens to take her own life when people stop giving her attention.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think we’ve all had our Jenna moments.
3. Dee Reynolds
Kaitlin Olson’s portrayal of Dee Reynolds in *It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia* holds a special place in my heart. In the early episodes of the show, which premiered in 2005, Dee serves as the gang’s moral compass. As the only woman in the group, she stands out, especially when the men make racist comments about her Black friend in the very first episode.
She pleads with them to treat him with respect, but they do not. Among the offensive moments is when the white men use the 'n-word' just minutes into the scene. The show portrays these men as wild and despicable individuals, with Dee serving as the lone voice of reason. She maintains this role throughout the early episodes of the first season.
However, if you watch more recent episodes (yes, the show is still on the air!), you’ll observe that Dee has become just as bad as the boys, if not worse. Her recent escapades include tricking a stripper into exposing himself to her daughter, staging a fake funeral for a nonexistent baby, and getting her sober friend drunk purely out of boredom.
So, what changed between the first episode and these later ones? The answer is Kaitlyn Olson. It’s Always Sunny was created by the men who play the central three characters, and they’ve confessed that they initially struggled with writing female characters. Olson suggested they don’t create a female character, but rather a funny one. Thanks to her input, Dee ceased being the ‘voice of reason’ and instead became one of the funniest elements of this already hilarious show.
2. Selina Meyer
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss’s remarkable comedic talent is evident here, as she appears twice on this list with two different characters.
Veep, one of the sharpest political satires in recent years, features Louis-Dreyfuss as Selina Meyer, the Vice President of the United States. She embodies a more powerful version of Elaine Benes, but with far more influence.
Her ability to insult is unmatched. In one memorable scene, when informed that her team was attempting to use a presidential assistant for intelligence, she responds, 'That’s like trying to use a croissant as a dildo. It doesn’t work, and it makes a mess.'
Brutal.
Meyer's main concern is her own self-interest, even at the expense of the country. She’s willing to abandon her principles or betray her allies if it brings her closer to the White House.
A prime example of her ruthlessness is when she allows her loyal assistant, Gary, to take the fall. Gary, who is probably the closest thing she has to a friend, ends up going to prison to protect Meyer’s public image after a financial scandal involving the Meyer Fund.
1. Elaine Benes
Although she doesn’t make an appearance in the pilot episode, Elaine Benes from Seinfeld has become as iconic as her male counterparts.
In “the show about nothing,” Elaine stands as the only female character. This could be risky for a show made by men, but rest assured, Elaine is unbelievably funny. Her femininity and attractiveness are frequently part of the storyline, like in the episodes where she and Jerry have a fling, or when George develops a crush on her.
While she might not be the comedic focus in those specific episodes, there are many others where Julia Louis-Dreyfuss truly shines. Who could forget the time she stopped for candy on her way to visit her boyfriend in the ER, kidnapped a dog, or wrecked any small business that didn’t meet her exact expectations (poor Soup Nazi)?
And, of course, no dancing moment on television could ever be as unforgettable as her hilariously awful dancing.
