Women in horror: 13 best female characters on television

6. Lana Winters

Aside from Jessica Lange, one of the other most notable actresses from American Horror Story is easily Sarah Paulson. Her character, Lana Winters, from Asylum, is considered not only one of her best roles but one of the best characters in the entire series.

Considering the show is on its ninth season, that’s an impressive feat. Lana was forcefully committed to the asylum by Sister Jude after she made it clear she wanted to reveal to the world what horrors went on beyond the closed doors. Her story is as tragic as it is terrifying and strangely uplifting.

5. Vanessa Ives

Eva Green’s portrayal of the tormented Vanessa Ives on Showtime’s series Penny Dreadful is perhaps one of the most underrated in all of television. It’s truly a crime that she never won a Primetime Emmy Award for her fantastic performance on this show.

She put her heart and soul into the character and delivered several showstopping scenes for a character that was courted by everyone from Satan to Dracula himself.

4. Eleven

Eleven is the youngest character on this list and yet one of the fiercest. Millie Bobby Brown’s star-making turn as the young girl with telekinetic powers stole the show in season one of Netflix’s blockbuster hit, Stranger Things.

Since her debut in season one, her career has taken off, and yet her character remains the heart and soul of the iconic series. It simply wouldn’t be the same without her.