Some of the most memorable characters are the ones who challenge our expectations of what a leader should look like. Hannah Waddingham’s “Ted Lasso” character, Rebecca Welton, leads AFC Richmond with confidence, ambition, and vulnerability, showing that women in leadership can be powerful without fitting into a single mold.
Our research shows that women on screen remain less likely to be portrayed in positions of power, which makes characters who challenge traditional ideas of leadership matter more. The more we see multidimensional women in charge, the more female leadership becomes the norm, not the exception.
Our report with Plan International looked at 56 top-grossing films in 20 countries and found that 42% of male characters, but just 27% of female characters, are shown as leaders. Read Rewrite Her Story for what that teaches girls about leading.