WINNER: ELISABETH MOSS, MAD MEN, AMC

Seeking nominations for CableFAX’s Most Powerful Women in Cable edition, our Steve Goldstein wrote, "For those of you with short memories — or relatively recent birth dates — it wasn’t too long ago that women in the workplace were relegated solely to low-paying, subservient roles. This is practically the dominant theme of AMC’s Mad Men. For those of you who are watching carefully, the hero’s journey that forms the spine of that fine series is Peggy Olson’s, not Don Draper’s." While you might argue with Goldstein’s thesis, it’s inescapable that Peggy, played with understated energy by Elisabeth Moss, is an intriguing character. The key is Moss’ ability to imbue Peggy with a quality that lets us fear and admire her, a dynamo lurking behind sparkling eyes and an unfashionable outfit. Underneath that calm exterior burns a passionate woman. We can’t wait for Moss to tackle that side of Peggy.

Fast Fact

  • Moss is best known for portraying Zoe, the president’s daughter, on NBC’s The West Wing for seven seasons.

 

Honorable Mentions:

Glenn Close, Damages, FX: Pardon the gender miscue, but nobody plays a bad guy better than this lady. Her Damages character, lawyer Patty Hewes, would demand more proof. Obviously it’s her Oscar-nominated role in Fatal Attraction.

Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad, AMC: Gunn’s gained raves as Skyler, a patient and beautiful wife, but her impressive credits belie the fact that she’s barely 40. It helps that Gunn landed her first stage gig before she graduated from college.

Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica, Syfy: No pressure, but not only does McDonnell portray the president, her chief executive’s battling breast cancer. Oh, and her government is in exile.

Anna Paquin, True Blood, HBO: Paquin’s gig, starring as a vampire-loving waitress, has netted her fame and Stephen Moyer, her beau on- and off-screen.

Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy, FX: The versatile Sagal hit it big as Peg Bundy on Married…with Children and now plays a sexy older woman who supports neo-fascist bikers. Want more versatility? She sang backup for Dylan.

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