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Though the U.S. is often propped up as a model of democracy and progressivism, countries from Brazil, Switzerland, the Philippines, Haiti—and even fictional worlds like the ones of the Hunger Games and Narnia—all elected women leaders long before Americans could cast a ballot for the first female nominee of a major political party.
We know representation matters; it affects our cultural psyche, self-esteem, and imagination. Before we (hopefully) join the rest of the world in electing a woman leader, Complex examined every representation of women presidents in American pop culture:
1953: Ernestine Barrier as Madam President in 'Project Moonbase'
The science-fiction genre is a hotbed of women presidents largely implemented as props to emphasize the world's unbelievable futurism. The 1953 black-and-white film Project Moonbase (sometimes seen as Project Moon Base) is about America's mission to colonize the moon, and was unusual in its time for its portrayal of "realistic" space travel and its depiction of women in positions of authority.
1964: Polly Bergen as President Leslie McCloud in ‘Kisses for My President’
Kisses for My President is a "comedy" about Leslie McCloud (played by Polly Bergen) making history as the first elected woman POTUS. The plot is painfully sexist; McCloud is soon made to see the "selfishness" in pursuing her career, gets pregnant, and resigns to become a full-time housewife.
1985: Patty Duke as President Julia Mansfield in ‘Hail to the Chief’
Hail to the Chief was a short-lived sitcom starring Patty Duke as the Vice President who lands the presidency in the pilot episode. The show largely portrayed President Mansfield as trying to balance her presidential duties with her motherly ones, wrangling her womanizing husband and rebellious kids.
1990: Joan Rivers as President Rivers in ‘Les Patterson Saves the World’
Les Patterson Saves the World is a comedy about fat, middle-aged drunkard Les Patterson (played by Barry Humphries) getting into trouble as an Australian representative at the UN. (His fart literally incinerates an Arab ambassador.) Joan Rivers plays the president in a bit role without many lines.
1996: Natalie Portman as First Daughter and later President Taffy Dale in ‘Mars Attacks!’
First daughter Taffy Dale ascends to the presidency after the entire government was obliterated by aliens.
1998: Christina Applegate as President Diane Steen in ‘Mafia!’
Mafia! is a spoof on the Godfather series, and Applegate's character Diane Steen is a play on Diane Keaton's Kay. Steen, "that Protestant chick who never killed anyone," nearly achieves world peace as POTUS, but drops her duties to marry her mafia boo.
2000: Yeardley Smith as President Lisa Simpson in ‘The Simpsons’
President Lisa Simpson made her debut in "Bart To the Future," an alternate reality where an older Lisa inherits the Commander in Chief role after The Donald’s reign: “As you know, we’ve inherited quite a budget crunch from President Trump.”
Younger Lisa is known for her intelligence, compassion, and judgment, and as POTUS, she attempted to invest money in "the world's largest book mobile," but Trump's looming deficit throws a wrench in her plans.
2001: Sally Champlin as President in 'Perfect Lover'
Perfect Lover is another sci-fi film using a woman president to make heavy-handed commentary about gender. The movie is literally about a designer looking for the perfect woman robot for sex.
2001: Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor in '24'
Allison Taylor was a U.S. Senator who went on to beat her incumbent in the race for POTUS. In the 24 universe, she was the first woman president, and comes off as courageous and resilient. Cherry Jones won an Emmy in 2009 for her portrayal.
2004: Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin in 'Battlestar Galactica'
Laura Roslin is President of the "Twelve Colonies," battling both breast cancer and the evil cybernetic civilization of cylons. Roslin is a (rare) mix of legitimately good presidential qualities and moral complexities.
2005: Geena Davis as President Mackenzie Allen in 'Commander in Chief'
Commander In Chief follows Mackenzie Allen's rise from VP to POTUS after the sitting president's death. Despite naysayers, she steps up to the challenge and excels as a leader.
2005: Patricia Wettig as President Caroline Reynolds in 'Prison Break'
Caroline Reynolds is introduced as an antagonist, ultimately revealed to be the Vice President of the U.S. She's a corrupt politician determined to win the presidency by any means, including murder. She later earns the role when the sitting president is assassinated.
2008: Mimi Kuzyk as President Sally Sheridan in 'XIII: The Conspiracy'
President Sally Sheridan becomes the first woman president in the XIII world, but her tenure is cut short when she's assassinated. She was only in two episodes.
2012: Stephanie Paul as President in 'Iron Sky'
Iron Sky is a comedic sci-fi about a group of Nazi Germans who fled to the moon after being defeated in 1945. Again, the woman president is mostly a pawn in other people's schemes and not particularly efficient at executing her own. The movie is loaded with clumsy attempts at symbolism (the nuclear missile is named George W. Bush) including the "futurism" of women leaders.
2012: Kate Burton as Acting President Sally Langston in 'Scandal'
Sally Langston steps up to the challenge of acting president when the sitting president was shot. Unlike her male predecessor, Langston is willing to put her personal desires aside to do what's best for the country. She also has a knack for keeping her nose clean.
2014: Tea Leoni as Acting President Elizabeth A. McCord in 'Madam Secretary'
Elizabeth McCord spent 20 years as a CIA analyst before becoming a political science professor; she eventually becomes Secretary of State after her predecessor dies in a plane crash. McCord is sworn in as the acting president for a few hours when the sitting president has a series of mini-strokes.
2014: Alfre Woodard as President Constance Payton in 'State of Affairs'
Constance Payton was a California Senator and served in the Air Force during the first Gulf War. In State of Affairs, she becomes the first black female president. Touting an impressive résumé and leadership qualities, Payton is the perfect candidate for POTUS.
2015: Penny Johnson Jerald as President Amanda Waller in 'Justice League: Gods and Monsters'
Amanda Waller is a brilliant and tough politician in the DC universe often appointed to head top secret projects. Justice League: Gods and Monsters takes place in an unspecified alternate universe, where the league is a brutal force mainting Earth's order. After three renowned scientists are killed and the league is under suspicion, President Waller calls on the team to cooperate with government investigations.
2015: Lynda Carter as President Olivia Marsdin in 'Supergirl'
In Supergirl, President Olivia Marsdin is noble and diplomatic, urging civilians to welcome aliens with open arms.
2015: Sharon Stone as Acting President Natalie Maccabee in 'Agent X'
Agent X is about a lethal force squad activated to protect the U.S. when traditional government protocols won't do. Vice President Natalie Maccabee's title comes with command over a special agent with a license to kill. Maccabee is acting president for a few days when the sitting president is shot.
2016: Sela Ward as President Elizabeth Lanford in 'Independence Day: Resurgence'
Elizabeth Lanford is a strong and decisive POTUS who continues to lead the country even after the death of her family.
2016: Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Acting President Selina Meyer in 'Veep'
As Vice President, Selina Meyer was generally snubbed and disregarded by the President and her peers. When the incumbent president later resigns, Meyer assumes the role of POTUS but faces strong challengers. Meyer’s persona is probably not that of a traditional president (she loves to blurt out expletives while spinning joyously in her swivel chair), but her resilience and passion for politics keep her afloat.
2016: Andrea Savage as President Laura Montez in 'Veep'
Laura Montez is the first women president-elect in the VEEP universe. The New Mexico Senator dethrones Meyer, playing up her Latino namesake (which she married into) to pander to voters.