Move over, James Bond! Spies of the female persuasion have been dominating the small screen since the 1960s.
International women of mystery have taken on many forms, from foreign operatives to inter-dimensional moles. Whether taking down evil regimes or unwittingly working for the enemy, chasing international assassins or joining the family business, gutsy gals get the work done.
Is your dream life filled with espionage and intrigue? Live vicariously through TV's top female spies and secret agents.
1. Elizabeth Jennings (The Americans)
For six seasons, we've watched Elizabeth Jennings, a KGB operative under deep cover in 1980s America. She's been willing to do whatever it takes to help Mother Russia, like having kids with her partner, Philip, or ending the lives of those who stand in the way of her mission. With the series finale on the horizon and an end to the Cold War in sight, viewers can't wait to learn what fate holds for the Jennings family.
2. Carrie Mathison (Homeland)
At times, Carrie Mathison is a bit of a train wreck and her methods are unorthodox, but she is damned good at her job. Intuition, an ability to see the bigger picture, and a hint of luck are what make this former CIA agent such a compelling yet polarizing character to watch.
3. Eve Polastri (Killing Eve)
Eve is bored with her desk job at MI-5 and dreams of a more glamorous, action-packed life. When she starts secretly tracking the movements of an elusive female assassin and their paths intersect, she gets exactly what she's always wanted even though her life is in peril.
4. Sydney Bristow (Alias)
A spy prodigy recruited while still in college, Sydney Bristow thinks she's working for a CIA black ops team that actually turns out to be the bad guys. She becomes a double agent, finds out that spy craft runs in the family, loses some of the people closest to her, and manages to kick some serious butt along the way.
5. Fiona Glenanne (Burn Notice)
Fiona may have used her feminine wiles to get the intel for her mission, but she was so much more. Arms runner, explosives expert and former member of the IRA, her modus operandi was to shoot first and ask questions later.
6. Nikita Mears (Nikita)
Saved from death by a secret government organization known as Division, Nikita becomes a special operative until she learns that she's not actually serving her country. Nikita escapes and vows to take down Division, but the corruption and evil runs deeper than anyone could've imagined.