Before making a name for herself within the entertainment industry, Shonda Rhimes did everything she needed to work her way up the ladder as a woman working in a predominantly male field. In college, she majored in English as well as film studies, and she directed and performed in small student productions. Then, she moved to Los Angeles to study screenwriting. She also worked for newspapers and advertisement companies before getting the behind-the-scenes experience. Finally, Rhimes was interning with some big names, and in 2005, she got the green light for a new medical drama entitled Grey’s Anatomy. After three successful years, Rhimes created a spinoff series, Private Practice. By 2014, Thursday nights on ABC was overrun by Rhimes’ TV shows.
As an empowering woman herself, Shonda Rhimes has made sure she creates the best women characters in her TV shows. See where the best rank.