The 12 best ever lesbian characters on TV

We’ll start with the bad news – there are nowhere near enough lesbian characters on TV. The good news? There are some, and they’re mostly great.

From American Horror Story to Orange is the New Black and Game of Thrones, lesbians are becoming increasingly regular on small screens. Keep ‘em coming Netflix, Fox, Hulu, HBO and so on…

12. Suzanne Warren (Uzo Aduba) – Orange is the New Black

Obviously, OITNB has been pretty much unparalleled in featuring same-sex relationships and sex scenes, so Suzanne (aka Crazy Eyes) won’t be the only inmate on this list.

We first see her falling for “dandelion” Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), before she’s cruelly knocked back. More recently, she’s been in a relationship of sorts with Maureen Kukudio (Emily Althaus) – who she unfortunately beat to a bloody pulp in season 4.

Best quote: “You know, if you were still my wife, I would tell you all the time how much I like your titties. ‘Cause girls like that. And that is a tip from me to you.”

11. Lena (Katherine Moennig) – Ray Donovan

OK, Lena (played by The L Word’s Katherine Moennig) may not be the most well-developed fictional character in TV history, but we still enjoy her no-nonsense take-no-s**t approach to assisting Ray and his Hollywood clients.

Best quote: “Do you really think I waste my time on cock, you f**king idiot?”

10. Tara Chambler (Allana Masterson) – The Walking Dead

First seen in TWD’s fourth season, Tara has been very unlucky in love – but that’s what you get for striking up relationships in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.

Tara’s first girlfriend, Alisha, dies during the prison attack lead by David Morrissey’s The Governor. Her next love interest, Denise Cloyd (Merritt Wever), perishes at the hands of Dwight thanks to an arrow through the eye.

Last we saw of Tara was in the season 7 finale – here’s hoping she finds a very resilient girlfriend in season 8.

9. Virginia Braithwaite (Sarah Smart) – At Home with the Braithwaites

OK, not everyone will remember this early noughties ITV show starring Amanda Redman as Alison Braithwaite; Virginia’s lottery-winning mum.

Virginia’s hilarious foul-mouthed, chain-smoking antics steal the show, as does her infatuation with next door neighbour Megan Hartnoll (Julie Graham) and their eventual Indian-themed lesbian wedding.