Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Zooey Deschanel Known For: Playing Jess Day on New Girl Zooey has become even more adorable to me this year. New Girl is easily one of my new favorite shows and I love Zooey for it! She’s so good at the quirky awkward stuff, and her show is the source of so many of my friends’ ringtones when I call them. I have complete faith that my love for Zooey will only grow in 2012!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Zooey Deschanel

Known For: Playing Jess Day on New Girl

Zooey has become even more adorable to me this year. New Girl is easily one of my new favorite shows and I love Zooey for it! She’s so good at the quirky awkward stuff, and her show is the source of so many of my friends’ ringtones when I call them. I have complete faith that my love for Zooey will only grow in 2012!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Yvonne Strahovski Known For: Playing Sarah Walker on Chuck While I’ve struggled to get past Season 3 of Chuck (it’s got nothing to do with Chuck itself, just time and things), Yvonne has been one of my favorite ladies of the year. Her love for Angry Birds cracks me up. She’s talented and gorgeous and has the most awesome accent and anyone who tells me otherwise is lying.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Yvonne Strahovski

Known For: Playing Sarah Walker on Chuck

While I’ve struggled to get past Season 3 of Chuck (it’s got nothing to do with Chuck itself, just time and things), Yvonne has been one of my favorite ladies of the year. Her love for Angry Birds cracks me up. She’s talented and gorgeous and has the most awesome accent and anyone who tells me otherwise is lying.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Tina Fey Known For: Playing Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, writing Bossypants, being amazing on SNL I don’t have words for how much Tina Fey has affected my life. I realize that’s in the realm of cheesetastic, but it’s true. Tina Fey was the first ladyhero of mine that I was able to look at and say, “she’s funny, and she’s sorta awkward, and people still like her”. I haven’t had the financial means to read Bossypants yet (and our library is perpetually OUT OF IT. Good life choices, humans), but I will in 2012. Tina Fey will continue to be awesomesauce in the coming year, and continue to make me laugh, all while feeling like I have someone I can relate to!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Tina Fey

Known For: Playing Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, writing Bossypants, being amazing on SNL

I don’t have words for how much Tina Fey has affected my life. I realize that’s in the realm of cheesetastic, but it’s true. Tina Fey was the first ladyhero of mine that I was able to look at and say, “she’s funny, and she’s sorta awkward, and people still like her”. I haven’t had the financial means to read Bossypants yet (and our library is perpetually OUT OF IT. Good life choices, humans), but I will in 2012. Tina Fey will continue to be awesomesauce in the coming year, and continue to make me laugh, all while feeling like I have someone I can relate to!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Rashida Jones Known For: Playing Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation, playing Karen Fillipelli on The Office I’m so glad I was introduced to Parks & Rec this year. Because honestly, Rashida needed to be back in my life. My goal for 2012: See Our Idiot Brother. Rashida is gorgeous and talented, and um, I’m sorry, if she could date JKras, she’s legit. Ann Perkins is hilarious, and I love her. 

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Rashida Jones

Known For: Playing Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation, playing Karen Fillipelli on The Office

I’m so glad I was introduced to Parks & Rec this year. Because honestly, Rashida needed to be back in my life. My goal for 2012: See Our Idiot Brother. Rashida is gorgeous and talented, and um, I’m sorry, if she could date JKras, she’s legit. Ann Perkins is hilarious, and I love her. 

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Pauley Perrette Known For: Playing Abby Sciuto on NCIS PAULEY! Always one of my favorite people. Her positivity and her dedication to her fans, her work, and those less fortunate (or those fighting for equality) is SO REFRESHING to see out of a celebrity. She’s a talented musician, an adorable human, and an amazing actress. I can only hope for more awesome Pauley related things in 2012.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Pauley Perrette

Known For: Playing Abby Sciuto on NCIS

PAULEY! Always one of my favorite people. Her positivity and her dedication to her fans, her work, and those less fortunate (or those fighting for equality) is SO REFRESHING to see out of a celebrity. She’s a talented musician, an adorable human, and an amazing actress. I can only hope for more awesome Pauley related things in 2012.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Mindy Kaling Known For: Playing Kelly Kapoor on The Office, writing Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns I have yet to read Mindy’s book due to a lack of financial ability. But Mindy Kaling still remains one of my favorite ladies of this year. I found her stand-up routine for the first time this year… and her bit parts in some of the most awesome movies cracked me up. Also, she continues to be my favorite writer on The Office. Mindy Kaling— lady hero, 2011.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Mindy Kaling

Known For: Playing Kelly Kapoor on The Office, writing Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns

I have yet to read Mindy’s book due to a lack of financial ability. But Mindy Kaling still remains one of my favorite ladies of this year. I found her stand-up routine for the first time this year… and her bit parts in some of the most awesome movies cracked me up. Also, she continues to be my favorite writer on The Office. Mindy Kaling— lady hero, 2011.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Maya Rudolph Known For: Being awesome on Saturday Night Live, playing Ava on Up All Night Forget the fact that I’m woefully behind on Up All Night. Maya freakin’ Rudolph is one of my lesser spoken lady heroes. First of all, I re-watched Away We Go about 500 times this year. (Exaggeration, but every time, she makes me smile.) Second, her SNL GUEST SPOTS. Third, this lady needs to host SNL. 2012, you hear me? That’s my wish.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Maya Rudolph

Known For: Being awesome on Saturday Night Live, playing Ava on Up All Night

Forget the fact that I’m woefully behind on Up All Night. Maya freakin’ Rudolph is one of my lesser spoken lady heroes. First of all, I re-watched Away We Go about 500 times this year. (Exaggeration, but every time, she makes me smile.) Second, her SNL GUEST SPOTS. Third, this lady needs to host SNL. 2012, you hear me? That’s my wish.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Mariska Hargitay Known For: Playing Olivia Benson on Law and Order: SVU MARISKA. Awesome human being, kick-ass pretend detective! Olivia Benson is awesome and this year, even though it didn’t happen until the end, SVU on Netflix is one of the greatest things to happen! I love Mariska (especially her involvement with charities, and those less fortunate) and I will forever tell everyone how much she truly embodies the definition of lady hero!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Mariska Hargitay

Known For: Playing Olivia Benson on Law and Order: SVU

MARISKA. Awesome human being, kick-ass pretend detective! Olivia Benson is awesome and this year, even though it didn’t happen until the end, SVU on Netflix is one of the greatest things to happen! I love Mariska (especially her involvement with charities, and those less fortunate) and I will forever tell everyone how much she truly embodies the definition of lady hero!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Lauren Holly Known For: Playing Jenny Shepard on NCIS Lauren Holly— forever the object of all my hair envy and forever on my list. I will forever go down with my Gibbs/Jenny ship and I will forever love Jenny Shepard! The amount of times I watched Disc 2 of Season 3 of NCIS this year is ridiculous. I love Lauren (and all the guest appearances she’s made on various shows this year) and I hope to see more of her this coming year!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Lauren Holly

Known For: Playing Jenny Shepard on NCIS

Lauren Holly— forever the object of all my hair envy and forever on my list. I will forever go down with my Gibbs/Jenny ship and I will forever love Jenny Shepard! The amount of times I watched Disc 2 of Season 3 of NCIS this year is ridiculous. I love Lauren (and all the guest appearances she’s made on various shows this year) and I hope to see more of her this coming year!

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Lauren Graham Known For: Playing Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, playing Sarah Braverman on Parenthood I’m insanely behind on Parenthood, but Lauren will forever mean so much to me. The reruns of Gilmore Girls that I watched this year kept me going through some hugely rough times. I also saw Answer Man for the first time this year and I basically adore Lauren in any role, so it was great. I’m hoping for even more awesome Lauren in 2012. Always my lady hero.

Jessica’s Top 20 Awesome Ladies of 2011 (in Alphabetical Order) | Lauren Graham

Known For: Playing Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, playing Sarah Braverman on Parenthood

I’m insanely behind on Parenthood, but Lauren will forever mean so much to me. The reruns of Gilmore Girls that I watched this year kept me going through some hugely rough times. I also saw Answer Man for the first time this year and I basically adore Lauren in any role, so it was great. I’m hoping for even more awesome Lauren in 2012. Always my lady hero.