The Women and Work SharpHeels Loved This Year

As 2014 comes to an end, it’s impossible not to look back at the highlights and accomplishments of the past 12 months: Emma Watson joined the United Nations, Becky Hammon became the first full-time female assistant coach in the NBA, and Beyoncé and Taylor Swift single-handedly reshaped the music industry.

And that’s just the tip of the awesomeness. In the land of television and film, women executive producers, writers and show-runners have created some of the year’s most powerful TV shows, films, and documentaries.

With such a strong year, everyone at Sharpheels wanted to cast our votes for the most inspiring women within the entertainment industry.

Favorite Woman on Television

Caitriona Balfe and Cindy Crowley: Outlander’s Claire Randall – played by Balfe – is my favorite new TV Character, while Cindy Crowley of CNN’s State of the Union – who just said farewell after 27 years – is my favorite “retiring” veteran. – Ashley Poulin, Founder and Editor-in-Chief

Kerry Washington and Danai Guira: To avoid internal conflict, I’m sticking with network TV only. Without Netflix, Scandal’s Washington – aka Olivia Pope – and The Walking Dead’s Gurira (Michonne) tie for my two favorite leading ladies. Both characters do a  terrific job of handling every situation, protecting their group, and looking amazing while doing it (albeit in very different ways). – Sarah Marloff, Entertainment Editor

Nicole Curtis: HGTV’s “rehab addict” is one tough chic. She restores and preserves historic homes and even challenges city officials who want to level everything old in favor of the new. And she totally rocks power tools and front-end loaders. – Michelle Mavres, Career Editor

Zooey Deschanel: Funny, witty, and successful! It took me a hot second to jump on The New Girl bandwagon, but after binge-watching it on Netflix, I was hooked. – Leila Barber, Visual Editor and Merchandising Manager

Ellen DeGeneres: She is always making people laugh in a positive way. – Mackenzie Drake, Editorial Intern

Mindy Kaling: Right now I’m having a hard time choosing between Kaling and Amy Poehler, but I’m leaning towards Mindy because I’m watching her show right now. I love her style, fearless humor and confident image. I think she is a wonderful role model, and I am particularly impressed with her degree from Dartmouth and the fact that she was an NBC page. – Yasmeen Seibam, Marketing Intern

Cecily Strong and Rebel Wilson: Saturday Night Live’s Strong, despite her prom-queen looks, unfailingly offers a sharp focus in skits, coupled with a nonchalant ability to be idiotic.  Wilson – on the other hand – exhibited surprising, skilled dramatic ability in the more serious portions of her (now-canceled) dramedy Super Fun Night, showing the potential to be a big star in the next few years.  I look forward to seeing her in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb this Christmas. – Viviana Simmons, Senior Copy Editor

Favorite Female-Backed Movie

Selma: Though it hasn’t come out yet (premiers Christmas Day), Ava DuVernay’s Selma is the film I’ve been looking most forward to watching this winter. I’m glad to see DuVernay, a former Scandal director,  at the film’s helm, attempting to tell what promises to be an incredibly powerful story. – SM

Outlander: Technically, the Starz series isn’t a movie, but I haven’t actually been to a theater in several months, so I cannot speak on new movies. Outlander gets my vote though, because of its author, director, and strong female characters. – MM

Maleficent: I love Disney movies, and this movie was just beautiful. – MD

Enough Said: Though it changes from time to time, my favorite female-backed movie is Nicole Holofcener’s Enough Said, staring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. Holofcener wrote and directed the movie, her writing is incredibly funny, and I thought the whole movie had a lot of truth to it. – YS

Wild: Reese Witherspoon, who bought the rights to Cheryl Strayed’s novel and subsequently served as producer, may have finally left behind her perky Legally Blonde image with this film, about a grueling process of self-discovery. The story of her along the Pacific Crest Trail is lyrical, gritty and moving. – VS

Best Book Read This Year

Crazy is a Compliment by Linda Rottenberg (non-fiction): Being a new entrepreneur, for inspiration I read a LOT of books written by and for entrepreneurs.  This was the last one I finished; it was a good read and full of tangible examples. – AP

The Secret Place by Tana French (fiction): This book switches between two sets of narrators: the detectives – including tough-as-nails Detective Antoinette Conway – and a tight-knit group of four high school girl best friends. Though all of French’s novels include beautifully crafted characters and story arcs, this one is by far her most female-driven book, and offers a lovely, heartbreaking look at the fleeting intensity of women’s school-aged friendships. – SM

Heed Your Call by David Howitt (non-fiction): Though a woman did not write this book, it speaks to something with which women identify. The basic premise is to identify your life purpose and not buy into the “tyranny of ‘or.’ ” In other words, he believes that we should be seeking balance, and choosing the concept of  “and” instead — as in marriage, spirituality, work, and play, allowing us to go for real abundance. – MM

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (fiction): I’ve been a big fan of The Secret Life of Bees for years, so I had to check out Kidd’s newest book. It effortlessly climbed to the top of my personal 2014 reading list; with great writing and a touching story, it was an easy page-turner. –LB

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso (non-fiction): Sophia Amoruso is an innovative, intelligent young entrepreneur who has experienced trials and triumphs that have shaped her growing brand. This book is encouraging, enlightening, and a fun read, sure to leave you with a new girl crush. – LB

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (non-fiction): I really like books that are positive. This book is the story of a real woman studying the idea of happiness and how to implement it on a daily basis. – MD

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (fiction): I finally decided to start reading the series, and I love the idea of the main character being a young woman trying to take care of her family.  Very inspiring! – YS

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast (memoir): A loopy, droll and poignant graphic novel about Chast growing up in Brooklyn and coming to terms with her parents’ idiosyncrasies.  Since it is written by a cartoonist for the New Yorker, the book is easily digested in front of a fire. – VS

Hottest Performer/Band/Musician

Taylor Swift: She’s killing it right now. – AP
I love Swift’s music and her personality. She has a strong voice and isn’t afraid to sing about her real life. – MD

Ex Hex: This all-female rock star trio – fronted by Wild Flag’s Mary Timony – has dominated the underground music scene, touring the U.S., and playing South By Southwest. Their debut album, Rips, was named one of Rolling Stone’s “15 Great Albums You Didn’t Hear in 2014.” -SM

Dolly Parton: This women rose from a shack to a millionaire without any handouts. She did it with hard work in all areas – music, television, movies, a theme park – and she still records music and continues to reinvent herself. – MM

Grace Potter: She’s a rock goddess with amazing vocals and a charismatic stage presence. – LB

Beyoncé: Nothing compares to watching Beyoncé live. She puts everything she has into each and every performance. – YS

Favorite Star Turned Entrepreneur

Blake Lively: Preserve.us, her lifestyle website/online shop/blog is truly well done. The actress and mother-to-be does a great job of curating the site in a way that makes her boho-hipster aesthetic seem easily attainable, while also celebrating artisanal artists and craftsmen throughout North America. We’ve always loved Blake Lively. – AP, SM, MD

Jillian Michaels: Jillian parlayed her TV name as a fitness guru on The Biggest Loser into a media empire that grosses like $200 million a year. She does it all while living her life on her terms. I really adore her. – MM

Jessica Alba: The Honest Company is a thriving, young business with high standards and good morals headed by an intelligent Hollywood star turned businesswoman.

Sarah Jessica Parker: I love SJP shoes! She really made Carrie Bradshaw’s style become so iconic, and I was thrilled when she released her shoe line, practically bringing Carrie to life. You can see Sarah Jessica Parker and Carrie in every pair of heels, and I think she made a wise decision to select Nordstrom to be the sole carrier of the brand. –YS

Sofia Vergara: With all her endorsement deals, her canny, retire-rich approach belies her frothy, stiletto-heeled image. Kudos to her for putting practicality and smarts ahead of just seeking one bubbly, heavily-accented role after another. – VS

Tell us in the comments below, who are your favorite female celebrities of 2014?

Photos courtesy of Starz Media and Wikipedia