The XX Factor: What women really think.

Nikita: The Fun-Loving Spy

Good question, Emily. The best example of a driven yet playful female character I can think of is Nikita in La Femme Nikita. She's a spy/assassin who's just as tough as the toughest guys, but what she really wants to do is put her gun away and goof off with her boyfriend. Also one example from TV: Starbuck from Battlestar Gallactica. She's a great pilot and also plays a mean game of poker (or whatever card game it is they play in space).