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Calista Flockhart

"Brothers & Sisters"
Calista Flockhart first caught TV viewers' attention more than 12 years ago as the title character in the wacky legal dramedy "Ally McBeal." These days, the 45-year-old is one of a handful of female family members in the primetime drama "Brothers & Sisters," playing Kitty McAllister, a Republican pundit, strategist, and author married to a U.S. senator. In a refreshing twist, nearly all of her fellow lady leads are in their 40s (Rachel Griffiths), 50s (Patricia Wettig), and even 60s. (Go Sally Field!)

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Cherry Jones

"24"
At a time when the county had just gotten a look at its first serious female presidential contender and had elected a hopeful optimist, "24" combined both aspects into one commander in chief: Cherry Jones' President Allison Taylor. The 53-year-old stage veteran won an Emmy for her work on the show, fighting genocide, being taken hostage, and rekindling a relationship with her estranged daughter, among other dramatic challenges. If viewers have any say in it, you can bet Taylor will be a two-term president.

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Connie Britton

"Friday Night Lights"
You may have first caught a glimpse of Connie Britton in small roles on "Spin City" or "24," but for the past four seasons the 41-year-old actress has really turned heads on "Friday Night Lights." As Tami Taylor, she's half of one of TV's most believable (and loving) married couples, and as principal of Dillon High School, Tami gets to share her motherly warmth with more than just her own kids. But that nurturing quality doesn't come at the cost of her sexiness — just ask her co-worker Glenn, whose crush on Tami crosses a line in Season 4.

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Courteney Cox

"Cougar Town"
Courteney Cox gained superstar status nearly 15 years ago as control freak Monica Geller on NBC's iconic sitcom, "Friends." Following the failure of "Dirt" and a hilarious guest spot on "Scrubs," the effervescent 45-year-old returned to primetime TV in September with "Cougar Town." As Jules Cobb, a 40-something recently divorced single mom, the leading lady learns to embrace her midlife crisis by bedding younger men, tanning poolside, and cruising around town in her cranberry-colored Lexus convertible. Forty-plus has never looked so fabulous!

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Edie Falco

"Nurse Jackie"
Seeing the brilliant Edie Falco come into her own in a role other than second-fiddle Mafia wife Carmela Soprano is a treat to begin with, but getting to watch her as the complicated, caring, adulterous, and drug-addicted title character in "Nurse Jackie" couldn't make us happier. And in a TV medical world where hospital staffers suspiciously resemble Hollywood actors, the 46-year-old Falco actually looks like she belongs in her scrubs.

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Glenn Close

"Damages"
Glenn Close may be best known for her role as a scorned lover in "Fatal Attraction," which came out when she was 40, but at age 62 she's proving she's still got some of the best dramatic chops in the business. In her Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning role as the ruthless high-stakes litigation attorney Patty Hewes on "Damages," Close's warm smile belies her often-sinister scheming smarts. But unlike her rabbit-cooking stalker, Close's latest role — while still scary — always leaves viewers hungry for more.

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Heather Locklear

"Melrose Place"
Heather Locklear, who initially set hearts afire on "Dynasty" and "T.J. Hooker" back in the early '80s and who continued to seduce (and sometimes destroy) many men and women during her seven-year run on the original "Melrose Place" throughout the '90s, made a triumphant return to LA's sexiest apartment complex this past November. And despite the fact that the blond bombshell won't likely be able to save the "MP" reboot from the cancellation heap, she still looks great in a micro miniskirt as one of TV's all-time-best baddies, Amanda Woodward.

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Jane Lynch

"Glee"
Jane Lynch first caught America's attention with her hilarious portrayal of a dog handler working for a classless trophy wife in Christopher Guest's mockumentary "Best in Show." She's continued her film career with roles in other Guest films, including "A Mighty Wind" and "For Your Consideration" as well as Judd Apatow's "The 40 Year Old Virgin," and stole the show during the first season of Starz's TV comedy "Party Down" as the just-too-darn-content catering company waitress Constance. "Glee" finds 49-year-old Lynch playing Sue Sylvester, the domineering, tracksuit-wearing, bullhorn-toting coach of the school's nationally ranked cheerleading squad. She's all about strategizing, manipulation, and creating competition. Even though "Glee" has a huge ensemble cast made up of young actors half her age, Lynch is no question the show's most-valuable performer.

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Jeanne Tripplehorn

"Big Love"
On "Big Love," the HBO hit drama about a suburban polygamist family, 46-year-old Jeanne Tripplehorn plays first wife Barb, the eldest female in the house and "sister wife" to two younger women (played by Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin, who are 35 and 31, respectively). Though Hollywood is often guilty of doling out less screen time the older an actress gets, "Big Love" splits its plotlines equally (if anything, Goodwin's character is explored the least) and gives Tripplehorn a chance to shine as the devoted wife bamboozled into accepting a lifestyle she's still conflicted about.

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Jeri Ryan

"Leverage"
Blond bombshell Jeri Ryan got her big break by making nerd pulses race for four seasons on "Star Trek: Voyager" and has bounced from role to role since then, with parts on "Boston Public," "The OC," and "Shark." At 41, she now brings her considerable sex appeal to "Leverage," where she plays street-savvy grifter Tara Cole on a team of modern-day Robin Hoods, who help people victimized by corporate and governmental injustices.

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Julianna Margulies

"The Good Wife"
The beauty who turned heads in the '90s on "ER" as Carol Hathaway, the dedicated nurse and love interest of George Clooney's character Dr. Doug Ross, returned to the small screen last fall in CBS' new drama, "The Good Wife." But this time around the 43-year-old isn't just a supporting character in an ensemble cast. Margulies does a spot-on job as Alicia Florrick — the scorned wife of a former state's attorney imprisoned after a sex scandal's fallout — who must return to her legal career to provide for her family.

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Kate Walsh

"Private Practice"
Forty-two-year-old Kate Walsh is best known as the vibrant redhead Dr. Addison Shepherd — the woman who came between intern Meredith Grey and Dr. "McDreamy" Shepherd — on "Grey's Anatomy." Originally a guest star slated for only five episodes, Walsh's character was brought back in a recurring role after her surprise appearance at the end of Season 1's cliffhanger. Walsh's layered portrayal helped viewers begrudgingly respect the talented Dr. Addison Shepherd, despite her having broken up one of TV's favorite couples. She had such appeal with fans that when Shonda Rhimes decided to do a "Grey's" spinoff in 2007 — "Private Practice" — she chose Walsh's Dr. Addison as the character who could conceivably carry over.

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Lucy Lawless

"Spartacus: Blood and Sand"
Although she will forever be associated with the raven-haired "Xena: Warrior Princess," Lucy Lawless showed geeks her blond evil side as Cylon D'Anna Biers on "Battlestar Galactica." This season, the 41-year-old becomes a redhead as Lucretia, the unfaithful wife of gladiator owner Batiatus (John Hannah), in the R-rated, "300"-inspired "Spartacus: Blood and Sand."

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Mariska Hargitay

"Law & Order: SVU"
Mariska Hargitay's role as the ambitious and emotionally driven Detective Olivia Benson on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" has earned her a place on the list of TV's highest paid actresses as well as an Emmy and a Golden Globe award. The beautiful 46-year-old brunette suffered from a collapse lung while shooting a stunt on set but recovered well and only missed one episode of the show. Now that's a trooper!

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Patti Stanger

"Millionaire Matchmaker"
She's honest, brilliant, funny, incredibly tan, caring, and opinionated — and happens to be 48. She's Patti Stanger, a third-generation matchmaker, the founder of LA's elite matchmaking service, Millionaire's Club, and the star of Bravo's hit show "Millionaire Matchmaker." And unlike the majority of reality TV personalities, Patti's age is advantageous. Who'd want love advice from an inexperienced 20-something when they could reap advice from this woman, who's wise beyond her years?

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Vanessa Williams

"Ugly Betty"
A list like this just wouldn't be complete without an appearance by the supersexy star of ABC's "Ugly Betty," Vanessa Williams. Not only is the 46-year-old fox a former Miss America, she also happens to be one of the most-underrated actresses of her generation. As the wicked Wilhelmina Slater, MODE's fashion director, and Betty's on-again/off-again arch nemesis, Williams steals the spotlight every time she steps on screen.

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