Whether it be copper, strawberry blonde, ginger, fire engine or that weird anime style fluorescent variety, I love me a redhead.  I even married one!  But I’m not the only one who enjoys the legendary fiery temper of this follicle minority (less than 2% of the world is naturally red).  TV has long since enjoyed the colorful accent a beautiful red headed girl has brought to its programming.  Look at Scooby Doo, Velma and Daphne!  And let’s not forget Lucille Ball, who’s red haired ways even came though her black and white show.

Books, poems, songs have all been written about redheads and the Dutch even have a festival.

 Some may dye it, some may wear wigs, but they’re all a-ok in my book!  Here then are my Top 5 Top 10 favorite ginger thatched lasses of television.

10.  Gates McFadden (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

I might lose my Trekkie card if I don’t mention the Enterprise D’s doctor/mom/Captain’s plaything.  And if flying through space wasn’t enough to get Gates on this list, she is also part of the Muppet-verse having worked on The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth as a choreographer.  Nerd hotness level of 10.

9.  Evan Rachel Wood (True Blood)

Thank you HBO for putting Miss Wood on True Blood (already a double redhead show!) and allowing me to add her to this list.  She is striking as the vampire queen, matching porcelain white skin with bright red locks and leaving no question as to who the big teeth are in vamp land.

8.  Shirley Manson (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)

The lead singer of Garbage made this tepid small screen prequel to the Terminator franchise interesting in season 2 as a T-1001 liquid metal secret agent bad ass.  Not to mention, she has some pipes!  Let’s hope she gets a new show soon.

7.  Gillian Anderson (The X-Files)

If Mulder is a crazy person, then clearly the FBI can only send a confidant redhead Scully to keep him in line!  Voted by FHM as the “Sexiest Woman in the World” in 1996, Gillian continues to bring a subtle sensuality to every role she takes on.

6.  Rose McGowan (Charmed)

As Shannen Doherty’s replacement sister (cousin) Paige on Charmed, Rose’s red locks pumped up a dying show for 5 more seasons with wit and charm while the writer’s attempted to make it sillier and sillier.

5.  Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show, Doctor Who)

Fans of the BBC will recognize this comedienne as the star of a show with a running ginger-cism gag and the comedic foil to David Tennant’s fast paced Doctor.  Smart, funny, sarcastic and British.  Now that’s a great redhead!

4.  Laura Prepon (That 70′s Show)

Some might say That 70′s Show took a nosedive after the stunning Laura sullied her flowing strands of fire by going blonde, and that someone would be me.  Coincidence?  I think not.

3.  Sara Rue (Less Than Perfect)

Most notable as the sharp Claudia on Less Than Perfect, Sara has brought her girl next door smile and red mane to numerous TV shows including Will & Grace, Popular, and The Big Bang Theory.  She is adorable and funny, but not even Sara can encourage me to continue to watch her current project, ABC’s horrific Eastwick.

2.  Alyson Hannigan (Buffy, How I Met Your Mother)

A no-brainer really.  Even non redhead fans can’t resist Alyson as her characters often embody the approachable girl next door with a streak of passion just beneath the surface.  Her arc as Willow on Buffy even makes Alyson big with multiple demographics!

1.  Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)

If the name doesn’t immediately bowl you over, her va-va-voom certainly will!  Firefly fans have known for years how Christina’s red top can melt the will of the strongest man, but as head secretary Joan Holloway, the television universe is set ablaze every time she struts across the offices of Sterling Cooper.