The 19 Most Relatable TV Working Moms of the Moment

The 19 Most Relatable TV Working Moms of the Moment Were really digging TV right nowits a golden era for smart, nuanced depictions of working moms. Tune into almost every channel or streaming service and youll find a riveting show with a flawed, funny, smart andbadass working motzu sichat its center.While the women below are very, very different, they have two uniting characteristics They work damn hard and they love their kids. We cant think of anything mora relatable than that.1.Audrey Holloway (Alison Bell) from The Letdown (Netflix)This Aussie comedy milks the oft-bizarre world of new motzu sichhood for plenty of laughs, like when new mom Audrey ends up bargaining with zu sichbei friendly neighborhood drug dealer just so she can stay parked in his spot (and, crucially, keep herbei 2-month-old sleeping). Her struggles to get back on her feet, and later, to work, make this new show (it debuted in April) one of the most relatable on TV.2.Sharon Morris (Sharon Horgan) of Catastrophe (Amazon)What happens when a one night stand leads to parenthood? While the title of the show seems like a pretty big hint, Irish schoolteacher Sharon and Boston ad exec Rob prove its not quite the catastrophe they anticipatedalthough there are plenty of hilarious bumps along the journey. Season 4, which should roll out soon, will pick up right where the last one ended, with Rob and Sharons marriage on the rocks, and Sharon struggling to decide when to return to work. (We feel ya.)3.Ali Wong, Hard Knock Wife (Netflix)Ali Wong won our hearts forever with her first stand-up special, Baby Cobra, featuring the seven-and-a-half-months pregnant comedian cracking jokes about everything from her fertility struggles to favorite porn. Somehow she managed to top that LOL-performance in her second special, Hard Knock Wife, released in May, where, pregnant again, she drops lines like, When youre a mom, you need sparkle to compensate for the light inside of you that has died.4.Ruby Hill (Retta) of Good Girls (NBC)Ruby, a waitress struggling to pay for her daughters kidney disease treatments, gets pulled into a life of crime after a desperate heist-gone-too-right turns into a heist gone really, really wrong. Come for the fun criminal hijinks, but stay for the heart-wrenching scenes of Ruby caring for her sick daughter.5.Annie Marks (Mae Whitman) of Good Girls (NBC)Annie is a member of the trio (along with SAHM Beth, played by Christina Hendricks) that holds up the grocery store where she works as a cashier. But like Ruby, Annie has a heartbreaking excuse her mortgage is in default, and shes about to lose custody of her kid. The show just wrapped up Season 1, and was renewed for a second spin. Were eager to see how these savvy moms manage the mess theyve stumbled into, now that theyre in debt to a gang kingpin.6.Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy/Olivia Colman) of The Crown (Netflix)Queen Elizabeth II had to navigate new motherhood under a spotlight while helping her country rebui ld in the wake of WWII. Her poise is an inspiration to hard-working moms everywhere. Though well miss Claire Foys award-winning portrayal, were looking forward to Olivia Colmans turn as a 10-years-older monarch in Season 3, set to air later this year.7.Bridgette Bird (Frankie Shaw) of SMILF (Showtime)Frankie Shaw writes, directs and stars in this clever comedy about perpetually-down-on-her-luck single mom Bridgette. The stellar supporting castincluding Rosie ODonnell and Connie Brittonhelp the show paint a vivid portrait of working-class Boston, but Frankies struggles to find and keep a job while taking care of her son will resonate no matter your zip code. Look for Season 2 to premiere sometime this fall.8.Jane Gloriana Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) of Jane the Virgin (CW)Season 4 ended with a heck of a cliffhanger Just as Janes current flame and father to her young son was about to propose, we discover her husband, Michael, might not have died after all. We cant wait to find out who Jane ultimately ends up withand what career path she decides to pursue.9.Alice Cooper (Mdchen Amick) of Riverdale (CW)A perfectionist whos protective, tough and holds her two daughters to very high standards, Alice Cooper is the epitome of the schriftart A mom. Shes also great at investigating, both as the editor of her towns local paperThe Registerand, of course, as a mom.10.June Osborne/Offred (Elisabeth Moss) of The Handmaids Tale (Hulu)While theres much aboutThe Handmaids Talea dystopian world where women have no power over their lives or bodiesthat feels eerily possible, its Season 2s glimpses of Offreds previous life as June Osborne thats disturbing for working moms in particular. In one episode when her daughter gets sick at school and June doesnt answer her cell phone, an official badgers her with judgmental questions in a way that will leave you nodding in furious recognition.11.Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) of Greys Anatomy (ABC)Everyones favorite doctor and mother of thre e is now the head of general surgery at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital. Well expect more of the usual heart-pounding drama, and hopefully another love interest for hard-working mom Meredith in Season 15. Shes earned it12.Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) from One Day at a Time (Netflix)This update to the popular late 70s show has won over TV critics and fans alike, and no wonder It stars Justina Machado as a Cuban-American military vet single mom working shifts as a nurse while raising a teenage son and daughter. Like its tough heroine, the show deftly handles complicated issues, like PTSD and sexism.13.Dr. Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) on Black-ish (ABC)Did we say Meredith Grey is everyones favorite doctor? Because this anesthesiologist and mom of five could give Dr. Grey a run for her money. Season 4 just endeared her to us even more, as she struggled with postpartum depression, and saving her marriage. Well be rooting for her and Dre.14.Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris) on Mom ( CBS)Any woman who has a complicated relationship with her mother (and who doesnt?) will feel for Christy, a single mom working as a waitress while restarting her life after a tough stint with drug and alcohol addiction, who often has to play the adult for her own recovering mom. Season 5 ended with Christy admitting she has a gambling addictionand getting accepted into law schoolsetting up the perfect internal battle.15.Jessica Huang (Constance Wu) in Fresh Off the Boat (ABC)Its been a pleasure to watch working mom Jessica as her real-estate career has taken off, so were happy to hear this delightful family sitcom will be back for a season five, premiering October 5, 2018.16.DJ Tanner-Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure) on Fuller House (Netflix)There are plenty of reasons besides nostalgia to catch up with Deej and company. When hijinx arent ensuing, the gluten-free soccer mom to three boys is busy taking care of pets at the clinic alongside her cute new coworker.17.Harlee Santos (Jennife r Lopez) on Shades of Blue (NBC)In the third and final season of this riveting crime drama,Jennifer Lopezcontinues her spot-on portrayal of a badass single mom and NYPD detective who is coerced into working for the FBIs anti-corruption task force. We already know shell do anything to protect her daughterbut how far will she have to go?18.Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) on Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix)Sure, this darkly funny horror-comedy is packed with plenty of grisly scenesmom Shelia (played by Barrymore) is a zombie who needs human flesh to survive, after allbut its also loaded with witty insights about marriage, motherhood and life in the suburbs.19.Liza Miller (Sutton Foster) on Younger (TV Land)In Season 5, on the air now, Lizas secret is finally outher boss just discovered that the gorgeous divorced mom is actually 40-something. Later, an exchange between the two gets heatedin more ways than one. It looks like longtime fans will finally get to see this long-simmering romance h eading somewhereThis article originally appeared on Working Mother.WorkingMotheris amentor, role model,and advocate for the countrys more than 17 million moms who are devoted to their families and committed to their careers. 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