HBO is responsible for some of the greatest and most memorable characters in the history of television. What makes HBO such a great network is the fact that it never shies away from creating authentic characters who are far from perfect and often have an array of realistic issues that we as viewers can identify with. From Game of Thrones to Curb Your Enthusiasm, the Home Box Office keeps delivering hits of all kinds and flavors.
Who are some of the best and most memorable individuals to grace our screens on this network? Read on to find out!
SHOSHANA SHAPIRO - GIRLS
Shoshana Shapiro is one of the funniest characters on Girls because she is unashamed to be herself despite what everyone else might think of her. For those who have been living under a rock since 2012 when the series first premiered, Girls is a satirical dramedy series homing in on the lives of four New York City girls who embody millennial culture (to a fault).
Almost every character on this show is an anti-hero, except for our girl Shosh who is just trying to make it as a successful career woman with a unique set of hairstyles to go along with her brand. She is a truly memorable character and we love how strange this woman is.
NICOLETTE "NICKI" GRANT - BIG LOVE
Nicolette Grant is an unforgettable character from HBO's Big Love which ended in 2011. The series focuses on a polygamist family that keeps their marriage a secret to the public since it's both illegal and greatly frowned upon. Nicolette, played by the fabulous Chloe Sevigny, is one truly fascinating character.
She is the second sister wife to Bill, the first being Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and the third being Margine (Ginnifer Goodwin). Nicolette is unique because her father is the "prophet" of the polygamous compound, Juniper Creek. It is extremely interesting to watch her character who spent her entire life cut off from the real world, as she adjusts to modern culture. Sevigny gives a marvelous performance in every episode and she steals the show every time with her effortless talent.
BARRY - BARRY
Those who have yet to watch HBO's Barry are in for a real treat once they tune in. Starring Bill Hader, the series revolves around a hitman who wants to give up that violent and traumatic lifestyle in order to become an actor in LA. A series of unfortunate events occur, leading Barry to be stuck in two worlds: the hired killer's reality and the aspiring actor's.
The series is brilliant and captivating from start to finish with moments that are both side-splittingly hilarious as well as tear-inducing. Leading man Barry is one huge mystery and Hader's acting chops make his character all the more thrilling to watch.
MADELINE MACKENZIE - BIG LITTLE LIES
Who doesn't love fan favorite Madeline Mackenzie on Big Little Lies? Played delightfully by Reese Witherspoon, Madeline is a "bulldog" of a woman (as the people of Monterey love to call her) and she is always there to take charge of any given situation that she finds herself passionate about.
She lives life with a sense of purpose and she is never fearful of what others might think of her. We can all learn a thing or two from her character, as she proves that standing up for what you believe in is the only way to go about getting what you want out of life. Madeline will do anything for her friends and we would be lucky to have someone like her in our corner.
ADAM SACKLER - GIRLS
We have Girls to thank for bringing Adam Driver's brilliantly unique acting chops into the limelight. Adam Sackler is easily one of the strangest characters in the history of television and that is exactly why we can't seem to get enough of him. Everything from his mannerisms to the odd words that come out of his mouth is just a delight to watch. He perfects his character as Hannah's weirdo-boyfriend and he adds flavor to the show that we never knew how much we needed until he blessed our screens with his eccentric persona. After watching Girls, you will never see Kylo Ren the same way ever again.
GENE COUSINEAU - BARRY
Gene Cousineau is played fantastically by Henry Winkler on Barry. Winkler plays a tough as nails acting coach for a group of aspiring starlets in LA. At the beginning of the series, we assume he is just a strict coach, yet as we get to know him better, we realize that he has a heart of gold. The character is so well-rounded and loving that we can't help but root for him as one of our favorite characters on the show. Winkler's gentle personality shines through on-screen and he brings something both charming and beautiful to the HBO series.
SELINA MEYER - VEEP
Julia Louis Dreyfus kills it on Veep as Selina Meyer, a hard-working politician and vice president who later becomes the president of the united states. Her ambition is awe-inspiring and her desire to change lives keeps us wanting more. We get to see all of the hardships and struggles her character must face as she runs to become the POTUS and we are captivated by her journey throughout the entire series.
ISSA DEE - INSECURE
Issa Dee, played by the talented Issa Rae, is a glorious character on Insecure. Like most of us, she doesn't have all that much figured out in her life yet. At the end of her twenties, Issa has an epiphany as she realizes that she needs to stop catering to everyone else's needs and she needs to start living for herself.
We watch her character as she endures a bit of a quarter-life crisis, and we find ourselves relating to her awkwardness every step of the way. From her rap sessions in the mirror to her outrageously cringe-worthy encounters with ex-boyfriends, Issa depicts her day to day encounters through a less-than-glamorous lens that we can't help but find ourselves drawn to. Those who have yet to watch Insecure best change that immediately.
ARYA STARK - GAME OF THRONES
Oh, yes. Who doesn't love a character who is capable of saving all of Winterfell, especially at such a young age? Played by the amazingly talented Maisie Williams, the youngest Stark girl is pretty much the biggest hero of the entire show. Her character began as an underdog who no one really accepted due to the fact that she was a young female sword fighter, limited by her gender and age. Yet Arya used their lack of faith as fuel to become the most terrifying warrior in Westeros. What a triumph!
VALERIE CHERISH - THE COMEBACK
And last but not least, one of the greatest HBO characters of all time is Valerie Cherish from The Comeback. This darling HBO series came back to life in 2014 and it is one of the most fascinating hidden gems on the entire platform. Played by Lisa Kudrow, the actress proves that she is so much more than just a sitcom starlet as seen on Friends. Her character sticks with you years after watching The Comeback because she is so multidimensional and captivating to watch.
Valerie Cherish was once a big star on a popular sitcom, yet now years later, she is considered to be a D-lister who no one is interested in anymore. Valerie won't take "no" for an answer though, and she refuses to leave the limelight, so she has a whole new reality show following her everyday life. The Comeback tackles modern issues such as the blatant sexism and ageism in Hollywood, and it deserves to be watched by everyone who can get their hands on it.