10 TV Shows That Turned Wimps Into Badasses

Life didn't get off to the best of starts for Peggy Olson way back in the first episode of AMC's Mad Men, with the shy and massively out of her depth secretary being shot down by her boss Don Draper after trying to seduce him in the wake of the main protagonist defending her against some sexist remarks.

So far, so awkward.

But this was merely the opening passage for a character who relied on the phrase "I'm sorry" more than most upon joining up with Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. As the years rolled by, though, and Peggy was given more opportunities to shine within the company, something magical happened. She started to find her damn voice.

Trading awkward exchanges with dabbling with drugs in the office, Peggy is arguably the series real MVP, taking no prisoners as she climbs up the ranks and ultimately lands the title of head copywriter at Cutler, Gleason, and Chaough before the company merged with Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

The woman who struts her way into the next stage of her life in the end, cigarette in mouth and pornographic painting in hand, is almost unrecognisable from that unknowing face who first wandered into the advertising world.