Type A individuals are often derided as "workaholics," "control freaks" or "too competitive." Obviously, Type As, who possess wonderful qualities in addition to not so great ones, are often misunderstood. But if Hollywood success is any indication, Type A characters are universally embraced.
Some of our favorite characters from TV and film -- ones we either love or love to hate -- fit the Type A bill perfectly. Can't think of any? Here are 14 of our favorite Type As to watch:
1. Leslie Knope, "Parks and Recreation"
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One of the first traits that comes to mind when we think of Type A individuals is organization. Having everything in order and no loose ends in sight brings comfort to those who identify as Type A. Writing lists is a favorite pastime. No one knows this better than Leslie Knope. She adores being at work, values a job well done and loves nothing more in life than a major to-do list (and sure, waffles). It is easy to check her off as the ultimate Type A.
2. Miranda Priestly, "The Devil Wears Prada"
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The stereotype of a Type A boss being controlling, demanding and impossible to please does not always ring true. But in "The Devil Wears Prada," Miranda Priestly personifies these qualities with A+ perfection. Her favorite words to utter, after all, are "do it correctly." Poor Andy Sachs suffers the consequences -- but we all know how that story ends.
3. Tony Soprano, "The Sopranos"
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Tony Soprano doesn't like to wait and neither do Type As. Impatience can be a key characteristic for these folks -- usually because they don't like things getting in the way of their goals. Waiting in grocery lines (or waiting for somebody to get whacked) can be equally frustrating.
4. Olivia Pope, "Scandal"
Nothing comes between a Type A and her work. Olivia Pope is the quintessential workaholic. Her phone is always on, usually connected to her hand, and she will drop anything pleasurable or personal to attend to the needs of her employees or clients. There's a reason she's the best at her job. It's the only way she knows how function.
5. Batman, "Batman"
Wikipedia/Jim Lee
Batman works a lot, too. He takes zero vacations and won't get married because his job comes first. He doesn't tolerate failure and chooses to work alone because he believes he's smarter than everyone else.
6. Amy Brookheimer , "Veep"
Amy Brookheimer as a fictional D.C. chief of staff is a triptych of Type A characteristics: She is hyper-competitive, has a deep need to please and can also be a bit of a catastrophist. She wants to be the best at everything, can't stand anyone getting in the way of her goals and is also simultaneously sure that the world as they know it is going to come to an end. Her stress levels are through the roof, and not surprisingly, like many Type A individuals, she has trouble sleeping at night.
7. Jane Villanueva, "Jane The Virgin"
Facebook/Jane The Virgin
Jane likes to have a plan. Most Type As do. At the beginning of "Jane The Virgin," it's clear that having full control of her life is a priority for her. So when the unimaginable happens (she's accidentally inseminated during a routine check-up and becomes pregnant), it's a challenge for her to cope with the consequences. The life and dreams she built over the years disappear in an instant, and her journey to rebuilding her world definitely includes letting go of the reigns a little bit.
8. Helen, "Bridesmaids"
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Perfectionist, much? Helen doesn't even need a last name in the movie "Bridesmaids" -- that's how memorable she is. She starts off as an annoying Little Miss Perfect with classic Type A tendencies: impatient, competitive, demanding and overachieving. But as her character softens throughout the movie, we learn that underneath all that varnish, she only has the best intentions at heart.
9. Belle, "Beauty and the Beast"
Facebook/Beauty and the Beast
Of all the Disney princesses, Belle might be the most classically Type A. She is organized, clean, responsible and loves to have a task at hand. She keeps her social world organized too, making trips into town and keeping track of everyone. But another facet of her Type A personality reveals itself in her ambition. Unlike some Disney ladies from her era, Belle has a strong sense of self and has interests beyond getting married.
10. Heisenberg (but not Walter White), "Breaking Bad"
At the beginning of "Breaking Bad," Walt is 100 percent type B -- he is patient and quiet, but he also lets others kick him around and he is the opposite of assertive. But all of this changes drastically. Ultimately, the whole series is really about Walt becoming Type A (with the help of badass Heisenberg). His alter ego is assertive, goal-oriented, demanding and, well, a boss.
11. Joan Harris, "Mad Men"
Joan Harris is a queen bee. She likes things the way she likes them: her clothes are on point, each strand of hair is in place and she knows about every single thing coming in or out of that bustling ad agency. At times she can seem bossy or hard to please -- her standards are extremely high -- but like many Type As, this comes from a place of being highly conscientious. She may seem like a control freak, but it's because she cares. She cares about everyone in the agency and cares about fairness -- whether someone's a brand new secretary or the highest-ranking partner.
12. Captain Kirk, "Star Trek"
"Star Trek" is all about going boldly where no one has gone before -- and nobody is bolder than Captain James T. Kirk. The captain pretty much does what he wants, ignoring protocol and regulations to get the job done and kick alien butt. Having a singular goal and chasing it relentlessly can be a characteristic of Type A individuals -- and it also often leads to success.
13. Amy Santiago, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
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Amy is not ashamed of her Type A tendencies. She's a "by the book" type of cop but she takes it a step further by color-coding case files and keeping her desk impeccably clean and organized. But this doesn't mean Santiago doesn't participate in the precinct's antics. She's been known to mastermind pranks of her own, and yes, everything is calculated to perfection. It's no surprise that Captain Holt -- a fellow Type A -- is her role model.
14. Jerry Seinfeld, "Seinfeld"
Seinfeld/Facebook
Seinfeld's Type A tendencies shine brightly amidst the chaos of avowed Type Bs like Costanza and Kramer. Jerry is very meticulous about the cleanliness and organization of his apartment, the order his cereal boxes are in and the degree to which his ('90s oversized) shirt is tucked into his ('90s oversized) jeans. He is stubborn and holds on tightly to his opinions. He isn't easy to convince. And, unlike his friends, he takes his career pretty seriously.
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