Actresses Who’ve Played the Same Character Over 15+ Years

Some roles stick so deeply that audiences grow up alongside the character—and sometimes the actor does, too. Television revivals, long-running procedurals, and perennial film franchises have made it possible for performers to return again and again to a single part, building continuity that spans decades.

Below are actresses who kept stepping back into the same character for 15 years or more. You’ll see careers that threaded through multiple seasons, sequels, TV movies, and reboots—proof that a well-drawn role can last far beyond one release cycle.

Mariska Hargitay — Olivia Benson, ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’

Hargitay has portrayed Olivia Benson across hundreds of episodes of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’, guiding the character from detective to leadership within the squad while appearing in crossovers with other ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Chicago’-franchise shows. Her work on the role has included directing and producing episodes, expanding her involvement behind the camera as the series evolved.

Benson’s continuity has extended into high-profile event episodes, multi-show story arcs, and frequent collaborations with franchise veterans and new additions. The character’s long tenure has also included guest appearances in related titles like ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’, maintaining a shared-universe presence.

Ellen Pompeo — Meredith Grey, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Pompeo has anchored ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ as Meredith Grey across many seasons, charting the character’s progression from surgical intern through leadership and mentorship roles. Over time she also served as a producer and narrator, helping shape the series’ creative direction.

The character’s storylines have crossed over with ‘Station 19’, kept continuity through major cast changes, and included bottle episodes, disaster episodes, and arcs set outside the hospital. Even with reduced on-screen time in later seasons, Meredith remained a recurring presence through narration and guest turns.

Gillian Anderson — Dana Scully, ‘The X-Files’

Anderson first played Dana Scully on ‘The X-Files’, later returning for a feature film continuation and a modern revival that added new mythology while revisiting classic case-of-the-week formats. The role tracked Scully’s professional path from skeptic investigator to medical specialist and scientific lead on key cases.

Her appearances bridged changes in production formats, filming locations, and network eras, bringing Scully into contemporary storylines while preserving the series’ core dynamic. The revival seasons integrated references and unresolved threads from earlier runs to maintain continuity for long-time viewers.

Sarah Jessica Parker — Carrie Bradshaw, ‘Sex and the City’ / ‘And Just Like That…’

Parker first portrayed Carrie Bradshaw in ‘Sex and the City’ and later returned in two theatrical films followed by the sequel series ‘And Just Like That…’. The character’s voiceover device, column-turned-podcast framing, and ensemble relationships provided consistent through-lines across each installment.

Bradshaw’s world retained legacy characters, introduced new regulars, and revisited earlier plotlines, while shifting settings and professional roles to reflect changing times. The franchise’s New York locations, recurring side characters, and serialized relationship arcs helped preserve continuity across mediums.

Jamie Lee Curtis — Laurie Strode, ‘Halloween’

Curtis originated Laurie Strode in ‘Halloween’ and reprised the character through multiple sequels and a later trilogy that followed a branching-timeline approach. Across the films, Laurie’s arc moved from teenage survivor to adult protector and strategist confronting recurring threats.

The role has encompassed differing continuities, with entries that ignore certain prior installments while keeping character history intact within each branch. Curtis returned for documentaries, promotional shorts, and press materials tied directly to the character’s evolving storylines within the franchise.

Linda Hamilton — Sarah Connor, ‘Terminator’

Hamilton first appeared as Sarah Connor in ‘The Terminator’ and returned in later franchise entries, portraying the character’s transformation from ordinary civilian to battle-hardened operator. Her performances spanned practical-effects productions and modern CGI-heavy installments that expanded the series’ timelines.

Connor’s reappearances connected separate continuities, reintroducing core elements like the resistance backstory, future-war imagery, and protection-detail plots. Hamilton’s returns often coincided with technology and setting updates, keeping the character active as the franchise shifted eras.

Sigourney Weaver — Ellen Ripley, ‘Alien’

Weaver’s Ellen Ripley appeared across multiple ‘Alien’ films, tracing the character’s journey from warrant officer to leader confronting xenomorph outbreaks in new environments. Each installment placed Ripley in different corporate or colonial contexts while maintaining the core survival framework.

The role’s long span included changes in directors, tone, and visual style, but Ripley’s continuity remained central through recurring themes like corporate oversight and bio-weapons programs. Extended releases, director’s cuts, and home-video extras further documented the character’s arc.

Courteney Cox — Gale Weathers, ‘Scream’

Cox has portrayed reporter-turned-true-crime author Gale Weathers throughout the ‘Scream’ series, appearing in successive films as the meta-slasher franchise moved across decades and new generations of characters. Gale’s investigative role anchored the recurring whodunit structure in each installment.

Her return appearances integrated evolving media landscapes—from local news to books and modern platforms—while preserving long-running relationships with other central figures. The character bridges legacy casts with newer ensembles, linking past cases to fresh Ghostface narratives.

Neve Campbell — Sidney Prescott, ‘Scream’

Campbell’s Sidney Prescott led the early ‘Scream’ entries and returned in later films, with storylines acknowledging prior traumas, relocations, and shifting relationships. The character’s presence grounded the series’ rules-aware approach and recurring reveals.

Sidney’s arc threaded through new settings, expanded family backgrounds, and callbacks to earlier events, connecting each sequel to the franchise’s origins. Campbell’s appearances spanned changes in directors and production eras while maintaining continuity of tone and premise.

Angela Lansbury — Jessica Fletcher, ‘Murder, She Wrote’

Lansbury starred as mystery novelist and sleuth Jessica Fletcher on ‘Murder, She Wrote’ and later in a series of TV movies that extended the character’s adventures beyond the original run. The role followed Fletcher from Cabot Cove to international locales, keeping the closed-circle mystery format intact.

The TV movies maintained the series’ guest-star tradition and puzzle structure, while updating settings and cases. Lansbury’s portrayal continued to feature typewriter-to-manuscript motifs, recurring acquaintances, and episodic resolutions consistent with the show’s long-established template.

Emilia Fox — Nikki Alexander, ‘Silent Witness’

Fox joined ‘Silent Witness’ as forensic pathologist Nikki Alexander and went on to lead many subsequent seasons, guiding the show through cast transitions and evolving forensic techniques. Her episodes frequently balanced lab analysis with field investigation and courtroom interfaces.

Over time, storylines incorporated multi-part cases, international collaborations, and recurring adversaries, with continuity carried through personal and professional developments. The series’ format allowed long-term character growth while retaining the case-file structure.

Helen Mirren — Jane Tennison, ‘Prime Suspect’

Mirren portrayed Detective Jane Tennison across the original ‘Prime Suspect’ run and concluded the character’s story in a later two-part finale. The role tracked Tennison’s promotions, internal investigations, and major casework within a changing police culture.

The character’s arc was revisited through companion materials and retrospective specials, contextualizing previous investigations and outcomes. Across the installments, the series maintained its focus on procedure, interrogation, and organizational dynamics tied to Tennison’s career.

Candice Bergen — Murphy Brown, ‘Murphy Brown’

Bergen originated investigative journalist Murphy Brown in ‘Murphy Brown’ and returned for a revival season years later, updating the character’s newsroom, show-within-a-show format, and media environment. The revival reassembled key colleagues and introduced new staff to reflect current broadcast realities.

The character’s continuity preserved recurring bits—like on-air segments and behind-the-scenes production hurdles—while addressing changed technology and audience habits. The combined runs presented a through-line from traditional network news to modern multiplatform coverage.

Kristen Bell — Veronica Mars, ‘Veronica Mars’

Bell first played teen sleuth Veronica Mars in ‘Veronica Mars’, then reprised the role in a crowdfunded feature film and a later streaming revival. The character progressed from high-school and college cases to adult investigations with higher stakes and expanded settings.

Across formats, the series kept its case-of-the-week and season-long mystery structure, with returning allies and antagonists tying new plots to earlier arcs. The revival maintained the show’s PI framework, updated to modern tech and private-security contexts.

Share the ones you’d add—who else has worn the same character’s shoes for 15+ years?