By Rick Bentley / The Fresno Bee

No past TV season can compare to the blend of beauty and brawn on this year’s network schedule. From returning series “Fringe” to new offering “Nikita,” this is the year of attractive women who kick butt.

The tough women trend is also apparent on cable shows such as “Burn Notice,” “Covert Affair,” “In Plain Sight,” “Caprica” and “Warehouse 13.”

“I think we’re all very excited about the notion of empowered female characters, and we like those shows,” says McG, executive producer of the new action series “Nikita,” which features action film star Maggie Q. “I like the idea of empowered female characters that don’t apologize for being beautiful but are very, very intelligent and multidimensional.”

Here’s a look at the top 10 toughest female characters on network TV this fall:

Nikita, ‘Nikita’

Maggie Q as Nikita.

Why she’s tough: Nikita was saved from death row by a secret government organization and trained to be an assassin.

Played by: Maggie Q. The Hawaii native competed in swimming and track events when she was young. She moved to Hong Kong at 18 to pursue a modeling career but instead got into acting. She’s had roles in “Deception,” and “Mission Impossible III.”

Ziva David, ‘NCIS’

Cote de Pablo as Ziva David

Why she’s tough: The former Mossad agent killed her half brother to save her boss.

Played by: Cote de Pablo. Although born in Chile, her family moved to Miami when she was 10. Before “NCIS,” she starred in the TV series “The Jury.”

Olivia Dunham, ‘Fringe’

Anna Torv as Olivia Dunham

Why she’s tough: The special agent with the FBI’s Fringe Division has had to deal with weird events, many associated with a link between two dimensions. She even had to fight her own evil twin.

Played by: Anna Torv. She grew up in Australia where she cultivated a love of acting. Other work includes the film “The Book of Revelations” and the mini-series “The Pacific.”

Annie Frost, ‘Chase’

Kelli Giddish as Annie Frost

Why she’s tough: As a member of the U.S. Marshal fugitive-apprehension team she’s as good with her head as she is with her fists.

Played by: Kelli Giddish. The Georgia native’s previous work includes a role on “All My Children” and the short-lived Fox series “Past Life.”

Samantha Bloom, ‘Undercovers’

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Samantha Bloom

Why she’s tough: She one of the best operatives the CIA has had and she’s married to a super spy. When she’s not saving the world, she’s running a catering company with her husband.

Played by: Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The British actress was classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Has been in the TV series “Dr. Who” and the feature film “Larry Crowne.”

Sarah Walker, ‘Chuck’

Yvonne Strahovski as Agent Sarah Walker

Why she’s tough: As one of the agents assigned by the CIA and NSA to protect a government secret weapon Chuck Bartowski, she not only has to shoot straight but hold down a job in a fast-food restaurant.

Played by: Yvonne Strahovski. The 2010 Teen Choice Award for Choice Action TV Actress winner grew up in Australia, where she started her acting career.

Kensi Blye, ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’

Daniela Ruah as Agent Kensi Blye

Why she’s tough: The NCIS special agent is the daughter of a Marine who was murdered when she was 15.

Played by: Daniela Ruah. The Portuguese-American actress started acting in Portuguese soap operas as a teen. She won the Portuguese version of “Dancing with the Stars” before she moved to the United States in 2007.

Kono Kalakaua, ‘Hawaii Five-O’

Grace Park as Kona Kalakaua

Why she’s tough: The new police academy graduate and surfing enthusiast is recruited to a new elite federal task force.

Played by: Grace Park. The Los Angeles native has a degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia. She is best known for her role on “Battlestar Galactica” as Lt. Sharon Boomer.

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