At the beginning of the series, Secretary of Education Laura Roslin learns she has terminal cancer. A few hours later, she survives a holocaust only to learn that as highest ranking government official left alive, she is now President of humanity's remaining survivors.

While haunted by her prognosis, Roslin rejects self-pity and takes on her responsibilities with stoic resolve. She learns quickly, develops a necessary ruthlessness, and stands firm against her challengers. Though Roslin rarely laughs, when she does, it's an effervescent, unaffected cackle. While slow to anger, her wrath is a force of nature.

Roslin keenly feels the gravity of her position, yet she never makes apologies for who or what she is: not for her illness, her spirituality, or her relationship with the fleet's admiral. She maintains a nearly unshakable grace warmed by a motherly, heartfelt compassion.

For all of this, Laura Roslin is more than a political figurehead. She is a figurative guardian angel, a surrogate mother, and a symbolic queen. She is also quite possibly the strongest fictional role model for women in recent television history.