History Main / PluckyOfficeGirl

Overlaps with TheWoobie if she is the lead character. In [[BlackComedy black comedies]], this often overlaps with the ChewToy. AlwaysFemale, because the same behavior and treatment in a man [[DoubleStandard comes across differently]]. In anime, the OfficeLady tends to be this. Related to BadassBureaucrat and GirlFriday. Contrast HighPoweredCareerWoman who is far more successful at pursuing her endless ambitions.

* [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]] in ''Film/BatmanReturns'' is a Deconstruction of this trope. She's HollywoodHomely, has got a lot of ideas, and never gets noticed by her boss, due to her ShrinkingViolet tendencies. When she finally does get noticed snooping around the office, he tries to kill her, and her sanity takes a sharp jump off a cliff.

** Mia [=McKibben=] works as an assistant in ''[[LongTitle Hollywood Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things? Let's Find Out!]]'' and has every trait of an Creator/AaronSorkin female protagonist: competent, assertive, professional and willing to put a façade of good team worker. Except, because of her need to stay on top in a man's world and dislike for unprofessionalism, she's also an A-grade {{Jerkass}} CompetitionFreak with no qualms about her [[InsufferableGenius insufferable ego]].

%%* Tess [=McGill=], Melanie Griffith's character in ''Film/WorkingGirl.''

[[folder:Film]]
%%* Erin the File Girl in ''Film/WhatWomenWant''.

* [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]] in ''Film/BatmanReturns'' is a Deconstruction of this trope. She's HollywoodHomely, has got a lot of ideas, and never gets noticed by her boss, due to her ShrinkingViolet tendencies. When she finally does get noticed snooping around the office, he tries to kill her, and her sanity takes a sharp jump off a cliff.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'':
** If Leslie Knope didn't come along after ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'', she might very well be the epitome or trope namer.
** April Ludgate could be a parody of this character. She begins the series as TheSnarkKnight intern who takes on a full-time position as Ron's assistant, and he likes her specifically for the fact that she's good at stonewalling people who want to meet with him and is a ProfessionalSlacker. However, as the series progresses and she [[DefrostingIceQueen becomes closer to her co-workers]], she becomes more involved with her work and more driven to better herself.
* Mary Richards from ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' basically starts out as one of these. She's got spunk, though.
** While Mary is given the seemingly-prestigious title of associate producer of the ''Six O'Clock News'' in the very first episode, it's initially established that the job itself is no great shakes, and actually pays less than the secretarial position she'd planned to apply for. In fact, when she eagerly accepts the alternate job offer, Lou even offers to make her a ''full'' producer in exchange for an additional pay cut; she declines, sheepishly admitting that she can barely afford to be an associate. She does come to take on more responsibility as the show progresses.

* Pretty much the whole point of ''Series/UglyBetty''. The main character, Betty Suarez, is a recent college graduate desperate to work in the magazine industry. She's hired by Bradford Meade, the president of Meade Publications, to be the assistant to Daniel Meade, the editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine ''Mode'', ''because'' she's so frumpy and unglamorous (unlike virtually everyone else who works there). Daniel is Bradford's son, and Bradford is tired of Daniel sleeping with his assistants and then breaking their hearts. Betty, however, proves to be much more than Bradford or Daniel expected.

* Kitty from ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' is sort of an insane one of these who has enough knowledge to manipulate everyone, but is crazy and all she really wants is George Sr. (and to have a baby with him).
** Ironically, Judy Greer went to this trope quite frequently in the short-lived series ''Series/MissGuided''

* ''Series/{{Greek}}'': In stark contrast to her appearance in the previous chapter (where she was a BaitAndSwitchTyrant to the CRU ZBZ house), Lizzi fulfills this trope to the rest of ZBZ Nationals at the convention.
* Pam on ''Series/TheOfficeUS''. She begins the series as the epitome of this trope, a tired woman who has long ago given up her dream to be an artist and engaged to her high school boyfriend who doesn't appreciate her. She basically has to be a receptionist, take care of her boss Michael and put up with the craziest co-workers ever. However, season 3 gave her major CharacterDevelopment and a confidence boost. In season 5 she asserts herself and ends up going to art school and later gets promoted to a salesman. In season 7, when it becomes obvious that sales just aren't for her, she successfully uses a BatmanGambit to get herself promoted to Office Administrator, a job she (so far) seems to love. Oh, and she ends up HappilyMarried and BabiesEverAfter to the much more compatible Jim.
* When Lucy Coe first appeared on ''Series/GeneralHospital'', she was a plucky librarian girl. After a run-in with bad boy Kevin O'Connor, she [[BeautifulAllAlong ditched the mousy trappings]] and became one of the more celebrated bad girls in the show's history.
* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'''s Toshiko, to a certain extent, who often seems to be having a lot less fun than the rest of the team. Rather than going out into the field and doing thrilling things, she's the VoiceWithAnInternetConnection. Rather than [[EverybodyHasLotsofSex having lots of sex]], she has a CartwrightCurse. And when she gets some AppliedPhlebotinum that allows her to [[AMindIsATerribleThingToRead read minds, she's shocked and hurt to discover that she's everybody's]] ButtMonkey. Still, she's extremely clever. [[spoiler:Sadly, she dies.]] Ianto is a bit of a GenderFlipped variant. He's secretly a dangerous volcano of angst, at least at first, but nobody cares enough to notice as long as he keeps [[YouGetMeCoffee bringing them coffee]], and before he gets to know him, Jack appreciates him more for his [[SharpDressedMan dress sense]] than his talents and personality. [[spoiler:Sadly, he dies too.]]
* Donna Noble in ''Series/DoctorWho''. She's been a temp for years and is broadly ignored in every office she works in but has picked up a lot of stuff, including a 100wpm typing speed. She uses her knowledge of office-based activity to solve mysteries more than once, such as realising all the staff in a factory are alien clones because the HR records show that none of them have ever taken a sick day. As with all things ''Doctor Who'', ItMakesSenseInContext.
%%* Claude in ''Series/LessThanPerfect''.
* Donatella Moss from ''Series/TheWestWing'' started off like this, but as her raw competence and devotion to her boss grew as the series went on, she went from being just another Plucky Office Girl to being a B-level heroine in her own right.
* The ironically-named Joy Merryweather in ''Series/DropTheDeadDonkey'' resents being the low-level gopher for the Globelink News office. Reasonable, as she has more brains than Gus, Dave and the rest put together. Everyone's wary of her though, given her taste for revenge and ferocious headbutts.
* Carrie Heffernan, a legal secretary for sporadically indifferent employers, in ''Series/TheKingOfQueens'', swerves between resentful frustration and a desire to enhance her working status.
* ''Series/TheHappyApple'' is about Nancy Gray; a young secretary at an advertising agency. Nancy's gift is that she is 'more average than average'. This grants her an uncanny ability to predict which campaigns will resonate with the public and which will flop: which makes her invaluable to her bosses.
* Ezri Dax in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' who is quite emotive and openly insecure as the station's new counselor in the final season. Entering into an already established friend circle in the middle of a war with the legacy of Jadzia to hold up, she has a lot to prove.

* Sachiko in the "Koi no Dance Site" level of ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan''. Whether she has the first or second kind of ending is whether you win or lose the level.

* Mary Richards from ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' basically starts out as one of these. She's [[YouGotSpunk got spunk]], though.

** When the bank had a store setup and Meredith was effectively a ShopKeeper, she had a line indicating that carrying large amounts of gold around had given her SuperStrength. This received a CallBack when...

Overlaps with TheWoobie if she is the lead character. In [[BlackComedy black comedies]], this often overlaps with the ChewToy. AlwaysFemale, because the same behavior and treatment in a man [[DoubleStandard comes across differently]]. In anime, the OfficeLady tends to be this. Related to BadassBureaucrat and GirlFriday.

** Mia [=McKibben=] works as an assistant in ''[[OverlyLongName Hollywood Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things? Let's Find Out!]]'' and has every trait of an Creator/AaronSorkin female protagonist: competent, assertive, professional and willing to put a façade of good team worker. Except, because of her need to stay on top in a man's world and dislike for unprofessionalism, she's also an A-grade {{Jerkass}} CompetitionFreak with no qualms about her [[InsufferableGenius insufferable ego]].

* The ironically-named Joy Merryweather in ''Series/DropTheDeadDonkey'' resents being the low-level gopher for the Globelink News office. Reasonable, as she has more brains than Gus, Dave and the rest put together.

Overlaps with TheWoobie if she is the lead character. In [[BlackComedy black comedies]], this often overlaps with the ChewToy. AlwaysFemale, because the same behavior and treatment in a man [[DoubleStandard comes across differently]]. In anime, the OfficeLady tends to be this. Related to BadassBureaucrat.

** April Ludgate of ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' could be a parody of this character. She begins the series as TheSnarkKnight intern who takes on a full-time position as Ron's assistant, and he likes her specifically for the fact that she's good at stonewalling people who want to meet with him and is a ProfessionalSlacker. However, as the series progresses and she [[DefrostingIceQueen becomes closer to her co-workers]], she becomes more involved with her work and more driven to better herself.

* ''Series/ParksandRecreation'':
** If Leslie Knope didn't come along after ''Series/The MaryTylerMooreShow'', she might very well be the epitome or trope namer.

* Liz Lemon from ''[[Series/{{ThirtyRock}} 30 Rock]]'', except for the part about the low-ranking position, being head writer and OnlySaneEmployee.

* April Ludgate of ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' could be a parody of this character. She begins the series as TheSnarkKnight intern who takes on a full-time position as Ron's assistant, and he likes her specifically for the fact that she's good at stonewalling people who want to meet with him and is a ProfessionalSlacker. However, as the series progresses and she [[DefrostingIceQueen becomes closer to her co-workers]], she becomes more involved with her work and more driven to better herself.

%%* ''Series/UglyBetty''

* Sachiko in the "Koi no Dance Site" level of [[VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan the first Ouendan Game]]. Whether she has the first or second kind of ending is whether you win or lose the level.

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/TheOffice https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_72314882_b894_4633_bb17_5115cea5f6e1.png]]]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/TheOffice https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_72314882_b894_4633_bb17_5115cea5f6e1.png]]

* Linna Yamazaki in ''[[Anime/BubblegumCrisis Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040]]''.

* Erin the File Girl in ''Film/WhatWomenWant''.

* Jean in ''Film/AmericanPsycho''.
* Andy in ''Film/TheDevilWearsPrada''.
* Tess [=McGill=], Melanie Griffith's character in ''Film/WorkingGirl.''

* Claude in ''Series/LessThanPerfect''.

* Liz Lemon from ''[[Series/{{ThirtyRock}} 30 Rock]]'' qualifies in all aspects except for the part about the low-ranking position, being head writer and OnlySaneEmployee.

* Bailey Quarters from ''Series/{{WKRP In Cincinnati}}'' would count, but Jennifer Marlowe wouldn't.

* Arguably, Donna Noble in ''Series/DoctorWho''. She's been a temp for years and is broadly ignored in every office she works in but has picked up a lot of stuff, including a 100wpm typing speed. She uses her knowledge of office-based activity to solve mysteries more than once, such as realising all the staff in a factory are alien clones because the HR records show that none of them have ever taken a sick day. As with all things ''Doctor Who'', ItMakesSenseInContext.

This will go one of two ways. First, she will get noticed by someone higher up on the food chain, get a makeover and learn to show confidence which gets her noticed. Or, second (and much more common these days), she'll forever remain the PluckyComicRelief, with only the occasional DayInTheLimelight episode concentrating on her and her problems, wants, and dreams.

** While Mary is given the seemingly-prestigious title of associate producer of the ''Six O'Clock News'' in the very first episode, it's initially established that the job itself is no great shakes, and actually pays less than the secretarial position she'd planned to apply for. In fact, when she eagerly accepts the alternate job offer, Lou even offers to make her a ''full'' producer in exchange for an additional pay cut; she declines, sheepishly admitting that she can barely afford being an associate. She does come to take on more responsibility as the show progresses.

* Pam on ''Series/TheOfficeUS''. She begins the series as the epitome of this trope, a tired woman who has long ago given up her dream to be an artist and engaged to her high school boyfriend who doesn't appreciate her. She basically has to be a receptionist, take care of her boss Michael and put up with the craziest co-workers ever. However season 3 gave her major CharacterDevelopment and a confidence boost. In season 5 she asserts herself and ends up going to art school and later gets promoted to a salesman. In season 7, when it becomes obvious that sales just aren't for her, she successfully uses a BatmanGambit to get herself promoted to Office Administrator, a job she (so far) seems to love. Oh, and she ends up HappilyMarried and BabiesEverAfter to the much more compatible Jim.

* Arguably, Donna Noble in ''Series/DoctorWho''. She's been a temp for years and is broadly ignored in every office she works in, but has picked up a lot of stuff, including a 100wpm typing speed. She uses her knowledge of office-based activity to solve mysteries more than once, such as realising all the staff in a factory are alien clones because the HR records show that none of them have ever taken a sick day. As with all things ''Doctor Who'', ItMakesSenseInContext.

* Donatella Moss from ''Series/TheWestWing'' started off as this, but as her raw competence and devotion to her boss grew as the series went on, she went from being just another Plucky Office Girl to being a B-level heroine in her own right.

* The theme song to the film ''Film/NineToFive'' (above), performed by Creator/DollyParton, explained the theme of the film with dry sardonic numour and was a worldwide hit.

** Mia [=McKibben=] works as an assistant in ''[[OverlyLongName Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things? Let's Find Out!]]'' and has every trait of an Creator/AaronSorkin female protagonist: competent, assertive, professional and willing to put a façade of good team worker. Except, because of her need to stay on top in a man's world and dislike for unprofessionality, she's also an A-grade {{Jerkass}} CompetitionFreak with no qualms about her [[InsufferableGenius insufferable ego]].

* Karen Billings, Pam Dawber's character in the ''Series/TwilightZone'' episode "But Can She Type".

** Mia [=McKibben=] has every trait of an Creator/AaronSorkin female protagonist: competent, assertive, professional and willing to put a façade of good team worker. Except, because of her need to stay on top in a man's world and dislike for unprofessionality, she's also an A-grade {{Jerkass}} CompetitionFreak with no qualms about her [[InsufferableGenius insufferable ego]].
** Stefani Stilton's competence, bubbly attitude and almost diabetes-inducing tone has little to do with her real attitude which she often uses to her advantage to go for the hottest scoop. Not a cartoonish villain by any chance, just a cheerful individual whose job efficiency is made possible by a humble, pragmatic knowledge of her cynical soul.

This will go one of two ways. First, she will get noticed by someone higher up on the food chain, get a makeover and learn to show confidence which gets her noticed (and thus become a [[Literature/{{TCWGTHAH-Heroines}} Romance-Genre Heroine]]). Or, second (and much more common these days), she'll forever remain the PluckyComicRelief, with only the occasional DayInTheLimelight episode concentrating on her and her problems, wants, and dreams.