Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / GirlFriday

Go To

1%%
2%% Image selectd per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16805657320.17664800
3%% Previous thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1623701449007747500
4%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
5%%
6[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/{{Superman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/luthors_gurl_friday.png]]]]
7[-[[caption-width-right:350:Hey, someone's gotta keep track of [[CutLexLuthorACheck all the checks Lex gets]].]]-]
8%%
9%% Caption selected per most recent IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion in the Caption Repair thread:
10%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1404492079030138900
11%%
12->'''Christine Everheart:''' After all these years, Tony still has you picking up the dry cleaning.\
13'''Pepper Potts:''' I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires. Including, occasionally, taking out the trash. ''[still smiling]'' Will that be all?
14-->-- ''Film/IronMan1''
15
16The faithful female servant. She's not an ActionGirl on the surface, but neither is she a DamselInDistress; her main job is to help out TheHero (usually her boss) at critical junctures. Sometimes she provides critical information, other times it's just a helping hand or [[TheHeart heart]], sometimes with a side of UnresolvedSexualTension. Don't presume the Girl Friday can't fight, however -- she can still kick plenty of ass, sometimes turning into a full-fledged BattleButler.
17
18The trope is a mainstay of both the workplace dramas and the FilmNoir. In the latter, the [[HardboiledDetective hard-boiled lead]] relies on his girl Friday as one of the few people he can trust in the world.
19
20The term is the DistaffCounterpart of "Man Friday," an expression that comes from ''Literature/RobinsonCrusoe'''s "[[UrExample man Friday]]" (man as in manservant, Friday being his name); it was popularized for female office workers by ''Film/HisGirlFriday'', a ScrewBallComedy about a reporter's relationship with her editor/ex-husband.
21
22The EvilCounterpart to this trope is SecretaryOfEvil. However, despite intelligence superiority being a crucial part of real-life warfare, it's rare for both heroes and villains in a fictional setting to have this type of character.
23
24Compare with TheJeeves, BeleagueredAssistant, SassySecretary, and HyperCompetentSidekick. A step-up from the SexySecretary, with whom she's highly likely to overlap. Contrast IgnoredEnamoredUnderling and DitzySecretary.
25
26The 1994 TV movie of this name and the song by the Beat Crusaders are neither the TropeNamer nor examples of the trope.
27----
28!!Examples:
29[[foldercontrol]]
30
31[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32* Kosuna from ''Manga/DesertPunk'' mostly fulfills this role to the titular Sunabozu, at least, until [[spoiler:she becomes the main character herself]].
33* Shirakawa in ''Manga/ElfenLied''. Faithful/attracted to her boss, and despite being cold and distant [[spoiler:is TheMole in the facility meant to gain information about the potential genocidal research there]].
34* Hisako Arato of ''Manga/FoodWars'', albeit through the lens of a cooking manga. She's Erina's secretary and helps arrange all her affairs, provide emotional support and complete menial tasks like picking up Erina's shoujo manga. Her experience proves helpful during her Stagiaire shift with Soma, when she helps organize the reservation system at an overly busy restaurant, giving it a modern update to allow younger customers easier access.
35* Shario Finieno fulfills this role under Enforcer Fate Testarossa before and after ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers''. Notably, as a member of the Enforcer corps herself, Shari has long acquired enough experience to strike out on her own but, for whatever reason, sticks to supporting Fate's investigations instead. The reformed [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Number]] Wendi, meanwhile, seems to have become a Girl Friday to Teana Lanster (herself a former apprentice of Fate) by the time of ''Manga/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce''.
36* Mimi from ''Anime/{{Mnemosyne}}'' is this for Rin, since they’re both immortals. Mimi also has [[HardDrinkingPartyGirl a taste for vodka.]]
37* Chiyo from ''Manga/MonthlyGirlsNozakiKun''. She [[AscendedFangirl ascended]] from being a StalkerWithACrush to becoming his Inker after a [[AbortedDeclarationOfLove botched-up love confession]] towards a misunderstanding Nozaki.
38* Riho from ''Anime/{{Nightwalker}}'' was this for both Shido and Yayoi. Once she [[spoiler: gets turned into a vampire]], though, [[ILoveYouVampireSon she turns into something more for Shido]].
39* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': Matori, the secretary working under Team Rocket leader Giovanni, counts as a villainous example. Although sometimes she does take the field as leader of her own unit (called the Matori Matrix).
40[[/folder]]
41
42[[folder:Comic Books]]
43* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' has Raitha, the Silver Adept's personal secretary, fits this trope to a tee -- a typical day's work includes rescheduling the Adept's appointments, plotting the most expedient interdimensional travel routes, and placating angry gods while the boss is out.
44* ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}'': Barbara Gordon would sometimes act like this for Franchise/{{Batman}} when she was Oracle, being his source for communication and intel. Though she would frequently get impatient and sick of his constant thankless demands, and often needed to remind him that she is not his personal secretary. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Comicbook/{{Nightwing}}, who also called on her frequently for communication and intel, while also [[UnresolvedSexualTension trading flirty banter]].
45* ''Comicbook/IronMan'': Pepper Potts starts as Tony Stark's personal assistant who takes care of his neglected responsibilities. She then becomes more and more badass; even has her own armor now.
46** Tony has also created an A.I. called F.R.I.D.A.Y, after Civil War II she effectively runs Stark Industries.
47* Both Shellie and Gail have performed this role for Dwight [=McCarthy=] in ''Comicbook/SinCity''. Gail does get her hands dirty from time to time, though.
48* ''Comicbook/{{Streetfighter}} II'' has Gibson, Guile's CanonForeigner assistant.
49* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': Mercy Graves for ComicBook/LexLuthor--at least, as seen in ''ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand.'' Her duties range from bodyguarding to business to serving dinner. Could be a subversion of sorts--she's not exactly working for the hero.
50* Deliberately subverted in Ed Brubaker's Image series ComicBook/{{Velvet}}, which follows Velvet Templeton, the personal secretary to the director of elite espionage organization ARC-7, and [[spoiler:a veteran secret agent herself, who after more than 10 years of retirement is still equal than or superior to the all-male James Bond-esque agents the group fields.]]
51[[/folder]]
52
53[[folder:Comic Strips]]
54* Spoofed in ''ComicStrip/MadamAndEve'' when Mother Anderson retells the story of ''Literature/RobinsonCrusoe''.
55-->'''Madam:''' I shall call you... "Friday".\
56'''Eve:''' I take Friday off.\
57'''Madam:''' Then I shall call you "Friday Off".
58[[/folder]]
59
60[[folder:Fan Works]]
61* In ''Fanfic/FlashByNorthwest'', where the seven founding Justice League members are pulled into a noir detective story, Wally is cast as the detective while Diana is his Girl Friday. The trope itself is discussed between them on a number of occasions, in the context of Humphrey Bogart detective movies.
62* In ''Fanfic/GreyjoyAllaBreve'', Amanda Honn is this to Theon Greyjoy. The fact that she is a very smart redhead means Theon has to resist the urge of calling her Pepper Potts.
63* In ''Fanfic/StreetSharksRedux'', Lena serves as this to the sharks. She doesn't officially work for them, but she does do a lot of undercover work for them, sneaking them food and supplies, and working as TheMole by acting as Dr. Paradigm's research assistant to spy on him.
64[[/folder]]
65
66[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
67* ''Film/EightyEightMinutes'': Gramm's secretary Shelly, who is a loyal friend and helps throughout the film when Gramm needs it the most.
68* ''Film/BigFatLiar'': Kaylee is essential for all of Jason's scams. She fakes voices, helps out the legwork, strategizes, etc.
69* ''Film/TheCheapDetective'': In this noir spoof Bess (Creator/StockardChanning) is the GirlNextDoor secretary to [[Creator/PeterFalk Peter Falk’s]] Lou Peckinpaugh (more or less reprising his role from Film/MurderByDeath). Bess assists Lou in solving the crime and waits patiently to admit her feelings while an array of female stock characters throw themselves at him.
70* ''Film/{{DOA}}'': When accountant and notary public Frank Bigelow (Edmond O’Brien) is [[SlippingAMickey mysteriously poisoned]] it’s his confidential secretary and HairOfGoldHeartOfGold girlfriend Paula (Pamela Britton) who reveals the first clue during his investigation.
71* In ''Film/CactusFlower'' Miss Dickinson can convincingly pose as her employer's wife because she knows every detail of his life (his tastes, his house,his family) and she basically runs his office.
72* ''Film/TheDarkCorner'': Creator/LucilleBall plays Kathleen, loyal and competent secretary to private investigator Bradford Galt (Creator/MarkStevens). He enlists her help in exposing a stalker and then a murder.
73* Shelley Barnes, the lesbian assistant of Jack Gramm, in ''[[Film/EightyEightMinutes 88 Minutes]]''.
74* In ''Film/AFaceInTheCrowd'', Lonesome Rhodes calls Marcia Jeffries "my little ol' gal Friday, not to mention Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, n' Thursday."
75* ''Film/FatherOfTheBride2022'': GenderInverted. The female wedding planner Natalie has a chirpy effeminate man as her dutiful right-hand assistant.
76* ''Film/HisGirlFriday'': Hildy is the titular woman, in an intentional comparison to ''Literature/RobinsonCrusoe''. She married to and worked for Walter as an IntrepidReporter before they got divorced and she decided to settle down to a bland, quiet life with an insurance salesman.
77* The version of Pepper Potts portrayed by Creator/GwynethPaltrow in the ''Film/IronMan'' movies very much applies. In ''Film/IronMan2'', Tony realizes she already basically runs Stark Industries so he makes her CEO, with her own Girl Friday, Natalie Rushman.
78** When JARVIS [[spoiler: is integrated into The Vision]] in ''[[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron Age of Ultron]]'', Tony's backup AI is actually named FRIDAY, complete with a female voice.
79* ''Film/JamesBond'':
80** Miss Moneypenny. "Oh, James! Do be careful!" Note that Moneypenny is technically one of these to [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure M]], rather than to Bond himself.
81** In [[Literature/JamesBond the novels]], Mary Goodnight was Bond's Girl Friday, and unlike the [[Film/TheManWithTheGoldenGun film adaptation]] of ''Literature/TheManWithTheGoldenGun'', she was actually competent. She was the secretary for the 00 agents and they had a wager to see which one of them would seduce her.
82* ''Film/KissMeDeadly'': Velda (Maxine Cooper) is the secretary to private investigator Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker). She runs Mike's business affairs, acts as HoneyPot for his divorce cases, and becomes embroiled with her employer/lover in a dangerous case involving murder, UsefulNotes/ColdWar espionage, and a [[MacGuffin nuclear device]].
83* ''Film/MurderByDeath'': In another [[AffectionateParody mystery parody]] Eileen Brennan plays [[BeleagueredAssistant long-suffering]], tough-as-nails secretary Tess Skeffington to Peter Faulk’s [[HardboiledDetective hard-boiled detective]] Sam Diamond (a take on [[Creator/DashiellHammett Dashiell Hammett's]] Sam Spade).
84* ''Film/PhantomLady'': In a rare case of a film noir with a [[GenderFlip female protagonist]], secretary Carol Richman (Creator/EllaRaines) sets out on her own investigation to prove the innocence of her boss, engineer Scott Henderson (Alan Curtis), after he is [[FrameUp framed for murder]], tried, and sentenced to death.
85* In ''Film/PowerOfThePress'', Edwina Stephens is the personal secretary to ''New York Gazette'' publisher John Cleveland Carter, and his confidant. When Carver is shot, Edwina delivers the will granting Ulysses Bradford majority ownership to Bradford personally, and persuades him to honour Carver's wishes by taking on the position of publisher. She also pretty much keeps he paper running until Bradford gets up to speed on running a big city paper, and is the only person willing to stand up to DaEditor Griff Thompson and ensure he does what Bradford wants, rather than what he thinks is best.
86* Lisa from ''Film/RearWindow'' refers to herself as this while helping Jeff try to figure out if Thorwald killed his own wife. She proceeds to send a letter from Jeff to Thorwald, inspect the courtyard for any body parts, and even break into the accused's apartment to search for clues.
87* In ''Film/SinTakesAHoliday'', Sylvia is a loyal secretary who waits up for her boss when he's out partying and stays up at all hours to get his dictation done.
88* Though the character of Lucy wasn't George's secretary in ''Film/TwoWeeksNotice'', he certainly treated her like one so much that she was pretty much a personal nanny to him.
89* ''Film/{{Videodrome}}'': Max's main secretary at Channel 83, Bridey James, actually describes herself as his "Girl Friday" in the opening. Since Max is slovenly and easily distracted, she's constantly running errands for him, even recording daily wake-up tapes so he doesn't forget his schedule. She's about the only person who's actually concerned as [[SanitySlippage Max's grip on reality starts to falter]] thanks to the Videodrome signal.
90* ''Film/WifeVsSecretary'': Whitey is more an overall assistant than a simple secretary. When Van decides to buy Underwood's magazine, Whitey is the only person in the office he tells, and she helps him assemble the deal.
91* ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': Etta is a non-romantic version for Steve. She has enough know-how in Steve's line of work to have her spy-sense tingle at the German agents trailing Steve, and rushed in to block off the leader's escape at the end of the alleyway scuffle.
92[[/folder]]
93
94[[folder:Literature]]
95* In Creator/CTPhipps' {{Cyberpunk}} series ''Literature/AgentG'' this is the role played by Marissa to the titular character. It's an {{Invoked}} trope as like all Assistants she's a BrainwashedAndCrazy researcher as well a VoiceWithAnInternetConnection designed to help him commit assassinations for their employers. She's also there to serve as an emotional anchor for the HollywoodCyborg SuperSoldier by design. [[spoiler: It's subverted by the revelation she's TheMole for the NSA.]]
96* ''Literature/AgentToTheStars'' has Miranda to Tom. Their relationship is purely professional, although there is plenty of friendly playfulness going on (as one can expect behind a Hollywood talent agent and his experienced secretary). It's not until halfway through that their mutual experiences cause them to get closer in other ways ([[spoiler:although she doesn't know about aliens at that point yet]]). They get even closer by the end, to the point where she doesn't want Tom to see [[spoiler:Joshua "swimming around" in her brain in an attempt to learn how a female human's brain works in order to take over the brain-dead Michelle's body]].
97* In ''Literature/AtlasShrugged'', Hank Rearden has Gwen Ives, who along with being his secretary, helps him run the administrative end of his steel business.
98* Andi in ''Literature/{{Easytown}}'' by Brian Parker. She is actually a Siri-like household appliance who is, nevertheless, sentient enough to monitor his health as well as provide him emotional support. At one point she starts looking into a {{sexbot}} body to satisfy his, "ahem", other needs.
99* Velda, Literature/MikeHammer's SexySecretary. Digs up information, carries a gun which she uses on a couple of occasions, UnresolvedSexualTension.
100* Leisl is this to Sasha to some extent in the ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'' novel ''Vampire of the Mists'', although it is strongly implied that they get a RelationshipUpgrade by the end.
101* In Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/StrangerInAStrangeLand'', Jubal Harshaw has three girl Fridays.
102* In Creator/DonaldWestlake's novel ''Trust Me On This'', Tabloid reporter served as this to her editor Jack, helping him search for TheMole a rival reporter placed on there team and doing a lot of the legwork in spying and dishing out bribes. This is zigzagged due to aids doing a lot of this for her own career and ambition, and by TheReveal that she’s willing to go to criminal lengths, such as setting fires at buildings a wake is being held in, just to get pictures. Main character Sara Joslyn (Jacks eventual girlfriend) plays this a bit straighter.
103[[/folder]]
104
105[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
106* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Felicity Smoak starts out as a bit player but thanks to her tech expertise, discretion, and loyalty, she quickly becomes Oliver Queen's non-action support. As a cover, Oliver promotes her to his personal assistant, a job title she equates to being a secretary and initially does not take well. The trope is name-dropped in said conversation:
107-->'''Oliver''': I need a Girl [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Wednesday]]!\
108'''Felicity''': It's Friday, and the answer is no!
109* ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow'' has Carol, the ultra-hypercompetent secretary to Bob and Jerry.
110* On ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', Astrid has elements of this in her usual role, but in the StorybookEpisode "Brown Betty", Walter casts her as the full-fledged version to Olivia's HardBoiledDetective.
111* On ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'', April has this type of relationship with Ron as his assistant. But since Ron's job consists of sitting at his desk doing nothing, April's explicitly stated duty is to keep him from ever doing any work. Since she's equally adept at avoiding work, their partnership works out perfectly.
112* Starting in the second series, Lizzie Stark is this for [[TheDon Tommy Shelby]] in ''Series/PeakyBlinders''. She's his secretary and willing to look the other way at his extra-legal activities.
113* On ''Series/QueerAsFolkUS'', Brian's assistant Cynthia is clearly the person he depends most on in his work, though he later starts depending more on Ted as well even though he is technically only his accountant (perhaps because he knows Ted privately as well as professionally).
114* ''Series/{{Suits}}'' has Donna for Harvey, as well as Amy for Mike [[spoiler: when he leaves Pearson Specter to become an investment banker at the end of Season 3]]. Norma also appears to be this for Louis, although [[TheGhost she never appears onscreen]].
115* As ''Series/VeronicaMars'' has the HighConcept of "high-school [[FilmNoir Noir]] with [[GenderFlip all the genders flipped]]", its Girl Friday role is filled by Wallace Fennell. Veronica also fulfills some of this trope's roles by helping her father, Keith Mars, with his Private Detective business. Her own investigations are technically something she does on her own time, usually ([[ObfuscatingStupidity but not always]]) without his knowing.
116* ''Series/TheWestWing'' had a whole fleet of these girls: Donna, Margaret, Bonnie, Carol, Cathy, Ginger and Mrs. Landingham (who also had a Girl Friday of her own, Nancy).
117* Special Agent Diana Barrigan of ''Series/WhiteCollar'', while a full agent herself, often plays this to Peter.
118[[/folder]]
119
120[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
121* In ''ComicStrip/{{Doonesbury}}'', Uncle Duke at one point asks Honey Huan to be his Girl Friday. She replies, "At the risk of sounding forward, sir, I'm free all week." Since they were ''actually'' shipwrecked at the time, he apparently meant "Girl Friday" both in the Literature/RobinsonCrusoe sense, and in the "assistant" sense.
122[[/folder]]
123
124[[folder:Theatre]]
125* ''Theatre/{{Fiorello}}'' has Marie, Fiorello's incorruptibly faithful assistant. She suffers through fifteen years of unrequited love for him until he finally makes her his second wife.
126[[/folder]]
127
128[[folder:Video Games]]
129* In ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewLeaf'', your character is made the mayor of the town upon arrival, and Isabelle is right there from the start to assist you with it as your secretary. She has some shades of the DitzySecretary, but she seems to handle most of the paperwork behind the scenes, even working on holidays.
130* ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngelII'': In the first installment, Zettai Ryoiki no Tobira, Coco Nutmilk more or less fills this role towards Tact Mayers. Since Lester Coolduras (Tact's subcommander in the first trilogy) is now commanding the Elsior by himself, Coco is left to try and rein in Tact's antics on her lonesome aboard the Luxiole. She's often prodding him into taking care of his non-combat duties (especially paperwork), and is not above threatening to tell Tact's wife that he might be trying to have too much fun.
131* Diana Burnwood of the ''Franchise/{{Hitman}}'' series is definitively [[ProfessionalKiller Agent 47's]] closest ally, acting as his handler in [[MurderInc the ICA]] and general MissionControl. If 47 is a far deadlier, more serious Franchise/JamesBond, Diana is a deadlier, more serious Moneypenny in her Posh accent and [[PlatonicLifePartners quasi-sexual relationship with the lead]], and one who [[TheChessmaster operates on a much more sophisticated list of personal motivations and schemes]], to a point where it's often muddy as to who's the sidekick in their dynamic.
132* Yeoman Kelly Chambers serves in this role in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', with Specialist Traynor taking over in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''. [[SpaceshipGirl EDI]] is no slacker in this role either, often being the one to trawl through local data feeds to give Shepard fresh intel whenever s/he leaves the ship.
133* Roll Casket's role in ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' is effectively this to [=MegaMan=], although they are partners. She serves as MissionControl when he is DungeonCrawling and upgrades his gear with what he collects, while also bussing him around in her CoolAirship. This pair a common setup in the setting, referred to as Diggers (or Main Divers) and Spotters (or Operators).
134* In ''VideoGame/Portal2'', Caroline serves as one of these to Cave Johnson, the CEO of Aperture. She [[CloudcuckoolandersMinder keeps him sane]] and runs the whole company, to the point where Cave outright says she's the one person he genuinely trusts. [[spoiler: Unfortunately for Caroline, that trust made Cave decide that she was the only person capable of keeping Aperture functioning after his own death, and so he arranged to [[BrainUploading upload Caroline's consciousness]] into the organization's computers, writing off her desperate request to NOT do so as mere modesty. And so [=GLaDOS=] was born...]]
135[[/folder]]

Top