Introduction
Fictional characters usually do not have a type because they are fictions. In some movies or series, it is however possible to find realistic examples. I selected the series “The Good Wife”, because the quality of acting makes all characters realistic. Actors tend to create their own role. For all the following examples, the actor and the character have the same type.
The actors show a range of emotions that is richer than a real person in their situation. Watching them allows to see a very broad display of type expression and energy. Actors are most often SX types. The fictional characters are involved in SO and SP too.
Characters
Zach Florrick
Type: 9w1
If you have no idea what a 9w1 looks like, he’s the easiest example: good natured, grounded, supportive, nice, unassuming, self-forgetting, withdrawn, over-apologetic in presence. The “nice guy”.
Veronica Loy
Type: 7w6
She corresponds to the first picture we get of type 7: the hedonist. She shows a light-hearted vulnerability, while her attitude is often an intrusive disrespect for other’s realities without any bad intention. Outspoken, self-indulgent, takes nothing seriously, provocative, easily bored, planning, and dreaming. Like many 7s, authority is a strong impulse but ineffective: people don’t take her seriously.
Diane Lockhart
Type: 7w6
She embodies the woman of authority. She is a very contrasted and balanced picture of 7w6. On the one hand, streetwise and strategist, on the other hand a true and enthusiastic idealist. This tough woman of power and natural cop (w6) turns into a gullible child at the sight of anything that glistens. Type 7 is visible in her idealization of shinny authority figures like her Democrat “heroes”.
Even if it is fiction, Diane Lockhart gives a very good taste of what authority is about. Showing and justifying directions rationally, making choices on the fly, seizing opportunities. Always positive, assertive, moving forward but prudent. The example also demonstrates that being a cop (type 6) is often required.
Why she is neither an 8 nor an 8 winger is not so easy to see. First, she has the light playfulness of the 6 wing. More importantly, even if she is into power and a little domineering, it does not come from a heavy gut energy like an 8. She is not angry.
Jackie Florrick
Type: 7w6
She is a caricature of the “evil” 1ish 7w6. Plots, schemes, duplicitous, secret agenda, authoritative, distrustful, manipulative, hysterical, hypocritical, judgemental… yet loyal, perceptive, charismatic, and enthusiastic. Her perception of her son is a good illustration of the word “over-idealist”.
Grace Florrick
Type: 7w6
The 7w6 adolescent next door: I want this, I want this, I want this… No! It’s not what I want! 🙂
Eli Gold
First impression 6w7. Real type 7w6.
A more nervous and Machiavellian version of 7w6: the end justifies the means. This style of 7 is often confused with type 6. We find the typical mindset of 7w6: trickster, authority, plots, idealism, impatient, bossy, sarcasm, comedian, cop (w6). The actor gives a comic touch to the Machiavellian dimension of planning. Yet, the same underlying vibe: good intentioned, human, loyal and vulnerable to pain.
Elisabeth Tascioni
First impression 7w6. Real type 9w1.
Her type is far from obvious. She is a good example of high temperament 7-like positive 9w1. Placid, elusive, purely instinctive, hard to catch. She seems to live in a parallel universe but has an unbreakable instinct. The character is enriched with special features such as being brilliant, very excitable, and weird. It involves elements of 9ish fogginess. A clear 9ish trait: seeing the best in others.
Will Gardner
First impression 3w4. Real type 9w1.
The type of the actor is easy to see. The character is more in-between. Ambitious but showing a warm and benevolent paternalistic (w1) persona. Avoidant, unable to know what he wants, his foot dragging in relationships is realistic. Placid, often looks like an abandoned child without love as a part of his charm. Grounded and instinctive.
Kalinda Sharma
First impression 6w5. Real type 9w1.
Her type is not easy to see at all. Her tough and secretive side is a bit exaggerated for a 9. Yet the “warm and fuzzy” Kalinda is a 9. She may not be very realistic about her daily activities but her emotions and attitude towards her friends is very compatible with a 9.
Cary Agos
First impression 7w6. Real type 9w1.
First portrayed as a bit arrivistic and pretentious, he could be superficially thought to be a 7. Strangely the most truthful, loyal, and sensible character. Fuzzy, nice and ethereal like a 9.
Peter Florrick
First impression: no idea. Real type maybe 7w6 (unsure)
Maybe modelled after Clinton (a 3ish 9), the actor seems to be 7w6 (similar to Bruce Willis or George Clooney). His type is not so clear, he looks a bit grounded and cool like a 9. I can’t rule out 9. The idealism and authority are embedded in a rounder and nicer tone suitable for a politician. The wing is unclear. The character has something of w8. He may be partly inspired by Kennedy (7w6).
Alica Florrick
First impression 1 or 6. Real type: 9w1
I thought she was a 6 or a 1 for some time. A very realistic picture of 9w1: the “saint”. From an initial portrayal of a morally principled unassuming woman, sometimes walked over and used, we soon get into the background: disillusioned and falsely innocent. She is a good portrayal of a rather typical 3ish 9w1. Hard working, obliging, placid, over-apologetic, a little rigid, perfect.
Notes about character realism
The goal of the show is not to be realistic at all costs.
Will Gardner is a very realistic 9w1 in terms of ego defences and micro-expressions. However, I have never met a 9 showing so much aggressive ambition for things like being a successful lawyer or making money. An ambitious 9 is usually to be found in harmless matters where competition is less materialistic.
Kalinda is a clear SX 9w1 in her attitude and feelings towards people, but I guess you will not find a 9w1 so actively alert and tough hanging around drug-dealers.
Diane Lockhart is a very realistic 7 in her authority, but it is rare to find a 7 both capable to sometime feel bad about herself and yet so strongly authoritative. She is somehow an idealized 7. The authority of a 7 is rarely so efficient. True 7s are more scattered and less grounded in facts.
A truly Machiavellian 7w6 is not as sincere and truthful as Eli Gold. A true “evil” 7 like Jackie Florrick would have lost her wit, gullibility and sense of humour.
Characters like Cannings or Swinney are not realistic. Good mannered sophisticated psychopaths only exist on TV.
7w6 and 9w1
If typed too fast, the result would be:
- Zach Florrick : 9w1 (this one is impossible to miss)
- Veronica Loy : 7w8 (because hedonist and assertive)
- Diane Lockhart : 8w7 (because woman of power)
- Jackie Florrick : maybe 1w2 (because rigid and manipulative)
- Grace Florrick : 2w3 or 6w7 (because she’s a girl?)
- Eli Gold : 6w7 (because loyal and nervous)
- Elisabeth Tascioni : 7w6 (because excitable and fun)
- Will Gardner : 3w4 (because individualistic and ambitious)
- Kalinda Sharma : 6w5 (because secretive and loyal)
- Cary Agos : 3w2 (because nicer and blonder than Will)
- Peter Florrick : 8.. or 3… because… whatever
- Alica Florrick : 1w2 (because “advocate” and Hilary)
We get examples for many types. It is only when thinking further that something strange appears: everyone is either 7w6 or 9w1. Why is it so? Good question.
Enneagram Elements 