9. Julie Cooper-Nichol, The O.C. The history of soap operas is rife with demonic matriarch figures willing to do anything for their families. But few have a more expansive definition of ''anything'' than Julie Cooper-Nichol, who fearlessly maintained her position in the elite circles of Newport society with a revolving door of husbands and boyfriends (not to mention her all-consuming quest to prevent her daughter Marissa from dating street-rat Ryan).