Julie Plec

As the co-creator and executive producer of "The Vampire Diaries" (The CW, 2009-17), Julie Plec turned a tale of supernatural romance into one of the most addictive and action-packed shows on television. Before hitting paydirt, she initially rose up the ranks in Hollywood after working alongside renowned master of horror Wes Craven and in the process, met his protégée Kevin Williamson. Plec and Williamson formed a lifelong friendship and professional partnership that resulted in developing the fantasy TV drama based on author L.J. Smith's series of young adult books. "The Vampire Diaries" premiered in 2009 at the peak of the "Twilight" craze and quickly gained a cult following for its epic storytelling, gothic romance, and impossibly good-looking and talented cast. In a field once dominated by men, Plec delivered a series with consistently stellar ratings for the network and established her career as a Hollywood power player with a strong and loyal fan base all her own.