The main roles in Poderosas were portrayed by Maria João Luís, Rogério Samora, Soraia Chaves, Joana Ribeiro, and Margarida Marinho.

Each woman has her own personal reasons: Amélia witnessed her mother's death and seeks justice, Jacinta was deceived and unfairly imprisoned, and Luísa wants to protect her family and heritage.

She creates an alter ego and assumes that role every day, enduring the oppressive control of José Maria, a constant reminder of the father who abandoned her.

While a part of her desires justice, another side of her still holds affection for José Maria and dreams of a blissful family life in a countryside home.

Luísa, the youngest and most impulsive, is driven by the promise she made to her father on his deathbed: to protect their family, particularly her mother Marina (Margarida Marinho), who is blind to José Maria's true nature and has fallen under his spell.