Haruka Tenou is the civilian identity of Sailor Uranus, a character introduced in the third major story arc of the Sailor Moon series. She is a tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed teenage girl who presents herself with an androgynous style, often wearing masculine clothing such as the male uniform of Mugen Gakuen, the elite school she attends as part of an undercover mission. Due to her appearance and choice of attire, she is frequently mistaken for a boy when others first meet her. Haruka lives a life of wealth as part of Tokyo's elite and is a highly skilled professional race car driver as well as a motorcycle rider, passions that reflect her deep love of speed. She is also a fast runner and belongs to her school's track-and-field club.

Haruka is characterized by a strong, stubborn, and fiercely independent personality. She is strong-willed, capable, charming, and often daring, but her determination to fulfill her duties as a Sailor Guardian can make her appear cold, standoffish, and morally ambiguous, particularly when contrasted with the Inner Senshi. She is quick to act rather than hesitate, and her methods as a guardian are sometimes controversial, as she is willing to make difficult sacrifices, including allowing potential victims to be harmed, if it serves the greater mission of protecting the world. Despite this serious exterior, Haruka has a playful and flirtatious side, especially towards pretty girls, and she enjoys teasing people. She is highly private and can become flustered when she herself is the target of teasing or romance. In the manga, she is known to flirt with Usagi Tsukino, even kissing her once, and in the anime, she playfully gives her the nicknames Odango and Kitten.

Her primary motivation as Sailor Uranus is to protect the Solar System from external threats, a mission that has continued since the age of the Silver Millennium. Alongside the other Outer Senshi, she acts as a first line of defense, guarding against invasions and powerful enemies that endanger the world. She is driven by a strong sense of duty and is prepared to make morally difficult choices and sacrifices, even of herself or her loved ones, to achieve her objectives. Her ambition before reclaiming her role as a guardian was to become a professional racer, a dream she continues to pursue as a hobby and a part of her civilian life.

In the story, Haruka's role is that of a guardian of the outer solar system, a position that sets her apart from the main Inner Senshi. She and her constant partner, Sailor Neptune, operate largely independently, believing their more ruthless and pragmatic approach is necessary to handle the grave threats they face. Their methods often put them at odds with Sailor Moon and the others, as they are willing to make sacrifices that the Inner Senshi find unacceptable. Haruka plays a crucial role in the battle against the Death Busters, during which she, Neptune, and Pluto retrieve the three Talismans, including her own Space Sword, to awaken Sailor Saturn.

Her most significant relationship is with Michiru Kaiou, who is Sailor Neptune. They are depicted as a couple and constant companions who live together, with their relationship being one of the most defined and long-lasting in the series. The creator described their dynamic as being like a married couple. Haruka also shares a close working relationship with Setsuna Meiou, Sailor Pluto, as the three Outer Senshi collaborate closely. After the rebirth of Hotaru Tomoe as an infant Sailor Saturn, Haruka, along with Michiru and Setsuna, forms an adopted family to raise her, with all four living together in later story arcs.

Throughout the series, Haruka experiences notable development, particularly in her relationships with the Inner Senshi. Initially, she is far more standoffish and willing to work alone, but she gradually learns to trust and cooperate with Sailor Moon and her team, eventually fighting alongside them as a united front. Her character concept was inspired by the Takarazuka Revue, an all-female musical theater troupe known for its male role actors, which heavily influenced her role as both a female best friend and a fairy tale prince figure.

As a Sailor Guardian, Haruka possesses a number of notable abilities. In her civilian form, she is a remarkably fast runner and a highly skilled driver, but her true powers emerge when she transforms. Her abilities are themed around the sky and air, and her primary attack in the anime is World Shaking, where she channels energy from the heavens to create a powerful shockwave. She also wields the Space Sword, one of the three legendary Talismans, which she uses for physical combat and for her secondary attack, Space Sword Blaster, which fires blades of wind. A more advanced technique, Space Turbulence, appears only in the manga. As she gains strength, she is able to upgrade her form to Super Sailor Uranus and, in the manga, to Eternal Sailor Uranus.