How to make a character "special" but avoid cliches?

I think to avoid cliches you should develop the characters personality traits, write them with more earnest. The most compelling feature or, say, Tess from 'Tess of the D'Uberbevilles' by Thomas Hardy is her innocence and sincerity and how even Hardy handled her, to the point of loving his own character and wishing to protect her. The relationship between character and author in very much skipped over these days, so why not bring it back into fashion? :)