Most Famous Liberal Hollywood Actresses

From voting rights drives to humanitarian work and reproductive-rights advocacy, many Hollywood actresses use their platforms to support liberal causes and campaigns. Below are some of the most visible names and what they’ve actually done—organizations they back, events they’ve headlined, and policy areas they consistently champion. It’s a quick, practical tour of who’s involved and how they show up beyond red carpets.

Meryl Streep

Streep has spoken at events supporting women’s rights, arts funding, and press freedom, including the National Women’s History Museum and journalism nonprofits. She has donated to Democratic candidates and committees across multiple election cycles. Streep has supported equal pay initiatives within the entertainment industry and beyond. She frequently participates in benefit galas that raise money for legal advocacy groups and cultural institutions.

Jane Fonda

Fonda co-founded a climate-focused PAC and organizes “Fire Drill Fridays” protests centered on environmental policy. She has raised funds for candidates who prioritize climate action and voting rights. Fonda launched a Georgia-based adolescent health campaign that emphasizes education and access to services. She also partners with national nonprofits to oppose fossil-fuel subsidies and expand clean-energy jobs.

Scarlett Johansson

Johansson has campaigned publicly for reproductive-rights organizations and participated in large-scale marches. She has supported voter-registration efforts aimed at young and first-time voters. Johansson has headlined fundraisers for candidates backing abortion access and equal-pay protections. She has also collaborated with nonprofits that provide sexual-health education and services.

Natalie Portman

Portman has advocated for animal rights, climate action, and early-childhood education, connecting her activism to sustainable food systems. She has narrated climate documentaries and spoken on panels about renewable energy and environmental policy. Portman has supported candidates who endorse expanded childcare and paid family leave. She also backs organizations combating gender-based violence.

Angelina Jolie

Jolie has served with UNHCR focusing on refugees, asylum policy, and international human rights. She has testified before legislative bodies on preventing sexual violence in conflict. Jolie supports legal-aid initiatives for vulnerable children and families. She funds scholarships and programs expanding access to education for displaced youth.

Anne Hathaway

Hathaway has worked with the UN on gender-equality campaigns and paid-leave advocacy. She has participated in rallies and benefits for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform. Hathaway supports organizations that combat voter suppression and expand ballot access. She uses award platforms and interviews to highlight policy proposals on family care.

Jessica Chastain

Chastain backs initiatives promoting pay equity, workplace safety, and representation in film. She has supported groups advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment and anti-harassment protections. Chastain partners with nonprofits that assist survivors of abuse through legal services. She regularly amplifies campaigns encouraging industry inclusion standards.

Patricia Arquette

Arquette is a prominent advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and has lobbied lawmakers on constitutional gender equality. She co-founded organizations that provide disaster relief and housing support, linking those efforts to social-safety-net policies. Arquette speaks at rallies addressing wage equity and family leave. She raises funds for legal advocacy around women’s health care.

Kerry Washington

Washington is a visible leader in voting-rights coalitions, producing PSAs and organizing registration drives. She supports criminal-justice reform groups focused on bail practices and fair sentencing. Washington participates in fundraisers for candidates prioritizing civil-rights protections. She collaborates with education nonprofits aimed at closing achievement gaps.

America Ferrera

Ferrera co-founded groups that mobilize Latino voters and first-generation Americans. She has campaigned for immigration reform and DACA protections at policy roundtables and community forums. Ferrera supports reproductive-health organizations with fundraising and messaging. She works with nonprofits that promote media literacy and civic education for youth.

Debra Messing

Messing has long supported LGBTQ+ rights organizations and served on host committees for civil-liberties fundraisers. She participates in social-media campaigns aimed at combating voter suppression. Messing backs advocacy for gun-safety measures such as universal background checks. She appears at benefits supporting press freedom and election integrity.

Alyssa Milano

Milano helped amplify anti-harassment activism and continues to support survivor-advocacy policies. She has campaigned for expanded voting access, including early voting and mail-in options. Milano engages in state-level advocacy around reproductive rights. She partners with organizations that provide grassroots training and digital organizing tools.

Shailene Woodley

Woodley has worked with environmental groups on pipeline protests and clean-water protection, including direct participation at demonstrations. She supports climate-justice organizations centered on Indigenous rights and land stewardship. Woodley joins voter-registration efforts targeting climate-motivated voters. She promotes zero-waste living and sustainable consumer practices through nonprofit collaborations.

Rosario Dawson

Dawson co-founded a youth civic-engagement group that registers voters at concerts, campuses, and community events. She supports immigration-reform advocacy and appears at rallies for humane border policies. Dawson backs criminal-justice reform efforts, including reentry and record-expungement programs. She hosts fundraisers and town halls connecting voters with down-ballot candidates.

Eva Longoria

Longoria founded a foundation providing education and entrepreneurship programs for Latinas, linking this work to broader equity policies. She has produced documentaries and events highlighting farmworker rights and fair-wage campaigns. Longoria supports voter-mobilization initiatives in underrepresented communities during election cycles. She raises funds for candidates focused on small-business support, education, and immigration reform.

Emma Watson

Watson served as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and launched HeForShe to mobilize men for gender equality. She has funded fellowships expanding access to legal help for survivors of campus sexual assault. Watson supports literacy programs and curates reading initiatives tied to social justice. She backs sustainable-fashion efforts that address labor standards and environmental impact.

Viola Davis

Davis supports organizations addressing childhood hunger and poverty through national food-security partnerships. She has spoken about the foster-care system and backs programs providing resources for youth and families. Davis participates in events supporting voting rights and civic participation. She funds scholarships and mentorships that increase access to arts education.

Julianne Moore

Moore is an active supporter of gun-violence-prevention groups and has served on leadership councils for safety campaigns. She participates in survivor events, policy briefings, and fundraising for background-check initiatives. Moore backs reproductive-rights organizations through benefits and public statements. She supports arts-education programs that serve public schools.

Brie Larson

Larson advocates for inclusion standards on film sets and supports programs creating pathways for underrepresented creators. She has worked with organizations that certify intimacy coordination and safe-set practices. Larson fundraises for reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ equality. She uses digital platforms to highlight voter-registration drives and civic toolkits.

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon co-founded a media company focused on women-led stories and has supported equal-pay legislation. She participated in legal-defense fundraising for workplace-harassment survivors. Witherspoon backs literacy and education nonprofits with grants and book-club partnerships. She amplifies voting resources and election information for first-time voters.

Charlize Theron

Theron founded a youth-focused health and leadership project that supports community-based HIV prevention. She has served as a UN Messenger of Peace focused on ending violence against women. Theron supports programs that expand health access and education in underserved areas. She backs initiatives promoting LGBTQ+ equality and anti-bullying efforts.

Salma Hayek Pinault

Hayek co-founded a global campaign funding projects in education, health, and justice for girls and women. She has supported refugee-assistance organizations through appeals and fundraising specials. Hayek backs domestic-violence prevention programs and shelters with grants and advocacy. She promotes workplace equity in media and fashion supply chains.

Susan Sarandon

Sarandon has campaigned against the death penalty and for criminal-justice reform at rallies and policy forums. She supports labor actions and strike funds tied to wage and benefits negotiations. Sarandon raises money for civil-liberties organizations and humanitarian relief. She engages in voter-outreach efforts during national and local elections.

Barbra Streisand

Streisand has headlined major fundraisers for Democratic committees and civil-rights groups. She supports environmental research and climate advocacy through philanthropy. Streisand funds women’s heart-health initiatives at academic medical centers. She promotes arts education through scholarships and institutional endowments.

Sophia Bush

Bush co-founded a civic-engagement collective that produces voter guides and registration campaigns. She supports reproductive-rights organizations and frequently hosts conversations with policy experts. Bush works with education and anti-bullying nonprofits serving public schools. She amplifies election-protection hotlines and ballot-access tools.

Olivia Wilde

Wilde has supported civil-liberties and reproductive-health groups through PSAs, merchandise campaigns, and benefit shows. She participates in get-out-the-vote initiatives targeting youth turnout. Wilde backs immigration and refugee-assistance organizations with public appeals. She advocates for workplace safety and inclusion programs in film production.

Laverne Cox

Cox works with civil-rights organizations to advance protections for transgender people in employment, housing, and health care. She participates in legal-education campaigns explaining identity-document access. Cox supports anti-violence programs serving LGBTQ+ communities. She promotes voter education around nondiscrimination measures and equal-rights provisions.

Zoe Saldaña

Saldaña supports voter-mobilization efforts and participates in campaigns encouraging bilingual ballot participation. She backs STEM and arts programs for girls and students of color. Saldaña fundraises for disaster-relief efforts in the Caribbean and Latin America. She supports organizations addressing representation and equity in entertainment.

Emma Stone

Stone has raised funds for children’s health and mental-health organizations and has spoken about anxiety awareness. She supports initiatives promoting equal pay and industry inclusion. Stone takes part in benefit events for civil-rights and reproductive-health groups. She amplifies voter-registration resources during election seasons.

Yara Shahidi

Shahidi founded a voter-education initiative aimed at first-time and student voters, producing guides and campus programming. She partners with education nonprofits that expand access to college readiness and mentorship. Shahidi supports campaigns focused on civic literacy and census participation. She highlights scholarship funds and fellowships for young leaders.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Louis-Dreyfus has raised funds for cancer research and for candidates focused on health care access. She frequently appears at voter-registration and turnout events. Louis-Dreyfus supports climate and conservation nonprofits through auctions and live performances. She also promotes election-information resources during state and federal races.

Ashley Judd

Judd is a long-time advocate for women’s health and anti-violence policies, speaking at global forums and large marches. She works with organizations that provide services to survivors of sexual violence. Judd has engaged lawmakers on issues including reproductive rights and international development. She supports voter-engagement drives tied to women’s-rights campaigns.

Amy Schumer

Schumer has worked with gun-safety groups on background-check advocacy and survivor support. She fundraises for reproductive-health organizations and participates in public-education campaigns. Schumer supports voting-access initiatives with digital events and PSAs. She collaborates with legal-aid funds that assist harassment survivors.

Jameela Jamil

Jamil founded an activism platform focused on body autonomy, mental health, and digital literacy. She supports reproductive-rights groups with fundraising and informational campaigns. Jamil works with organizations that hold social-media companies accountable for safety standards. She also promotes voting resources to young audiences.

Busy Philipps

Philipps has testified publicly in support of abortion access and privacy protections. She fundraises for organizations that provide reproductive-health services and legal support. Philipps participates in voter-engagement campaigns centered on state and local elections. She amplifies helplines and practical guides for patients seeking care.

Amber Tamblyn

Tamblyn helped organize anti-harassment efforts within the entertainment industry and supports legal-defense funds. She partners with advocacy groups that provide policy toolkits and workplace-safety training. Tamblyn participates in voter-turnout events and public forums on gender equity. She writes and speaks frequently on civic participation.

Constance Wu

Wu supports AAPI representation initiatives and voter-education programs serving immigrant communities. She has worked with nonprofits addressing harassment reporting and workplace protections. Wu participates in arts-education fundraisers that expand access for underserved students. She amplifies resources for bystander-intervention and community safety.

Zendaya

Zendaya supports youth-focused voter-registration drives and civic-literacy campaigns. She collaborates with organizations addressing racial-justice education and community investment. Zendaya participates in fundraising for mental-health and educational-access programs. She uses social platforms to point followers to ballot and turnout tools.

Jennifer Lawrence

Lawrence has partnered with anti-corruption and voting-access organizations to promote ethics reforms. She appears in educational videos explaining gerrymandering and election processes. Lawrence fundraises for civil-liberties groups and community resource centers. She supports turnout efforts aimed at first-time and infrequent voters.

Bette Midler

Midler is a long-time supporter of environmental restoration projects and urban green spaces. She has hosted political fundraisers for civil-rights and health-care access. Midler backs arts-education programs in public schools through grants and events. She also promotes voter information resources during national election cycles.

Whoopi Goldberg

Goldberg supports civil-rights and health-care nonprofits through benefit shows and public appeals. She has worked with organizations focused on voting access and election education. Goldberg fundraises for AIDS research and community health programs. She regularly highlights resources for registering and verifying ballots.

Laura Dern

Dern supports environmental conservation groups and coastal-protection initiatives. She participates in events for organizations expanding reproductive-health access. Dern fundraises for literacy and arts programs serving public schools. She also promotes civic-engagement toolkits tied to local policy issues.

Sarah Paulson

Paulson is an advocate for LGBTQ+ equality and supports legal-defense and civil-liberties funds. She participates in voting-rights phone banks and digital town halls. Paulson fundraises for organizations addressing homelessness and youth services. She highlights resources for safe and accessible elections.

Tessa Thompson

Thompson supports criminal-justice reform and community-investment initiatives through partnerships and events. She collaborates with groups advancing representation in film and television. Thompson participates in voter-registration efforts targeting young creatives. She backs mutual-aid and arts-education programs in underserved neighborhoods.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Ross helped spearhead anti-harassment initiatives and supports workplace-equity policies. She collaborates with organizations focused on maternal health and access to care. Ross participates in get-out-the-vote campaigns and civic-literacy events. She supports grants and mentorship programs for women-led creative businesses.

Share your picks in the comments—who else belongs on this list and why?