Grumpiest Actresses of All Time

From Old Hollywood icons to contemporary powerhouses, these actresses are celebrated for disciplined craft, distinctive screen presence, and careers packed with memorable roles across film and television; below you’ll find quick-hit facts and standout credits that chart how each built a lasting reputation and body of work.

Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand is one of the few performers with three Academy Awards for acting. She earned wide acclaim for roles in ‘Fargo’, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, and ‘Nomadland’. A longtime collaborator with the Coen brothers and an active producer, she’s also a Tony and Emmy winner.

Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench has a career spanning stage and screen, with an Academy Award for ‘Shakespeare in Love’. She portrayed M in the Bond franchise, appearing in entries including ‘GoldenEye’ and ‘Skyfall’. Dench has also led acclaimed television projects like ‘As Time Goes By’.

Maggie Smith

Dame Maggie Smith holds two Academy Awards and a trove of BAFTAs. She reached new generations through ‘Harry Potter’ and the series ‘Downton Abbey’. Earlier film triumphs include ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ and ‘California Suite’.

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren won the Academy Award for ‘The Queen’. She starred in the landmark TV drama ‘Prime Suspect’, reshaping the crime-procedural lead on television. Her film credits range from ‘Gosford Park’ to the action series ‘Red’.

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn’s four Best Actress Oscars remain a record. She balanced screwball comedies like ‘The Philadelphia Story’ with classics such as ‘The African Queen’ and ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’. Beyond film, she sustained a formidable stage career.

Bette Davis

Bette Davis earned two Academy Awards and helped define screen acting intensity. Her filmography includes ‘All About Eve’, ‘Jezebel’, and ‘Now, Voyager’. Davis also served in leadership roles within the Academy and championed artists’ rights.

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford won the Best Actress Oscar for ‘Mildred Pierce’. Her enduring titles include ‘Grand Hotel’ and ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’. She successfully navigated the shift from silent to sound cinema and later television appearances.

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo became an international star in both silent and early sound films. Signature performances include ‘Camille’ and ‘Ninotchka’. She is frequently cited for influencing film acting style with understated, modern screen naturalism.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close is among the most nominated actors in Academy history. She drew global attention with ‘Fatal Attraction’ and ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, and later headlined ‘The Wife’. Close has also earned multiple Tony and Emmy honors.

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton won the Academy Award for ‘Michael Clayton’. Her range spans art-house and blockbuster work, from ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ to ‘Doctor Strange’. Swinton frequently collaborates with visionary directors and explores experimental roles.

Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver redefined sci-fi heroism as Ellen Ripley in ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’. Her credits also include ‘Avatar’ and ‘Ghostbusters’. Weaver has been recognized across genres, earning honors in drama, comedy, and science fiction.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett holds two Academy Awards for acting. She led films such as ‘Blue Jasmine’, ‘The Aviator’, and ‘Tár’. Blanchett also works extensively in theatre and produces through her own companies.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis completed the rare EGOT and won an Academy Award for ‘Fences’. Film highlights include ‘The Help’, while television audiences know her from ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. She is also a producer and advocate for equity in the industry.

Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson broke out globally with ‘The X-Files’. She later portrayed Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Crown’ and starred in the comedy-drama ‘Sex Education’. Anderson divides her time between American and British productions across mediums.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron won the Academy Award for ‘Monster’. She fronted high-octane releases like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘Atomic Blonde’. Theron also runs a production company and supports global philanthropic initiatives.

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart achieved worldwide recognition with ‘Twilight’. She earned critical praise in ‘Personal Shopper’ and ‘Spencer’. Stewart works across studio projects and international independent cinema.

Aubrey Plaza

Aubrey Plaza’s breakthrough came with ‘Parks and Recreation’. She earned further attention with ‘The White Lotus’ and the dark comedy ‘Ingrid Goes West’. Plaza also expands into producing and genre-bending film roles.

Robin Wright

Robin Wright led the political drama ‘House of Cards’. Her film work includes ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Wonder Woman’. Wright has also directed episodes of television and worked as a producer.

Anjelica Huston

Anjelica Huston won the Academy Award for ‘Prizzi’s Honor’. She’s known for ‘The Addams Family’ and ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’. Huston frequently collaborates with notable directors and has also directed features.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder’s early filmography features ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Girl, Interrupted’. She reintroduced herself to new audiences with ‘Stranger Things’. Ryder’s career spans period dramas, fantasy, and contemporary thrillers.

Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike received widespread acclaim for ‘Gone Girl’. She has headlined projects like ‘I Care a Lot’ and ‘Pride & Prejudice’. Pike works across film and prestige television, often in psychologically complex roles.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson won an Emmy for ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story’. She is a mainstay of ‘American Horror Story’ and led the series ‘Ratched’. Paulson’s film and stage work complements her high-profile television roles.

Patricia Clarkson

Patricia Clarkson garnered major nominations for ‘Pieces of April’ and ‘The Station Agent’. She co-starred in the limited series ‘Sharp Objects’. Clarkson is known for nuanced supporting and leading roles across independent and studio films.

Olivia Colman

Olivia Colman won the Academy Award for ‘The Favourite’. On television, she starred in ‘Broadchurch’ and portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in ‘The Crown’. Colman also produces and frequently shifts between comedy and drama.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt’s range spans thrillers, comedy, and horror, with standouts like ‘Sicario’, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, and ‘A Quiet Place’. She balances major franchises with original projects. Blunt also records voice work and collaborates as a producer.

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