Most Famous Actresses of All Time

Across film history and around the world, a handful of performers have defined eras, set records, and helped reshape the craft. From early screen legends to global stars working today, these actresses built influential bodies of work, earned major awards, and helped expand who gets to be centered on-screen.

This list gathers fifty of the most widely recognized actresses and highlights the roles, milestones, and achievements that made their names resonate. You’ll find breakthroughs on stage and screen, industry firsts, and filmographies that continue to inspire audiences and artists alike.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep holds the record for the most Academy Award acting nominations and has won multiple Oscars for leading and supporting roles. Landmark films include ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’, ‘Sophie’s Choice’, ‘The Iron Lady’, and ‘Doubt’.

She trained at Yale School of Drama and built an extensive stage résumé before her screen career accelerated. Streep’s collaborations span directors such as Mike Nichols, Steven Spielberg, and Nora Ephron, and her honors include the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn earned four Academy Awards for Best Actress, the most in the category’s history. Her films range from screwball comedies like ‘Bringing Up Baby’ and ‘The Philadelphia Story’ to dramas such as ‘The African Queen’ and ‘On Golden Pond’.

She sustained a long stage career, frequently tackling Shakespeare and modern classics. Hepburn’s on-screen partnership with Spencer Tracy produced multiple notable titles and helped shape mid-century Hollywood.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn became a global icon through roles in ‘Roman Holiday’, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, ‘Sabrina’, and ‘My Fair Lady’. Her fashion collaborations and screen presence influenced style and culture for decades.

She is one of the few performing artists to achieve EGOT status, with competitive Academy and Tony Awards and posthumous competitive Emmy and Grammy Awards. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she undertook field missions that led to the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Bette Davis

Bette Davis won two Academy Awards and amassed a long list of nominations across drama and melodrama. Essential titles include ‘Jezebel’, ‘Now, Voyager’, ‘Dark Victory’, and ‘All About Eve’.

She served as the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her contractual disputes with Warner Bros. helped spotlight artists’ rights during the studio-system era.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman earned three Academy Awards and worked in several languages across Hollywood and European cinema. She headlined ‘Casablanca’, ‘Gaslight’, ‘Notorious’, and ‘Autumn Sonata’.

Her collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, Roberto Rossellini, and Ingmar Bergman connected American and European film traditions. She also received Emmy Awards for television work and numerous festival honors.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor won two Academy Awards for Best Actress and became one of the highest-paid stars of her era. Her signature films include ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, and ‘A Place in the Sun’.

She co-founded amfAR and launched the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, pioneering celebrity-driven HIV/AIDS advocacy. Taylor’s business ventures and philanthropy earned the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe combined comic flair with dramatic turns in ‘Some Like It Hot’, ‘The Seven Year Itch’, ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’, and ‘Bus Stop’. She studied at the Actors Studio to deepen her range.

Through Marilyn Monroe Productions, she sought stronger scripts and creative control within the studio system. Archival releases and restorations continue to expand scholarship on her work and image.

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo transitioned from silent films to talkies with ‘Anna Christie’, ‘Grand Hotel’, and ‘Ninotchka’. Her performances helped define the evolution of star acting across formats.

She received an Academy Honorary Award recognizing her unforgettable screen presence. Retrospectives and restorations keep her comparatively small but influential filmography in circulation.

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh won two Academy Awards for ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. Beyond film, she maintained a prominent stage career in Shakespeare and modern drama.

Her collaborations with Laurence Olivier encompassed theater and cinema across the UK and the US. Archives preserve Leigh’s letters, photographs, and production materials that illuminate mid-century performance practices.

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford bridged silent film and the classic studio era with ‘Mildred Pierce’, ‘Possessed’, and ‘Grand Hotel’. She won Best Actress for ‘Mildred Pierce’.

Crawford later served on Pepsi-Cola’s board, exemplifying the crossover of screen celebrity and corporate branding. Her memoirs and studio records chart Hollywood’s marketing and star-system mechanics.

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall debuted opposite Humphrey Bogart and starred in ‘To Have and Have Not’, ‘The Big Sleep’, and ‘Key Largo’. She balanced film work with a major Broadway career.

Bacall won Tony Awards for musical theater and later received an Academy Honorary Award. Her autobiography and interviews document a career spanning stage, screen, and publishing.

Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck earned multiple Academy Award nominations and later an Honorary Award for lifetime achievement. Key films include ‘Double Indemnity’, ‘Stella Dallas’, and ‘Ball of Fire’.

She also became a television fixture with projects such as ‘The Big Valley’. Stanwyck’s ease moving between media made her a template for later film-to-TV crossovers.

Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth rose to international fame with ‘Gilda’, ‘Cover Girl’, and ‘Pal Joey’. A trained dancer, she helped set the standard for Golden Age musical choreography on film.

Her image became emblematic during wartime through widely circulated photography. The Alzheimer’s Association and related initiatives have honored her legacy through research support.

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner headlined ‘The Barefoot Contessa’, ‘Mogambo’, and ‘On the Beach’. She drew critical notice for performances across adventure, drama, and romance.

Gardner worked with directors like John Huston and Joseph L. Mankiewicz and alternated between Hollywood and European productions. Museum collections preserve her costumes, contracts, and correspondence.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly appeared in ‘Rear Window’, ‘Dial M for Murder’, ‘To Catch a Thief’, and ‘High Society’, winning Best Actress for ‘The Country Girl’. Her films with Alfred Hitchcock remain central to suspense cinema.

After marrying Prince Rainier III, she supported arts education and festival culture in Monaco. Grants and scholarships in her name continue to fund emerging performers and designers.

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren became the first performer to win an Academy Award for a foreign-language role for ‘Two Women’. She led ‘Marriage Italian Style’ and ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ while also working in English-language cinema.

Festival honors from Cannes, Venice, and Berlin and an Academy Honorary Award recognize her career’s breadth. Loren’s memoirs and curated exhibitions chart Italian cinema’s postwar resurgence.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda is a two-time Academy Award winner known for ‘Klute’, ‘Coming Home’, and ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’. She also built a landmark fitness and media business.

Her television work, including ‘Grace and Frankie’, expanded her audience across generations. Fonda received the AFI Life Achievement Award and the Cecil B. DeMille Award for career contributions.

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster won Academy Awards for ‘The Accused’ and ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. She acts in multiple languages and has directed features and television episodes.

Beginning as a child actor in ‘Taxi Driver’, she transitioned to adult roles while producing under Egg Pictures. Her honors include festival tributes and guild recognitions.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close earned numerous Academy Award nominations and has won Tony and Emmy Awards. Notable films include ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, and ‘The Big Chill’.

She co-founded Bring Change to Mind, an organization focused on mental-health stigma reduction. Close’s stage revivals and film work illustrate a sustained cross-media career.

Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand is a multiple Academy Award winner for ‘Fargo’, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, and ‘Nomadland’. She is also a producer recognized in the Best Picture category.

A frequent collaborator with the Coen brothers and Chloé Zhao, she maintains a substantial stage presence. McDormand is among the few to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting.

Judi Dench

Judi Dench built a decorated stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. On film, she won an Academy Award for ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and earned acclaim for ‘Mrs Brown’ and ‘Philomena’.

She portrayed M in the James Bond series beginning with ‘GoldenEye’, redefining a legacy character. Dench has received multiple BAFTAs, Oliviers, and a Damehood for services to drama.

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith has two Academy Awards and numerous BAFTAs and Oliviers. Her films include ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’, ‘A Room with a View’, and the ‘Harry Potter’ series.

Television work on ‘Downton Abbey’ brought additional Emmys and global recognition. Smith remains central to British theater with West End and National Theatre credits.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren won Best Actress for ‘The Queen’ and completed the Triple Crown of Acting with Emmys and Tonys. She trained with and performed for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Her screen credits span ‘Gosford Park’, ‘The Last Station’, and the series ‘Prime Suspect’. Mirren received a Damehood acknowledging her contributions to drama.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett is a two-time Academy Award winner whose films include ‘Blue Jasmine’, ‘Carol’, and ‘Tár’. She also plays key roles in franchises like ‘The Lord of the Rings’.

As a co-artistic director of Sydney Theatre Company, she oversaw ambitious seasons and tours. Festival prizes from Venice and others underscore her international range.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman won Best Actress for ‘The Hours’ and has multiple nominations spanning thriller, musical, and drama. Her credits include ‘Moulin Rouge!’, ‘Rabbit Hole’, and ‘The Others’, alongside acclaimed television work.

Through her production banner, she develops prestige series and films with complex female leads. Kidman’s honors include Emmys, BAFTAs, and festival awards.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts won an Academy Award for ‘Erin Brockovich’ and headlined global hits like ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’. She became one of the most bankable stars of her era.

Roberts has also worked in ensembles, including ‘August: Osage County’, and in limited series such as ‘Gaslit’. Her awards include Golden Globes, SAG honors, and international festival tributes.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie won an Academy Award for ‘Girl, Interrupted’ and later directed films with global and historical themes. Significant roles include ‘Changeling’, ‘Maleficent’, and ‘Salt’.

As a Special Envoy for UNHCR, she has undertaken field missions and policy work supporting refugees. She received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her advocacy.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron won Best Actress for ‘Monster’ and earned further nominations for ‘North Country’ and ‘Bombshell’. She balances action and character drama with projects like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’.

Theron founded a production company supporting creator-driven work and launched the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. She has accumulated Academy, SAG, and Golden Globe honors.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry became the first Black woman to win Best Actress for ‘Monster’s Ball’. Her filmography spans independent dramas, superhero franchises, and sports dramas like ‘Bruised’, which she also directed.

She has received an Emmy and Golden Globes, along with NAACP Image Awards. Berry’s career includes brand partnerships and producing roles that expand representation.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis is an EGOT recipient with Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony wins. Her screen roles include ‘Fences’, ‘The Help’, and ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’.

She co-founded JuVee Productions to champion diverse stories across film and television. Davis is among the few to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman won Best Actress for ‘Black Swan’ and received additional nominations for ‘Closer’ and ‘Jackie’. She began her career with ‘Léon: The Professional’.

Portman has published academic work in psychology and directed narrative features. She balances independent projects with franchise roles such as ‘Thor’.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson earned multiple acting nominations and became one of the highest-grossing film stars through ‘Lost in Translation’, ‘Marriage Story’, and ‘Jojo Rabbit’, alongside ‘Black Widow’.

Her stage work includes a Tony-winning Broadway debut. Voice performance in ‘Her’ expanded her screen presence into voice-led storytelling.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway won Best Supporting Actress for ‘Les Misérables’ and received acclaim for ‘Rachel Getting Married’. She is widely recognized for ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘Interstellar’.

As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, she advocates for gender equality and family-leave policies. Hathaway continues to produce as well as star in film and streaming projects.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet won Best Actress for ‘The Reader’ and holds numerous nominations across drama and romance. Signature credits include ‘Titanic’, ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, and ‘Revolutionary Road’.

Her television work, including ‘Mare of Easttown’, has earned Emmys and additional accolades. Winslet also produces projects that foreground intricate female protagonists.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award with ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’. Frequent collaborations with Pedro Almodóvar include ‘Volver’ and ‘Pain and Glory’.

She works in Spanish and English and has earned honors at Cannes, Venice, and the Goyas. Cruz continues to alternate between European auteur cinema and Hollywood releases.

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard won Best Actress for ‘La Vie en Rose’ and received further nominations for roles including ‘Two Days, One Night’. She acts in both French cinema and international productions.

Collaborations with filmmakers such as the Dardenne brothers and Christopher Nolan span intimate dramas and large-scale thrillers. Cotillard also serves as an environmental advocate.

Juliette Binoche

Juliette Binoche won an Academy Award for ‘The English Patient’ and a Cannes Best Actress for ‘Certified Copy’. She works extensively across French, English, and international co-productions.

Her filmography includes ‘Chocolat’ and ‘Three Colors: Blue’, and she maintains a robust stage career. Festival honors from Berlin and Venice reflect her sustained range.

Isabelle Huppert

Isabelle Huppert is one of France’s most decorated actresses, with multiple César Awards and major festival prizes. Key films include ‘La Cérémonie’, ‘The Piano Teacher’, and ‘Elle’.

She frequently appears on stage in Europe and the United States. Longstanding collaborations with Claude Chabrol and Michael Haneke exemplify her commitment to director-led cinema.

Gong Li

Gong Li brought global attention to Chinese cinema with ‘Raise the Red Lantern’, ‘Ju Dou’, and ‘Farewell My Concubine’. She has also appeared in international productions such as ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’.

She served as jury president at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival and has been a Cannes juror. Her awards across Asia and Europe recognize her influence on world cinema.

Zhang Ziyi

Zhang Ziyi earned worldwide recognition with ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, ‘Hero’, and ‘House of Flying Daggers’. She trained in dance before transitioning to screen acting.

Her work spans mainland Chinese blockbusters and international projects. Zhang has served on festival juries and received awards across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, becoming the first Asian woman to receive the award. Earlier international hits include ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’.

Beginning in Hong Kong action cinema, she performed many of her own stunts before expanding into dramatic and comedic roles. Cultural honors from France and other nations recognize her global impact.

Maggie Cheung

Maggie Cheung holds major awards from Berlin and Cannes and multiple Hong Kong Film Awards. Essential credits include ‘In the Mood for Love’, ‘Center Stage’, and entries in the ‘Police Story’ series.

Her career bridges Hong Kong, mainland Chinese, and European art-house cinema. Cheung has also served on international festival juries and participated in film preservation initiatives.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan transitioned from Miss World to leading roles in ‘Devdas’, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, and ‘Guru’. She works across Hindi cinema and international co-productions.

She has served on the Cannes jury and as a global brand ambassador for multiple companies. India awarded her the Padma Shri for contributions to the arts.

Sridevi

Sridevi achieved leading-lady status across Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema with films such as ‘Mr. India’, ‘Chandni’, and ‘English Vinglish’. She began as a child artist and sustained success for decades.

Her honors include the National Film Award and multiple Filmfare Awards, with a posthumous Padma Shri recognizing her legacy. Sridevi’s versatility influenced generations of South Asian performers.

Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi is a five-time National Film Award winner known for ‘Ankur’, ‘Arth’, and ‘Fire’. She balances parallel-cinema work with mainstream projects and theater.

Azmi has advocated for housing rights and public health and served in the Rajya Sabha. India recognized her contributions with the Padma Bhushan.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek earned an Academy Award nomination for producing and starring in ‘Frida’. Her screen work spans ‘Desperado’, ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’, and ‘Beatriz at Dinner’.

She co-founded a production company that elevates underrepresented voices and campaigns against gender-based violence. Hayek’s influence extends across Hollywood and international markets.

María Félix

María Félix was a central figure of Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema, leading ‘Doña Bárbara’, ‘Enamorada’, and ‘Río Escondido’. Her career also included French, Italian, and Spanish productions.

She received Ariel Awards and international distinctions, and archives maintain her costumes and scripts. Retrospectives across major film institutions continue to highlight her work.

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland won two Academy Awards and starred in ‘The Heiress’, ‘The Snake Pit’, and ‘Gone with the Wind’. She played pivotal roles in literary adaptations and psychological drama.

Her successful lawsuit against a studio helped establish the De Havilland Law in California, limiting restrictive long-term contracts. She later received the National Medal of Arts.

Joan Fontaine

Joan Fontaine won Best Actress for ‘Suspicion’ and earned acclaim for ‘Rebecca’ and ‘Jane Eyre’. Closely associated with psychological suspense, she became a key collaborator in Alfred Hitchcock’s early Hollywood period.

Her career included stage and radio performances, plus additional nominations and Golden Globes. Fontaine and her sister Olivia de Havilland are the only sisters to have both won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine won an Academy Award for ‘Terms of Endearment’ after multiple prior nominations. Other essential credits include ‘The Apartment’ and ‘Sweet Charity’.

She has authored best-selling books and toured in concert shows. MacLaine received the AFI Life Achievement Award recognizing her screen and stage contributions.

Share your favorites and the performances that stand out to you most in the comments!