Top 10 Actresses of the 20th Century
The Top Ten
1 Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress. Known for her fierce independence and spirited personality, Hepburn was a leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years.
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress. Known for her fierce independence and spirited personality, Hepburn was a leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years. For once a topten list that doesn't put the overrated Meryl Streep at number one. Katharine Hepburn is the real number one and she will stay that forever.
2 Vivien Leigh
Vivian Mary Hartley, later known as Vivien Leigh and Lady Olivier, was an English stage and film actress.
Vivian Mary Hartley, later known as Vivien Leigh and Lady Olivier, was an English stage and film actress.
3 Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman (29 August 1915 – 29 August 1982) was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, and the Tony Award for Best Actress.
Ingrid Bergman (29 August 1915 – 29 August 1982) was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, and the Tony Award for Best Actress.
4 Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress. Cited in the media as the "best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility in her roles, transformation into the characters she plays, and her accent adaptation.
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress. Cited in the media as the "best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility in her roles, transformation into the characters she plays, and her accent adaptation.
5 Eva Marie Saint
Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an American actress and producer. In a career spanning 70 years, she is known for starring in Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront (1954), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959). ...read more.
Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an American actress and producer. In a career spanning 70 years, she is known for starring in Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront (1954), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959). ...read more.
6 Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress, businesswoman, and humanitarian. ...read more.
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress, businesswoman, and humanitarian. ...read more.
7 Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic, sardonic characters and was reputed for her performances ...read more.
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic, sardonic characters and was reputed for her performances ...read more.
8 Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton, born Diane Hall (January 5, 1946) is an American film actress, director and producer. She began her career on stage and made her screen debut in 1970. ...read more.
Diane Keaton, born Diane Hall (January 5, 1946) is an American film actress, director and producer. She began her career on stage and made her screen debut in 1970. ...read more.
9 Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford, born Lucille Fay LeSueur (March 23, c. 1904 – May 10, 1977) was an American film and television actress who began her career as a dancer and stage showgirl. The American Film Institute ranked Crawford 10th on their list of the greatest female stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema .
Joan Crawford, born Lucille Fay LeSueur (March 23, c. 1904 – May 10, 1977) was an American film and television actress who began her career as a dancer and stage showgirl. The American Film Institute ranked Crawford 10th on their list of the greatest female stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema .
10 Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo, born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson (18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990), was a Swedish-born American film actress during the 1920s and 1930s. ...read more.
Greta Garbo, born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson (18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990), was a Swedish-born American film actress during the 1920s and 1930s. ...read more.The Contenders
11 Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson Baker; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) was an American actress, singer and model. Decades after her unexpected death, she has remained one of Hollywood's greatest sex symbols with her eye-catching style, champagne blond hair, and breathless manner of speaking. She continues to be considered a major popular culture icon. ...read more.
Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson Baker; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) was an American actress, singer and model. Decades after her unexpected death, she has remained one of Hollywood's greatest sex symbols with her eye-catching style, champagne blond hair, and breathless manner of speaking. She continues to be considered a major popular culture icon. ...read more.
12 Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, director and producer who has worked in films and on television. She has often been cited as one of the best actresses of her generation.
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, director and producer who has worked in films and on television. She has often been cited as one of the best actresses of her generation.
13 Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow, born Harlean Harlow Carpenter (March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s. ...read more.
Jean Harlow, born Harlean Harlow Carpenter (March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s. ...read more.
14 Faye Dunaway
Dorothy Faye Dunaway is an American actress. She has won an Academy Award, three Golden Globes, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and was the first-ever recipient of a Leopard Club Award which honors film professionals whose work has left a mark on the collective imagination.
Dorothy Faye Dunaway is an American actress. She has won an Academy Award, three Golden Globes, a BAFTA, an Emmy, and was the first-ever recipient of a Leopard Club Award which honors film professionals whose work has left a mark on the collective imagination.
15 Jessica Lange
Jessica Phyllis Lange (born April 20, 1949) is an American actress who has received worldwide acclaim for her work in film, theater, and television. She made her professional film debut in the 1976 remake of the 1933 action-adventure classic King Kong, for which she won her first Golden Globe Award ...read more.
Jessica Phyllis Lange (born April 20, 1949) is an American actress who has received worldwide acclaim for her work in film, theater, and television. She made her professional film debut in the 1976 remake of the 1933 action-adventure classic King Kong, for which she won her first Golden Globe Award ...read more.
16 Marlene Dietrich
Marie Magdalene "Marlene" Dietrich (27 December 1901 – 6 May 1992) was a German actress and singer who held both German and American citizenship. This internationally famed actress cum singer was a frontline performer with an amazing long career in the show business. One of the highest paid actresses ...read more.
Marie Magdalene "Marlene" Dietrich (27 December 1901 – 6 May 1992) was a German actress and singer who held both German and American citizenship. This internationally famed actress cum singer was a frontline performer with an amazing long career in the show business. One of the highest paid actresses ...read more.
17 Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn, born Audrey Kathleen Ruston (4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognized as a film and fashion icon, Hepburn was active during Hollywood's Golden Age. She was ranked by the American Film Institute as the 3rd greatest female screen legend in American ...read more.
Audrey Hepburn, born Audrey Kathleen Ruston (4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognized as a film and fashion icon, Hepburn was active during Hollywood's Golden Age. She was ranked by the American Film Institute as the 3rd greatest female screen legend in American ...read more.
18 Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model and fitness guru.
Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model and fitness guru.
19 Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland was a British-American actress whose career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in forty-nine feature films, and was one of the leading movie stars during the golden age of Classical Hollywood.
Olivia Mary de Havilland was a British-American actress whose career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in forty-nine feature films, and was one of the leading movie stars during the golden age of Classical Hollywood.
20 Maggie Smith
Dame Margaret Natalie "Maggie" Smith is an English actress. She has had an extensive, varied career on stage, film, and television, spanning over 66 years. Smith has appeared in over 50 films, and is one of Britain's most recognizable actresses.
Dame Margaret Natalie "Maggie" Smith is an English actress. She has had an extensive, varied career on stage, film, and television, spanning over 66 years. Smith has appeared in over 50 films, and is one of Britain's most recognizable actresses.
21 Mary Pickford
Gladys Louise Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American film actress, writer, director, and producer. She was a multifaceted pioneer of early cinema, a talented performer, a creative producer and a savvy businesswoman who helped shape the ...read more.
Gladys Louise Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American film actress, writer, director, and producer. She was a multifaceted pioneer of early cinema, a talented performer, a creative producer and a savvy businesswoman who helped shape the ...read more.
22 Angela Lansbury
Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury was an Irish-British and American actress and singer whose career spanned 8 decades.
Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury was an Irish-British and American actress and singer whose career spanned 8 decades.
23 Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress who retired from Hollywood to become Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. She died on September 14, 1982, a day after suffering a stroke while driving her car, which caused a crash. ...read more.
Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress who retired from Hollywood to become Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. She died on September 14, 1982, a day after suffering a stroke while driving her car, which caused a crash. ...read more.
24 Lucille Ball
25 Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress, singer and film producer. With an acting career spanning over 40 years, she has been consistently acclaimed for her versatility and is widely regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation.
Glenn Close is an American actress, singer and film producer. With an acting career spanning over 40 years, she has been consistently acclaimed for her versatility and is widely regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation.8Load More
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