Top Ten Actresses of the 30s and 40s
The Top Ten
1 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 in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, although her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas.
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 in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, although her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas. Daring, surprising, indelible on the screen
2 Katharine Hepburn
Loved her in The African Queen with Bogart!
3 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 .
4 Lucille Ball
5 Claudette Colbert
Claudette Colbert (September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996) was an American film actress and a leading lady in Hollywood for over two decades, and has been called "The mixture of inimitable beauty, sophistication, wit, and vivacity". ...read more.
Claudette Colbert (September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996) was an American film actress and a leading lady in Hollywood for over two decades, and has been called "The mixture of inimitable beauty, sophistication, wit, and vivacity". ...read more.
6 Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall, born Betty Joan Perske (September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014) was an American actress and singer known for her distinctive voice and sultry looks. ...read more.
Lauren Bacall, born Betty Joan Perske (September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014) was an American actress and singer known for her distinctive voice and sultry looks. ...read more.
7 Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy, born Myrna Adele Williams (August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress.
Myrna Loy, born Myrna Adele Williams (August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress.
8 Billie Burke
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress, famous on Broadway and in early silent film, best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the movie musical The Wizard of Oz.
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress, famous on Broadway and in early silent film, best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the movie musical The Wizard of Oz.
9 Judy Garland
Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American singer, actress, and vaudevillian. The American Film Institute named her 8th greatest female star of classic American cinema. She's also the mother of actress and singer Liza Minnelli.
Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American singer, actress, and vaudevillian. The American Film Institute named her 8th greatest female star of classic American cinema. She's also the mother of actress and singer Liza Minnelli. The Wizard Of Oz GREAT GREAT film!
10 Mae West
Mary Jane "Mae" West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades. ...read more.
Mary Jane "Mae" West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades. ...read more.The Contenders
11 Hedy Lamarr
Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler (9 November 1914 – 19 January 2000) was an Austrian-American film actress and inventor. Often called “The Most Beautiful Woman in Films”, Hedy Lamarr’s beauty and screen presence made her one of the most popular actresses of her day. ...read more.
Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler (9 November 1914 – 19 January 2000) was an Austrian-American film actress and inventor. Often called “The Most Beautiful Woman in Films”, Hedy Lamarr’s beauty and screen presence made her one of the most popular actresses of her day. ...read more.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Cansino (October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987) was an American actress and dancer. She achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars, appearing in a total of 61 films over 37 years. The press coined the term "love goddess" to describe Hayworth after she ...read more.
Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Cansino (October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987) was an American actress and dancer. She achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars, appearing in a total of 61 films over 37 years. The press coined the term "love goddess" to describe Hayworth after she ...read more.
17 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.
18 Veronica Lake
Veronica Lake, born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman (November 14, 1922 – July 7, 1973) was an American film, stage, and television actress. Lake won both popular and critical acclaim, most notably for her role in Sullivan's Travels and for her femme fatale roles in film noirs during the 1940s. She ...read more.
Veronica Lake, born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman (November 14, 1922 – July 7, 1973) was an American film, stage, and television actress. Lake won both popular and critical acclaim, most notably for her role in Sullivan's Travels and for her femme fatale roles in film noirs during the 1940s. She ...read more.
19 Dorothy Lamour
20 Lana Turner
Lana Turner, born Julia Jean Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an American film and television actress. She was one of Hollywood's favorite sex symbols and femme fatales who was "discovered" while drinking soda at a diner counter. She made over 50 films and was married seven times.
Lana Turner, born Julia Jean Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an American film and television actress. She was one of Hollywood's favorite sex symbols and femme fatales who was "discovered" while drinking soda at a diner counter. She made over 50 films and was married seven times.
21 Betty Grable
22 Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead (January 31, 1902 – December 12, 1969) was an American actress of the stage and screen, and a reputed libertine. Bankhead was known for her husky voice, outrageous personality, and devastating wit.
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead (January 31, 1902 – December 12, 1969) was an American actress of the stage and screen, and a reputed libertine. Bankhead was known for her husky voice, outrageous personality, and devastating wit.
23 Claire Trevor
Claire Trevor, born Claire Wemlinger (March 8, 1910 – April 8, 2000) was an American actress. She appeared in over 60 films, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Key Largo, and earning nominations for her roles in The High and the Mighty and Dead End . She also received top-billing in Stagecoach.
Claire Trevor, born Claire Wemlinger (March 8, 1910 – April 8, 2000) was an American actress. She appeared in over 60 films, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Key Largo, and earning nominations for her roles in The High and the Mighty and Dead End . She also received top-billing in Stagecoach. Known as the queen of the film noir.
24 Fay Wray
Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress most noted for playing the female lead in the first version of King Kong, in 1933. Through an acting career that spanned 57 years, Wray attained international renown as an actress in horror movie roles. She was one ...read more.
Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress most noted for playing the female lead in the first version of King Kong, in 1933. Through an acting career that spanned 57 years, Wray attained international renown as an actress in horror movie roles. She was one ...read more.
25 Constance Bennett
Constance Campbell Bennett (October 22, 1904 – July 24, 1965) was an American stage, film, radio and television actress. She was a major Hollywood star during the 1920s and 1930s and for a time during the early 1930s, she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, as well as one of the most popular. ...read more.
Constance Campbell Bennett (October 22, 1904 – July 24, 1965) was an American stage, film, radio and television actress. She was a major Hollywood star during the 1920s and 1930s and for a time during the early 1930s, she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, as well as one of the most popular. ...read more.8Load More
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