Based on factors like critical acclaim, commercial success, and enduring fame, here is a list of prominent Hollywood actresses, categorized by era and contemporary relevance
Iconic actresses (Classic Hollywood)
These performers helped define the Golden Age of Hollywood and are considered among the greatest of all time.
- Ingrid Bergman: An immensely talented, natural, and unpretentious actress of the 1940s, known for classics like Casablanca.
- Bette Davis: A star known for her ability to play strong, complex characters, famously in films like All About Eve.
- Audrey Hepburn: Beloved for her elegance and style in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday.
- Katharine Hepburn: A four-time Academy Award winner known for her wit and fierce independence, with celebrated roles in films like The Philadelphia Story.
- Marilyn Monroe: An enduring cultural icon of the 1950s, famous for her roles in comedies and dramas.
- Elizabeth Taylor: Considered one of the last great stars of the studio system, known for her violet eyes and acclaimed performances in films like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Award-winning and critically acclaimed actresses
These actresses are highly respected for their dramatic talent and have received numerous awards, including Academy Awards.
- Meryl Streep: Widely considered the greatest living actress, she holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for an actor, with 21.
- Cate Blanchett: An Australian actress praised for her versatility and transformative performances in movies like Carol and Elizabeth.
- Jodie Foster: A child star who matured into an acclaimed actress and director, known for her Oscar-winning roles in The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs.
- Julianne Moore: An Oscar-winning actress lauded for her work in both independent and mainstream films.
- Natalie Portman: An Oscar winner praised for her powerful performance in Black Swan, among other significant roles.
- Kate Winslet: The British actress achieved international fame with Titanic and won an Oscar for her role in The Reader.
Contemporary and popular actresses
These are some of the most recognizable and commercially successful actresses active today.
- Amy Adams: A versatile actress known for films like Arrival and American Hustle.
- Jennifer Aniston: A beloved actress who transitioned from television stardom on Friends to a successful film career.
- Sandra Bullock: An Academy Award winner with a long and successful career in both comedies and dramas.
- Anne Hathaway: An Oscar-winning actress known for blockbusters such as The Princess Diaries and The Dark Knight Rises.
- Jennifer Lawrence: Gained widespread recognition for her role in The Hunger Games and won an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook.
- Margot Robbie: An Australian actress and producer who has achieved global fame with roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Barbie.
- Charlize Theron: An Academy Award winner from South Africa, known for her starring roles in films like Monster and Mad Max: Fury Road.
- Emma Watson: Achieved international fame for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series.
- Zendaya: An Emmy-winning actress known for her roles in Euphoria and Dune.
