Jade Reed
The silver screen has given us remarkable women who transformed acting forever. These actresses didn’t just play roles—they created unforgettable characters that continue to move us decades later.
Their performances changed how we see movies, pushing boundaries and setting new standards for those who followed.
1. Meryl Streep
With an astonishing 21 Academy Award nominations, Meryl Streep stands as acting royalty. Her transformative abilities allow her to disappear completely into characters ranging from Holocaust survivors to fashion magazine editors.
Her meticulous accent work and emotional depth first captured widespread attention in “Sophie’s Choice” (1982), earning her a second Oscar. Throughout her five-decade career, Streep continues defying expectations with each role.
Fun fact: She was initially rejected at an audition for King Kong because the producer thought she wasn’t pretty enough—a laughable misjudgment considering her legendary status today.
2. Elizabeth Taylor
Born with a genetic mutation giving her famous violet eyes, Elizabeth Taylor embodied Hollywood glamour. Starting as a child star in “National Velvet,” she evolved into a powerhouse performer winning Oscars for “Butterfield 8” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Beyond her acting prowess, Taylor’s tumultuous personal life—including eight marriages and battles with addiction—kept her in headlines. Her humanitarian work pioneering AIDS activism showed her compassionate spirit.
Taylor’s collection of magnificent jewelry became almost as famous as her films, including the 33-carat Krupp Diamond given to her by Richard Burton.
3. Susan Sarandon
Breaking into Hollywood with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Susan Sarandon crafted a career balancing commercial success with daring artistic choices. Her portrayal of determined waitress Louise in “Thelma & Louise” created a feminist touchstone that still resonates today.
Sarandon finally claimed Oscar gold as compassionate nun Sister Helen Prejean in “Dead Man Walking” after four previous nominations. Off-screen, her political activism sometimes overshadowed her performances, but never diminished her artistic integrity.
A baseball enthusiast, Sarandon appeared in three different baseball-themed films during her career, including the beloved classic “Bull Durham.”
4. Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn broke every Hollywood rule with her distinctive voice, preference for pants over dresses, and refusal to play the publicity game. Her record four Best Actress Oscars remains unmatched, spanning from “Morning Glory” (1933) to “On Golden Pond” (1981).
After being labeled “box office poison” in the late 1930s, Hepburn engineered her comeback by securing the rights to “The Philadelphia Story.” Her 25-year partnership with Spencer Tracy produced nine films and a legendary off-screen romance.
Despite her sophisticated image, Hepburn performed many of her own stunts, including a backward dive into a Venice canal for “Summertime.”
5. Audrey Hepburn
Rising from war-torn Europe to international stardom, Audrey Hepburn captivated audiences with her graceful presence. Her portrayal of Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” created fashion history with that iconic little black dress and pearl necklace.
Unlike many contemporaries, Hepburn achieved EGOT status—winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. After retiring from acting, she devoted herself to humanitarian work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, traveling to over 20 countries.
Before fame, Hepburn trained as a ballet dancer and worked as a model. Her slender frame wasn’t just genetic—it resulted partly from malnutrition suffered during WWII.
6. Nicole Kidman
Standing tall at 5’11”, Nicole Kidman commands attention both physically and through her fearless acting choices. Her performance as Virginia Woolf in “The Hours” showcased her willingness to transform completely, wearing a prosthetic nose and adopting hunched posture to embody the troubled writer.
After her high-profile marriage to Tom Cruise ended, Kidman’s career soared to new heights with challenging roles in films like “Moulin Rouge” and “Big Little Lies.” Her pale complexion isn’t just a style choice—she avoids sun exposure to protect her naturally fair skin.
Originally right-handed, Kidman trained herself to write and play violin left-handed for her role in “The Hours.”
7. Greta Garbo
“I want to be alone” became Greta Garbo’s signature line both on and off screen. Her luminous face, captured in black and white, created a mystique that survived long after her self-imposed retirement at age 35.
Making the rare successful transition from silent films to talkies, Garbo’s husky voice in “Anna Christie” surprised audiences who had never heard her speak. Despite four Oscar nominations, she never won, though she later received an honorary award.
After retiring, Garbo became a reclusive art collector in New York, occasionally spotted walking the streets in large sunglasses, fueling her enigmatic legend until her death.
8. Jane Fonda
Daughter of Hollywood royalty, Jane Fonda carved her own path through multiple reinventions. Her early sex symbol status in “Barbarella” gave way to serious dramatic roles, earning Oscars for “Klute” and “Coming Home.”
Her controversial Vietnam War activism earned her the nickname “Hanoi Jane”—a period she later expressed regrets about. In the 1980s, she transformed into a fitness guru, selling millions of workout videos that revolutionized home exercise.
Now in her 80s, Fonda continues her activism through climate change protests, proudly wearing her red coat while being arrested multiple times for civil disobedience demonstrations.
9. Frances McDormand
Rejecting Hollywood glamour, Frances McDormand built her career on raw authenticity and ordinary characters made extraordinary. Her portrayal of pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson in “Fargo” created an unlikely feminist hero with her practical Midwestern wisdom.
McDormand’s third Oscar for “Nomadland” tied her with Katharine Hepburn’s record, yet she rarely appears on talk shows or magazine covers. Married to filmmaker Joel Coen since 1984, she frequently appears in Coen Brothers films.
After her Oscar was briefly stolen at an after-party, McDormand invoked the legal concept of “traveling with the trophy” to ensure its return—showcasing her no-nonsense personality.
10. Jodie Foster
Beginning as a precocious child actress in Disney films, Jodie Foster evolved into one of Hollywood’s most respected talents. Her breakthrough as a teenage prostitute in “Taxi Driver” showcased her extraordinary emotional maturity at just 12 years old.
Foster’s intelligence extends beyond acting—she graduated magna cum laude from Yale while already famous. After winning Oscars for “The Accused” and “The Silence of the Lambs,” she successfully transitioned to directing.
Fluent in French, Foster occasionally dubs her own voice for French releases of her films, demonstrating her commitment to linguistic and cultural authenticity.
11. Ingrid Bergman
Standing at 5’9″ when most actresses were petite, Ingrid Bergman’s natural beauty challenged Hollywood conventions. She refused to pluck her eyebrows, cap her teeth, or change her name, insisting her talent should speak for itself.
Her collaboration with Humphrey Bogart in “Casablanca” created cinema’s most beloved romantic pairing. Her affair with director Roberto Rossellini scandalized 1950s America, temporarily derailing her Hollywood career.
Bergman won three Academy Awards across three decades, showcasing her remarkable longevity. She spoke five languages fluently and performed in films in English, French, German, Italian, and her native Swedish.
12. Simone Signoret
Becoming the first French actress to win an Oscar for “Room at the Top,” Simone Signoret embodied intellectual French cinema. Her expressive eyes communicated complex emotions without words, making her performances transcend language barriers.
During World War II, Signoret worked with the French Resistance while beginning her acting career. Unlike many contemporaries, she embraced aging naturally on screen, refusing to chase youth through plastic surgery.
Married to singer Yves Montand, their Left Bank apartment became a gathering place for artists, writers, and intellectuals. Her memoir, “Nostalgia Isn’t What It Used To Be,” revealed her sharp wit and political convictions.
13. Cate Blanchett
Possessing almost supernatural versatility, Cate Blanchett disappears entirely into her characters. Her breakthrough playing Queen Elizabeth I demonstrated her regal presence, while her Oscar-winning turn as Katharine Hepburn in “The Aviator” showcased her mimicry skills.
Blanchett’s willingness to take risks led her to play Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There” and a conductor facing scandal in “Tár.” As artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, she balanced Hollywood success with serious stage work.
An environmental activist, Blanchett installed solar panels and water recycling systems in her Australian home long before such practices became common.
14. Sophia Loren
Rising from poverty in war-torn Naples, Sophia Loren transformed from skinny teenager to voluptuous icon through sheer determination. Her Oscar for “Two Women” made history as the first acting Academy Award for a foreign-language performance.
Loren’s 50-year marriage to producer Carlo Ponti defied Hollywood norms. Her legendary beauty routine includes daily olive oil baths and eating pasta without guilt—rejecting American diet culture.
At 86, she returned to acting in her son Edoardo’s film “The Life Ahead,” proving her enduring talent. Her famous quote—”Everything you see I owe to spaghetti”—captures her unapologetic embrace of her Italian heritage.
15. Viola Davis
Growing up in extreme poverty, Viola Davis found escape through acting and won a scholarship to Juilliard. Her raw emotional power first gained wide recognition in “Doubt,” earning her first Oscar nomination with just one scene opposite Meryl Streep.
Davis achieved the rare Triple Crown of Acting—winning Oscar, Emmy, and Tony awards. As producer of her own projects, she creates opportunities for stories about Black women rarely told in Hollywood.
The first Black actress to receive three Oscar nominations, Davis openly discusses industry inequality. Her childhood home was actually on a former plantation, adding profound meaning to her starring role in “The Help.”
16. Julia Roberts
That megawatt smile launched Julia Roberts from supporting roles to $20 million paydays, breaking barriers for women’s earning power in Hollywood. Her portrayal of Vivian in “Pretty Woman” created a cultural phenomenon, though few remember the original script was a dark cautionary tale.
Roberts’ Oscar-winning performance in “Erin Brockovich” proved her ability to transcend romantic comedies. Despite her massive fame, she retreated from Hollywood spotlight to raise her children away from paparazzi.
A dedicated environmentalist, Roberts narrated “Conservation International” videos and allows her children only wooden toys to avoid plastic waste.
17. Bette Davis: The Original Hollywood Rebel
Those unforgettable eyes—immortalized in song—were just one weapon in Bette Davis’s formidable acting arsenal. Her willingness to appear unattractive for roles like “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” prioritized character authenticity over glamour.
Davis fought Warner Brothers in court for better roles, losing the case but winning respect for challenging the studio system. Her rivalry with Joan Crawford became Hollywood legend, fueling their electrifying performances together.
The first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Davis championed actors’ rights throughout her career. Her cigarette technique became so iconic that many actresses still imitate it today.
18. Diane Keaton
Born Diane Hall, she adopted her mother’s maiden name when another actress already had her birth name registered. Her neurotic, stuttering Annie Hall character was partially based on her real personality, creating a fashion revolution with her menswear-inspired outfits.
Keaton’s fearless approach to aging in Hollywood includes refusing plastic surgery and hair dye. Her decades-spanning career includes Oscar-nominated performances across five different decades.
A passionate photographer and architecture preservationist, Keaton has published several books of her own photography and restored numerous historic California homes, showing her artistic vision extends beyond acting.
19. Kate Winslet
Skyrocketing to fame as Rose in “Titanic,” Kate Winslet refused to be typecast as just a romantic lead. Her determination to master different accents and physical transformations for roles like “The Reader” and “Mare of Easttown” showcases her technical precision.
Winslet openly challenges Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty standards, demanding her magazine covers remain unretouched. Her seven Oscar nominations before age 40 demonstrated both her talent and her careful project selection.
A trained singer, Winslet actually performed the vocally challenging “What If” for the animated film “Christmas Carol: The Movie,” reaching #6 on UK charts.
20. Glenn Close
Holding the record for most Oscar nominations without a win (8), Glenn Close’s extraordinary talent remains undisputed despite the Academy oversight. Her chilling portrayal of bunny-boiling Alex in “Fatal Attraction” created a cultural touchstone for obsession.
Close’s theatrical background gives her performances remarkable precision. Her work spans Broadway, where she won three Tony Awards, to blockbusters like “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
A mental health advocate, Close co-founded Bring Change to Mind after her sister’s bipolar disorder diagnosis. Her elaborate Cruella de Vil costumes from “101 Dalmatians” weighed up to 40 pounds each, yet she performed with villainous grace.
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