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- Alexandra Ramos
- Molly Ringwald - Multiple (The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles) To me, Molly Ringwald has always been the queen of the '80s, due to her being a part of the “Brat Pack,” a group of young actors who often appeared in many teen movies.
- Sigourney Weaver - Ellen Ripley (Alien) Talk about a badass icon. Sigourney Weaver blew people away with her iconic portrayal of Ellen Ripley in classic sci-fi horror film, Alien.
- Drew Barrymore - Gertie Taylor (E.T.) While Drew Barrymore may be known more for her roles in romantic comedies, she started off in the sci-fi world as a child actress, playing Gertie Taylor in E.T.
- Winona Ryder - Lydia Deetz (Beetlejuice) While Winona Ryder has certainly made a name for herself, appearing in movies like Edward Scissorhands and starring in the TV show, Stranger Things, Winona Ryder first started making strides in the 1980s with her role as Lydia Deetz in the Beetlejuice cast.
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- Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice
- Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira in Scarface
- Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in Star Wars
- Glenn Close as Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction
- Whoopi Goldberg as Celie in The Color Purple
- Meryl Streep as Sophie in Sophie’s Choice
- Meg Ryan as Sally Albright in When Harry Met Sally
- Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in The Terminator
- Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of The Lost Ark
- Dolly Parton as Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5
Despite its eccentric storyline, Winona’s stellar performance as a mysterious, dark teenager who befriends a pair of ghosts helped critics fall in love with her as an actress and earned her a household name. Ryder’s career skyrocketed thanks to the comedy-horrorblockbuster, eventually landing her parts in cult classics such as Edward Scissorhands, ...
Pfeiffer’s career has expanded to various genres, from dramas to superhero blockbusters. However, the starlet’s breakout role was as Elvira Hancock in the timeless mob film Scarface. Starring alongside Al Pacino in the 1983 release, Michelle Pfeifferportrays an elegant trophy wife who becomes entangled in the criminal underworld. If you’re a fan of...
Fisher’s claim to fame is marked by one of the most exciting and liberating female characters in cinema history. Her headstrong and heroic yet sarcastic performance blew away the damsel in distress stereotype, paving the way for a whole new generation of power actresses to carry on her legacy. Only 19 at the time, Fisher’s chemistry with Harrison F...
After several award nominations but no wins, Glenn Close‘s career took a turn from supporting to leading roles in 1987. With the release of Adrian Lyne’s potent erotic thriller, Fatal Attraction, Close was finally allowed of a lifetime to give her unparalleled beauty and vivacious independence an intense, dark new side. Taking on the role of Alex F...
Whoopi Goldberg’s most renowned act was in the critically acclaimed 1985 film, The Color Purple. While Goldberg has appeared in several hits, including Sister Act and Ghost, it was Steven Spielberg‘s adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel that caught the eye of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Whoopi Goldberg also moved audiences with h...
Meryl Streep is one of the most distinguished actresses of all time. In Sophie’s Choice, Streep plays a Polish immigrant during World War II. As time passes and she ultimately becomes a mother, Sophie is forced to make a life-altering decision that leaves a mark on her for the rest of the days. As always, Meryl Streep never ceases to amaze with her...
The queen of rom-coms, Meg Ryan, has starred in some fantastic films, but her most iconic role was in When Harry Met Sally. Written by Nora Ephron, the screenplay established Ryan as a superstar across the comical Billy Crystal. Ryan brought more than her wits to the complex character, swaying between perpetual happiness and heartache. Aside from g...
Linda Hamilton’s portrayal of The Terminator’s Sarah Connor embodied what badass women are all about. The gun-toting yet touching protagonist in the Terminator series cemented Hamilton as iconic. Fact is, the latest addition to The Terminator series features Hamilton once again, bringing back the well-loved 1980s character. Sarah Connor remains the...
Karen Allen was the first woman to appear in the Indiana Jones franchise. Although making her debut on the big screen with Animal House, Allen’s impressive performance as Marion Ravenwood in Speilberg’s Raiders of the Lost Arkis perhaps the role she is most recognized for. Ravenwood proves how she can use vigilance to outwit her enemies and ensure ...
Aside from a hit song, Dolly Patron’s 9 to 5provides a narrative much ahead of its time. Patron plays Doralee Rhodes, who, alongside her coworkers, decides to retaliate against their unfair boss. What stands out is how Rhodes introduces a narrative on issues like internalized misogyny, objectification, and sexism in the workplace, problems that per...
Sigourney Weaver has created a host of memorable characters, both dramatic and comic, ranging from Ripley in Alien to Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist to Gwen/Tawny in Galaxy Quest and most recently, 14-year-old Kiri in Avatar: The Way of Water.
Apr 18, 2024 · '80s actresses like Jami Lee Curtis and Kathleen Turner were pivotal in shaping the decade's cinematic landscape with iconic performances. Trailblazing stars like Oprah Winfrey and Carrie Fisher left a lasting impact, breaking barriers and redefining female roles in film.
- Laura Keating
- Princess Leia “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) & “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” (1983) Also in: Top 10 Best Disney Princess Monologues.
- Ellen Ripley “Aliens” (1986) Also in: Top 10 Iconic Vera-Ellen Dance Scenes. After surviving the attack that wiped out her crew on the Nostromo, Ripley joins a team of marines to investigate the disappearance of the colonists of Hadley’s Hope on exomoon LV-426 – the very planet upon which her ship set down, and picked up their alien passenger.
- Sarah Connor “The Terminator” (1984) Also in: Twilight Breaking Dawn Premiere: Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Sarah Clarke. While not yet the hard-as-nails warrior she will become on Judgement Day, the younger, more naïve Sarah is certainly up for the challenge.
- Marion Ravenwood “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) This character’s backstory could – perhaps should – be a movie all its own. Daughter of Dr. Abner Ravenwood, Indiana’s mentor and former professor, she is the owner of a tavern in the snowy mountains of Nepal.
Whether it was big-time franchises that took off, such as the Indiana Jones films (which is getting a fifth movie), or stand-alone teen dramas, there were so many amazing characters that are iconic to this day, and that includes the powerful actresses who carried them.
Apr 1, 2023 · From sci-fi heroes to teen heartthrobs, from action stars to comedic legends, the ’80s had it all. These characters not only entertained us on the big screen but also became cultural icons that have withstood the test of time.
