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1. Katharine Hepburn. Actress | The Lion in Winter. Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut to a suffragist, Katharine Martha (Houghton), and a doctor, Thomas Norval Hepburn, who both always encouraged her to speak her mind, develop it fully, and exercise her body to its full potential.
- Meryl Streep. Summit, New Jersey, USA. 4,990 votes. Meryl Streep's remarkable ability to transform into any character has allowed her to portray a variety of sinister roles.
- Sandra Bullock. Arlington County, Virginia. 4,418 votes. Sandra Bullock, known for her infectious charm and wit, can surprise audiences with her talent for playing creepy roles.
- Kathy Bates. Memphis, Tennessee, USA. 3,778 votes. Kathy Bates is renowned for her unnerving, eerie portrayal of Annie Wilkes in the film adaptation of Stephen King's Misery.
- Julia Roberts. Smyrna, Georgia, USA. 3,884 votes. While Julia Roberts is primarily recognized for her romantic roles, her foray into darker characters has displayed her impressive range as an actress.
1. Katharine Hepburn. Actress | The Lion in Winter. Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut to a suffragist, Katharine Martha (Houghton), and a doctor, Thomas Norval Hepburn, who both always encouraged her to speak her mind, develop it fully, and exercise her body to its full potential.
Mar 4, 2024 · Our ranking. Brian Truitt. USA TODAY. 0:04. 0:53. "Poor Things" star Emma Stone has joined Hillary Swank and Frances McDormand as multiple best-actress winners at the Oscars.
- 18 Shirley Temple
- 17 Lillian Gish
- 16 Vivien Leigh
- 15 Mae West
- 14 Ginger Rogers
- 13 Grace Kelly
- 12 Claudette Colbert
- 11 Barbara Stanwyck
- 10 Joan Crawford
- 9 Marlene Dietrich
Shirley Temple has been a sensation ever since she was a child. The famous star was loved for her cheerfulness and talent. She could dance, sing, and act, which made her an absolutely delightful presence on screen. With her optimistic presence during the Great Depression, the public grew to be even more attached to her. She is best known for films ...
Lillian Gish comes from a tough childhood, which led her to act in an attempt to fend for herself in the world. She is especially notable for her performances in silent films, which powerfully depict her emotionally authentic screen presence. Acting in silent films requires a whole level of mastery that only the very best of actors can reach, as th...
British actress Vivien Leigh, who sadly passed away at age 53 due to tuberculosis, was known for her beauty and her incredible acting performances both in theater and on film. She always wanted to be an actress and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts to pursue that dream. Her debut role was in the film Village Squire. One of her major st...
Mae West wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She expressed her opinions and creativity even if they were going to be met with controversial views. She openly portrayed her sexuality and sensuality. Her work often revolved around sex and the stigma attached to it. She began her acting career by writing, producing, and performing in her own plays, which...
Ginger Rogers was a dazzling dancer who started off her career as a performer on Broadway, which caught the attention of directors, especially her performance in 42nd Street and Gold Diggers. This theater success would lead her to land her first performance in the film Follow The Leader. She woud then later rise to stardom. However, there was one p...
Grace Kelly's career in acting was short-lived, but it is still often regarded as one of the most iconic. It didn't end for reasons one might expect; she married Prince Rainier III, became the Princess of Monaco, and put her focus solely on her royal duties until her death. Her film debut was in the early 1950s when she played a role in a film call...
Like a lot of the stars of her time, Claudette Colbert's humble beginnings were in stage productions. She dived into the craze of talking pictures to make a name for herself. There was a unique look and an addictive aura to her that made her a casting director's dream right off the bat. Radiating poise and handling both comedic and dramatic scripts...
Barbara Stanwyck was raised in the foster care system, so she was never a stranger for working for what she had. Taking part in theater since she was a little girl, Barbara's breakthrough in the Broadway show Burlesque established her as a national star. Shortly after that, she made the transition from the stage to behind-the-camera Frank Capra's L...
Classic actresses had the propensity to change their Christian names prior to their discovery of international fame, usually to something more alluring, seductive, and memorable. Joan Crawfordwas perhaps the only actress who achieved the opposite; from the elegantly sophisticated name of Lucille Fay LeSueur, her adopted name of Joan Crawford was bo...
An ardent anti-fascist with strong moral principles, known specifically for her humanitarian work during World War Two, the German actress Marlene Dietrich had famously donated her entire salary for Knight Without Armor to refugees who were fleeing war in Europe. While she was only ever nominated for one Academy Award, Dietrich’s impression as an e...
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1. Elizabeth Olsen. Actress | Martha Marcy May Marlene. Elizabeth Chase "Lizzie" Olsen (born February 16, 1989) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films Silent House (2011), Liberal Arts (2012), Godzilla (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), and Captain America: Civil War (2016).
The Best Actress award has been presented 96 times, to 79 actresses. The first winner was Janet Gaynor for her roles in 7th Heaven , Street Angel , and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans . The most recent winner is Emma Stone for her role in Poor Things (2023); she had previously won the award for her role in La La Land (2016).
