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As the highest-paid actress in the world in 2015 and 2016, and with her films grossing over $5.5 billion worldwide, Jennifer Lawrence is often cited as the most successful actress of her generation. She is also the first person born in the 1990s to have won an acting Oscar.
- 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.
- Michelle Yeoh
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Angela Bassett
- Helen Mirren
- Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin
- Rita Moreno
- Sally Field
- Emma Thompson
- Ming-Na Wen
- Catherine O’Hara
Recently, at the 2023 Oscars, the ceremony actually celebrated numerous actresses that are thriving after 50, including Best Actress winner, Michelle Yeoh. The Everything Everywhere All At Oncelead accepted the award not only as the first Asian actress to win in the category, but as a “beacon” of hope for more women her age to be seen in major role...
Yeoh’s Everything Everywhere co-star Jamie Lee Curtis also took home an Oscar for the movie in the Best Supporting Actress category after over 45 years working in Hollywood. Curtis was a teenager when she found her breakout role in Halloween, but decade after decade she has continued to be cast in exciting roles, especially after turning 50. In Cur...
Curtis’ fellow nominee in the Best Supporting Actress category in 2023 was Angela Bassett, for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, who also remains a working icon into her mid-sixties. Aside from starring as Queen Ramonda in the Marvel franchise, the actress continues to lead the network series 9-1-1 along with appearing in multiple seasons of American...
One of the most iconic actresses to consistently nab interesting roles for herself following turning 50 is Helen Mirren. The British talent hit the milestone in 1995, before she’d made some of her most beloved and best movies, like 2001’s Gosford Park, 2003’s Calendar Girls or her 2006 Oscar-winning performance in The Queen. Mirren has continued to...
While I could certainly talk about Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in their own right, the fact that this pair got themselves their own hit comedy series, Grace and Frankie, in their late seventies (across seven seasons, no less) deserves to be celebrated. These two have modeled, brought life to and joked about the lives of older women who are best frie...
One of Rita Moreno’s first roles was in 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain. Seventy years later her career is still very much popping, between starring in Netflix’s sitcom, One Day At A Time, and voicing the role of Carmen Sandiego for the original animated series. This year, Moreno also starred in 80 For Brady and has joined the Fast and the Furiousfranch...
Speaking of 80 For Brady leads, Sally Field has continued to remain relevant and very much respected in Hollywood at the age of 76. From being nominated for an Oscar for her role in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln to bringing new life to Aunt May in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, or starring in critically acclaimed movies like Hello, My Name Is Doris an...
In the nearly 15 years that Emma Thompson has been over 50, she has accomplished a lot. She gave a powerful performance as P.L. Travers in the sweet Saving Mr. Banks' movie alongside Tom Hanks, she gave Cruella a formidable foe of her own in the titular 2021 Disney prequel, and tackled the usually taboo topic of exploring sexuality past one’s “prim...
When Ming-Na Wen turned 50 back in 2013, she was just getting her start playing Melinda May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, a badass and highly-skilled operative she continued to play for over 100 episodes. Since finding success with that series, which is now her most famous role outside Mulan, Wen has joined the Star Wars universe as Fennec Shand, a fem...
Catherine O’Hara is well-known to an entirely new generation than those who grew up seeing her in movies like Best In Show, Beetlejuice or Home Alone, thanks to her beloved role in Schitt’s Creekas Moira Rose. O’Hara will go down in history as playing one of the funniest TV characters in a big role she found well after 50.
- 1940: Katharine Hepburn. When it comes to pop culture royalty of 1940, Katharine Hepburn was the queen. It was in that year that, following several box office flops, the actor staged her comeback by getting the rights to and starring in The Philadelphia Story alongside Cary Grant.
- 1941: Barbara Stanwyck. In 1941, Barbara Stanwyck starred in Ball of Fire, a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She also starred in three other movies that year: You Belong to Me, Meet John Doe, and The Lady Eve, in which she managed to "completely upstage" her co-star, Henry Fonda, according to The Guardian.
- 1942: Ingrid Bergman. The world was introduced to one of the most iconic romantic movies of all time in 1942: Casablanca. And as one of its stars, Ingrid Bergman was easily the biggest and most well-known female icon of the year.
- 1943: Lena Horne. In 1943, actor and singer Lena Horne's rendition of "Stormy Weather" from the film of the same name topped the Billboard charts. As NPR later wrote, Horne "broke down racial barriers and paved the way for many of today's black entertainers."
Nov 15, 2023 · Diane Garrett, Addie Morfoot, Carole Horst, Emily Longeretta, Todd Longwell, Janee Bolden, Matt Donnelly, Sharareh Drury, Selome Hailu, Angelique Jackson, Brent Lang, Brooke Mazurek, Joe Otterson,...
Nov 25, 2020 · 25 Greatest. Actors of the. 21st Century. (So Far) Chameleons or beauties, star turns or character roles — these are the performers who have outshone all others on the big screen in the last 20...
Dec 8, 2022 · From classic icons like Elizabeth Taylor to contemporary darlings like Jennifer Lawrence, the list of America's favorite women actors is varied and largely reflects personal tastes. Yet certain timeless, talented icons are universally adored across all genres, decades, and styles—even today.