In the Golden Age of cinema, soft lighting, hair, and make-up, mixed with a little bit of vaseline on the lens, gave female actors a beautiful glow and halo effect, dramatizing their beauty and creating that classic Hollywood look. But ever since, women have radiated through the screen for more than just their looks, and are honored for their talent, determination, and dominating power on screen.
These all-time leading female actors have captured the hearts of audiences and their movies are some of the greatest of all time. Between them, they have countless Academy Awards, and their contributions to the acting world have defined women in film for centuries to come.
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster is no stranger to the spotlight, as she's been acting or modeling since she was three years old. Her breakthrough role was in Martin Scorcese's Taxi Driver. She received an Oscar nomination for the performance and began to define herself as a professional.
As an adult, most notably, she portrayed Clarence Sterling in the film Silence of the Lambs, winning a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Academy Award for her role. The film won in all five major categories at the Oscars and her role is often referred to as a defining characteristic of the film. Her passion for acting and intelligent mind bring unique perspectives to the films she works on and continue to impact audiences to this day.
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates started her career, like many, in New York City. She began by taking on stage production roles and minor roles in some TV and movies. As she started to make a name for herself on stage, she had her breakthrough performance in the 1990 horror film, Misery, for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress.
Other film credits include Fried Green Tomatoes, The Late Shift, Annie (1999), and the beloved Titanic, which held the box office records for years before Avatar swept in. She continues to make her mark on film and TV history, and her talent as an actress allows her to take on roles in so many different genres, from comedy like in The Office to horror in American Horror Story.
Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews' career spans 75 years and she has received many awards and is a brilliantly accomplished female actor. Andrews started out as a child actress and stage performer, but made her feature film debut in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins, for which she won an Academy Award. She has since been made a Disney Legend for her role.
She was again honored with awards and accolades for her role as Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Other notable films to her name include Enchanted, The Princess Diaries, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Critics agree, however, that one of Julie Andrews's best movie roles will always be Maria von Trapp. Whether dancing and singing through the hills or spending quality time with her grandchildren, Julie Andrews is a legendary and brilliant woman.
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was both a film and fashion icon in her day. She is remembered as a groundbreaking actress and selfless humanitarian. Her natural talent and beauty on screen landed her an Academy Award for her first starring role in Roman Holiday, also considered one of her best movies. Just a few days after winning the award, she won a Tony award for her on-stage performance in Ondine.
Her success continued as she went on to star in numerous other award-winning productions, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, and My Fair Lady, to name a few. Since her death in 1993, she has been remembered not only as one of the greatest actors in history but also as a genuinely good person.
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who started in films both in Europe and America, and she is regarded as one of the most influential women in cinematic history. She had her first break-out role in America as a young pianist in Intermezzo, but her most well-known role is as Ilsa alongside Humphrey Bogart in the Hollywood classic, Casablanca.
However, it wasn't until her role in Gaslight that she began to receive awards and accolades for her work. She is said to have radiated integrity and seriousness about her work. She was adored and is remembered fondly as a wonderful cinematic legend.
Dame Helen Mirren
If her spellbinding acting and intelligence aren't enough, Dame Helen Mirren is the only person to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting in both the U.S. and the U.K. She has made her mark in TV, film, and on stage, winning her best actress Oscar for her performance in The Crown in 2007.
Other notable works include The Last Station, Hitchcock, Trumbo, and Red, some of which are considered to be Helen Mirren's best films. She is most known recently, however, for her role as Detective Tennison on the long-running series, Prime Suspect. She is mainly considered a British actor but has stolen the hearts of movie and TV watchers across the globe.
Dame Judi Dench
Dame Judi Dench is regarded as one of Britain's best and is known for her numerous roles in film, television, and on stage. She has won an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, four BAFTAs, and more. She won her Academy Award for her role in Shakespeare in Love (1998), which is her most notable role, as well.
Her popular success came when she starred in the James Bond films in the '80s and '90s, and then again in the early 2000s reboot of the franchise. More recently she can be seen in Cats, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Philomena. Dench has a distinctive voice, an enormous presence on screen, and all the charms that make a great actor.
Dame Maggie Smith
Yet another Dame on this list, Dame Maggie Smith is most well-known for her roles as Violet Crowley in Downton Abbey and Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. In both, she stands with strength, on-screen dominance, and raw talent. She is the recipient of two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, five SAG Awards, and much more.
Fans have also seen her in her award-winning productions, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978), as well as other works such as Murder by Death and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Fellow colleagues have applauded her expertise in the craft, her ability to read a room, and her humble attitude.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is one of the best female actors of her generation. There is no role she can't play, and her ability to mold into the story so naturally makes her a talent deserving of this list. She began her stage career in New York, and her first film role was in the 1977 film, Julia.
She began to receive nominations for Oscars as she stepped into roles like The Deer Hunter and Holocaust. She received her first Oscar for her performance in Kramer vs. Kramer, and to this day, it is considered one of her greatest roles. She has since starred in other films such as Mamma Mia!, The Devil Wears Prada, Out of Africa, Little Women, Sophie's Choice, and many more. She really is one of the most iconic female actors alive today.
Bette Davis
Bette Davis is famous for portraying a wide array of characters across many genres of film. Her career spanned more than 50 years and is full of accolades and awards for her work. She was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the AFI and is considered one of the greatest and groundbreaking actors of her time. Of her over 100 different film credits, one of her most notable is All About Eve. Other credits include P.S. I Love You, Dangerous and Jezebel.
Davis was known also for her fight for equal rights for women in the industry. She was known to refuse conformity and push the limits in the business of acting. Her fights with the studios lead to improved wages and improved roles for women. Just watching Davis on-screen was empowering and her energy on-screen was uncontainable.