Who are the best female actors of all time? When ranking lists of the best female actors, it can be challenging to determine the criteria used. Age, number of Academy Awards, longevity, and box office success are just some of the metrics used in these rankings. It is common for actresses to have longer careers than actors because they are often more successful with Hollywood turning younger men into upper-tier stars before they have time to develop their craft.
Cutting away the best female actors of all time is essentially impossible. Being the best requires two essential components: talent and longevity. These women have both, so they’re listed on this list of best female actors of all time, from the past to the present day.
Best Female Actors Of All- Time List
The best female actors of all time include some of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses. These women have starred in films for decades, and they continue to make a mark on the industry today. These actresses have mastered the art of acting, but they also have their own unique styles and personalities that make them stand out from their peers. Here are some of the best female actors of all time:
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett is one of the finest actresses working today. Her work in Elizabeth and Blue Jasmine earned her six Oscar nominations and two wins for Best Supporting Actor. She was also nominated for Best Actress for playing Bob Dylan in I’m Not There and Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator.
Blanchett is a filmmaker, editor, and playwright. She authored the screenplay for How To Train Your Dragon 2 and managed four short movies. She also produced several films, including Top of the Lake and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is among the most talented actresses of her generation. Her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City is iconic, and she has a long list of notable roles in movies like Hocus Pocus and L.A. Story.
Parker’s career began in theater, where she starred in several Broadway shows before making her big-screen debut in 1984’s Footloose. She has won two Golden Globes, one for Best Actress in TV Comedy or Musical for Sex and the City and another for Best Actress in a Drama Series for Angels in America. She has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards (winning one).
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock is one of the best female actors of all time, and we’re not just saying that because she’s our favorite. She’s got a resume that would make any actor jealous, and she’s been nominated for an Oscar four times.
Bullock started her career in the early ’80s with roles on shows like “Facts of Life,” “The Love Boat,” and “Valerie.” She is highly regarded for her roles as Dr. Ryan Stone in Gravity and as Speed in Speed, for which she received the Academy Award for Performance and the Golden Globe Won for Best Performer.
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was an artist, supermodel, and humanist from the United Kingdom. Hepburn was a movie and glamour star who worked during Hollywood’s Renaissance. She is listed in the Worldwide Top Adorned Roster Hall of Fame as the third-greatest female screen masterpiece in Glory Days Showbiz. Audrey has been named the third-greatest female screen masterpiece in Glory Days Showbiz by the American Film Institute.
She received four Academy Award nominations for Best Female Actress, a record for any performer, but won only one award for Roman Holiday. Other notable movies of hers include Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, and Charade.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is the best female actor of all time. She has received 19 Academy Awards and is the only entertainer to win three Oscars. She has been nominated for an Oscar in every decade since the 1970s, winning two Best Actress awards in the 1980s; three Best Supporting Actress awards in the 1990s, and won Best Actress award in the 2000s. Meryl has also won three Golden Globes, eight BAFTA Awards, six SAG Awards, four Emmy Awards, and seven Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is a legend in Hollywood, but she’s not the only female who deserves to be on this list; she started her career at age 13. A few of the most gifted ladies in the universe are among the best female actors of all time. Whether they’re playing a serious character or a comedic one, these actresses have made their mark on Hollywood history by captivating audiences with their performances.
Julia Roberts has been nominated for five Academy Awards and won once for her role as Erin Brockovich. She has also earned two Golden Globes and has been nominated for four BAFTAs. Several of her films have gone on to become box office hits, including Pretty Woman (1990) and Erin Brockovich (2000).
Angelina Jolie
One of the greatest actresses of the 20th century is Angelina Jolie. She has had a long and distinguished career in which she has done everything from action films to romantic comedies and dramas. She has acted in a wide range of positions and has won numerous honors for her work. Jolie is most recognized for her work in “Girl, Interrupted,” “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” and “Changeling,” among others. Her most recent movie was “Maleficent,” where she played the evil Queen Maleficent. She won an Academy Award for Outstanding Supporting Female Performer for this role.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is a Jewish-American actress nominated for four Academy Awards; she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama twice. Her first major role was in Luc Besson’s 1994 action film Léon: The Professional; opposite Jean Reno; but she first achieved mainstream success with her roles in 1999 as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. For which she was nominated for a Saturn Award, and 2002 as Mathilda Lando in the French action film Léon: The Professional.
Final Words
Many great actresses deserve to be on the best female actors list, but these definitely do. The women on this list have made a significant impact in the film industry regardless of their talent, roles, or accolades. In a movie business dominated by men, it takes a special kind of person to make it to the top, and these women did just that.
