The history of cinema includes generations of actresses who became internationally recognized through unforgettable performances, iconic characters, major awards, box-office successes, and lasting cultural influence. From the silent-film era and Hollywood’s Golden Age to contemporary international cinema, these actresses represent some of the best-known names in film history.

Because “most famous” is subjective, the list below is a broad selection rather than a ranking.

Hollywood’s Golden Age

1. Marilyn Monroe

1926–1962

Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognizable actresses and cultural icons in cinema history.

Famous films:

• The Seven Year Itch (1955)
• Bus Stop (1956)
• Some Like It Hot (1959)
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
• The Misfits (1961)

2. Audrey Hepburn

1929–1993

Audrey Hepburn became internationally famous for her elegance, charm, and memorable performances.

Famous films:

• Roman Holiday (1953)
• Sabrina (1954)
• Funny Face (1957)
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
• My Fair Lady (1964)
• Charade (1963)

3. Elizabeth Taylor

1932–2011

One of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Taylor combined a long acting career with enormous international fame.

Famous films:

• A Place in the Sun (1951)
• Giant (1956)
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
• Cleopatra (1963)
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

4. Katharine Hepburn

1907–2003

Hepburn became one of the defining actresses of American cinema, known for her independent screen characters and dramatic performances.

Famous films:

• Morning Glory (1933)
• The Philadelphia Story (1940)
• Woman of the Year (1942)
• The African Queen (1951)
• On Golden Pond (1981)

5. Ingrid Bergman

1915–1982

Swedish-born Bergman became an international Hollywood star and one of the most respected actresses of her generation.

Famous films:

• Casablanca (1942)
• Gaslight (1944)
• Notorious (1946)
• Anastasia (1956)
• Autumn Sonata (1978)

6. Grace Kelly

1929–1982

Grace Kelly became one of Hollywood’s most famous stars of the 1950s before leaving the film industry after becoming Princess of Monaco.

Famous films:

• High Noon (1952)
• Dial M for Murder (1954)
• Rear Window (1954)
• To Catch a Thief (1955)
• The Country Girl (1954)

7. Vivien Leigh

1913–1967

Best remembered for Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Famous films:

• Gone with the Wind (1939)
• Waterloo Bridge (1940)
• A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

8. Judy Garland

1922–1969

Garland became a legendary Hollywood performer, particularly through her portrayal of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

Famous films:

• The Wizard of Oz (1939)
• Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
• A Star Is Born (1954)

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European Cinema

9. Sophia Loren

Born 1934

Sophia Loren is one of the most internationally famous Italian actresses.

Famous films:

• The Gold of Naples (1954)
• Two Women (1960)
• Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963)
• Marriage Italian Style (1964)
• A Special Day (1977)

10. Brigitte Bardot

Born 1934

Bardot became an international star during the 1950s and 1960s and remains one of the most recognizable figures in French cinema.

Famous films:

• And God Created Woman (1956)
• Contempt (1963)
• Viva Maria! (1965)

11. Catherine Deneuve

Born 1943

Deneuve became one of the defining actresses of French cinema.

Famous films:

• The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
• Repulsion (1965)
• Belle de Jour (1967)
• Indochine (1992)

12. Jeanne Moreau

1928–2017

A major figure of French cinema and the French New Wave.

Famous films:

• Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
• The Lovers (1958)
• Jules and Jim (1962)

13. Monica Vitti

1931–2022

Italian actress particularly famous for her collaborations with director Michelangelo Antonioni.

Famous films:

• L’Avventura (1960)
• La Notte (1961)
• L’Eclisse (1962)
• Red Desert (1964)

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The Great Modern Hollywood Actresses

14. Meryl Streep

Born 1949

Meryl Streep has built one of the most extensive acting careers in modern cinema.

Famous films:

• Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
• Sophie’s Choice (1982)
• Out of Africa (1985)
• The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
• Mamma Mia! (2008)
• The Iron Lady (2011)

15. Jodie Foster

Born 1962

Foster became a major star as a child and later established herself as an actress, director, and producer.

Famous films:

• Taxi Driver (1976)
• The Accused (1988)
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• Contact (1997)

16. Sigourney Weaver

Born 1949

Weaver became an international science-fiction and action icon through the Alien franchise.

Famous films:

• Alien (1979)
• Aliens (1986)
• Ghostbusters (1984)
• Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
• Avatar (2009)

17. Julia Roberts

Born 1967

Julia Roberts became one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the 1990s and 2000s.

Famous films:

• Pretty Woman (1990)
• The Pelican Brief (1993)
• My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
• Notting Hill (1999)
• Erin Brockovich (2000)

18. Nicole Kidman

Born 1967

The Australian-American actress has worked extensively in dramas, thrillers, musicals, and major Hollywood productions.

Famous films:

• Dead Calm (1989)
• Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
• Moulin Rouge! (2001)
• The Others (2001)
• The Hours (2002)

19. Cate Blanchett

Born 1969

Blanchett is known for major dramatic roles as well as blockbuster productions.

Famous films:

• Elizabeth (1998)
• The Aviator (2004)
• Blue Jasmine (2013)
• Carol (2015)
• Tár (2022)

20. Angelina Jolie

Born 1975

Jolie became internationally famous through dramatic roles and major action and adventure films.

Famous films:

• Girl, Interrupted (1999)
• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
• A Mighty Heart (2007)
• Maleficent (2014)

21. Charlize Theron

Born 1975

South African-American actress known for dramatic, action, science-fiction, and biographical roles.

Famous films:

• The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
• Monster (2003)
• North Country (2005)
• Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
• Atomic Blonde (2017)

22. Natalie Portman

Born 1981

Portman became famous at a young age and subsequently established a major international career.

Famous films:

• Léon: The Professional (1994)
• Star Wars prequel trilogy
• V for Vendetta (2005)
• Black Swan (2010)
• Jackie (2016)

23. Scarlett Johansson

Born 1984

Johansson became one of the best-known actresses of her generation through both independent films and major blockbusters.

Famous films:

• Lost in Translation (2003)
• The Prestige (2006)
• Lucy (2014)
• The Avengers (2012)
• Marriage Story (2019)
• Black Widow (2021)

24. Emma Stone

Born 1988

Stone has become a major contemporary actress through comedy, drama, musicals, and independent cinema.

Famous films:

• Easy A (2010)
• The Help (2011)
• Birdman (2014)
• La La Land (2016)
• The Favourite (2018)
• Poor Things (2023)

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International Female Film Stars

Indian Cinema

25. Madhubala

1933–1969

Madhubala is one of the most celebrated actresses of classic Indian cinema.

Famous films:

• Mahal (1949)
• Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955)
• Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
• Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

26. Nargis

1929–1981

Nargis became one of the defining actresses of India’s Golden Age of cinema.

Famous films:

• Awaara (1951)
• Shree 420 (1955)
• Mother India (1957)

27. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Born 1973

Aishwarya Rai became one of India’s most internationally recognized actresses.

Famous films:

• Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)
• Devdas (2002)
• Chokher Bali (2003)
• Dhoom 2 (2006)
• Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

28. Deepika Padukone

Born 1986

One of the leading stars of contemporary Indian cinema.

Famous films:

• Om Shanti Om (2007)
• Love Aaj Kal (2009)
• Chennai Express (2013)
• Piku (2015)
• Padmaavat (2018)
• Pathaan (2023)

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Asian Cinema

29. Gong Li

Born 1965

Gong Li became one of the most internationally recognized actresses in Chinese cinema.

Famous films:

• Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
• Farewell My Concubine (1993)
• The Story of Qiu Ju (1992)
• Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
• Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)

30. Michelle Yeoh

Born 1962

Michelle Yeoh became internationally famous through Hong Kong action cinema and later major Hollywood productions.

Famous films:

• Yes, Madam! (1986)
• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
• Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

31. Maggie Cheung

Born 1964

Maggie Cheung became one of Hong Kong’s most acclaimed actresses.

Famous films:

• Police Story (1985)
• Days of Being Wild (1990)
• In the Mood for Love (2000)
• Hero (2002)
• Clean (2004)

32. Setsuko Hara

1920–2015

A legendary Japanese actress best known for her collaborations with director Yasujirō Ozu.

Famous films:

• Late Spring (1949)
• Tokyo Story (1953)
• Early Summer (1951)

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Spanish, French and Italian Stars

33. Penélope Cruz

Born 1974

Spanish actress who has worked extensively in Spanish and international cinema.

Famous films:

• All About My Mother (1999)
• Vanilla Sky (2001)
• Volver (2006)
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
• Parallel Mothers (2021)

34. Marion Cotillard

Born 1975

French actress who achieved international recognition for dramatic and English-language roles.

Famous films:

• La Vie en Rose (2007)
• Inception (2010)
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
• Allied (2016)

35. Monica Bellucci

Born 1964

Italian actress who became an international star through European cinema and major Hollywood productions.

Famous films:

• Malèna (2000)
• Irreversible (2002)
• The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
• The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
• Spectre (2015)

36. Isabelle Huppert

Born 1953

One of the most prolific actresses in French and international cinema.

Famous films:

• The Lacemaker (1977)
• The Piano Teacher (2001)
• 8 Women (2002)
• Elle (2016)

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50 Famous Female Actresses of All Time

For a broad reference list, here are 50 internationally famous actresses, presented alphabetically rather than as a ranking:

1. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
2. Angelina Jolie
3. Audrey Hepburn
4. Brigitte Bardot
5. Cate Blanchett
6. Catherine Deneuve
7. Charlize Theron
8. Deepika Padukone
9. Elizabeth Taylor
10. Emma Stone
11. Grace Kelly
12. Ingrid Bergman
13. Isabelle Huppert
14. Jodie Foster
15. Judy Garland
16. Julia Roberts
17. Katharine Hepburn
18. Maggie Cheung
19. Marilyn Monroe
20. Marion Cotillard
21. Meryl Streep
22. Michelle Yeoh
23. Monica Bellucci
24. Nargis
25. Natalie Portman
26. Nicole Kidman
27. Penélope Cruz
28. Scarlett Johansson
29. Setsuko Hara
30. Sigourney Weaver
31. Sophia Loren
32. Vivien Leigh
33. Viola Davis
34. Gong Li
35. Jeanne Moreau
36. Madhubala
37. Monica Vitti
38. Bette Davis
39. Joan Crawford
40. Greta Garbo
41. Rita Hayworth
42. Shirley MacLaine
43. Diane Keaton
44. Jane Fonda
45. Susan Sarandon
46. Frances McDormand
47. Julianne Moore
48. Sandra Bullock
49. Halle Berry
50. Viola Davis

Other Major Names

A larger historical list would also include Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Sophia Loren, Rita Hayworth, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Shirley MacLaine, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange, Glenn Close, Sigourney Weaver, Frances McDormand, Julianne Moore, Sandra Bullock, Halle Berry, Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, Emily Blunt, Kate Winslet, Kate Beckinsale, Salma Hayek, Gal Gadot, and Jennifer Aniston.

Together, these actresses represent several generations of Hollywood, European, Asian, and Indian cinema, from the silent era and Golden Age through contemporary international film.