Top Ten Actresses of All Time?

[anselmo1]

1. Greta Garbo
2. Katherine Hepburn
3. Bette Davis
4. Luise Rainer
5. Greer Garson
6. Joan Crawford
7. Marlene Dietrich
8. Dorothy Lamour
9. Gloria Graham
10. Myrna Loy

 

[JazzBaby]

1.Bette Davis
2.Grace Kelly
3.Vivien Leigh
4.Glen Close
5.Norma Shearer
6.Marlene Dietrich
7.Mae West (for humour alone)
8.Nicole Kidman
9.Meryl Streep
10.Michelle Pfeiffer

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Looks like we are talking movie actresses here:

1. Katherine Hepburn
2. Bette Davis
3. Meryl Streep
4. Greta Garbo
5. Ingrid Bergman
6. Lillian Gish (for longevity if nothing else)
7. Audrey Hepburn
8. Ann Bancroft
9. Geraldine Page
10. Emma Thompson

Now, if it is sheer acting, then you would want to include the great stage actresses and many of those English "Dames" from Edith Evans to Helen Mirren (or is she a dame yet?). Stages actresses -- I saw Geraldine Page on Broadway and that woman was brilliant right down to her most subtle nuances and inflections. She was pretty good in the movies, too.

karol

 

[Harp]

1. Myrna Loy
2. Vivien Leigh
3. Heddy Lamarr
4. Ingrid Bergman
5. Jane Russell
6. Sophia Loren
7. Gina Lollabrigida
8. Kim Novack
9. Elizabeth Taylor
10. Susan Hayward

 

[HadleyH]

My Top Ten:

Clara Bow
Marion Davies
Jean Harlow
Carole Lombard
Mary Pickford
Constance Bennett
Susan Hayward
Patricia Neal
Lauren Bacall
Helen Hayes

 

[LadyStardust]

Greta Garbo
Janet Gaynor
Ginger Rogers
Myrna Loy
Lillian Gish
Clara Bow
Lauren Bacall
Norma Shearer
Juliette Binoche
Helen Mirren

 

[Jack Scorpion]

Myrna Loy
Gene Tierney
Rita Hayworth
Audrey Hepburn
Faye Dunaway
Isabelle Adjani
Jane Fonda
Diane Keaton
Lily Tomlin
Julianne Moore

 

[JazzBaby]

Aw gee there are too many to just chose ten. I forgot how much I love Jane Russell, Lauren Bacall and Sophia Loren!

 

[JazzBaby]

And Betty Booplol

 

[GOK]

In no particular order:

Judi Dench
Brenda Blethyn
Bette Davis
Joan Crawford
Cate Blanchett
Helen Mirren
Katharine Hepburn
Emma Thompson
Imelda Staunton
Ingrid Bergman

ETA: I'd like to add Maggie Smith as well (as a substitute!)

 

[Harp]

I forgot Greer Garson!
and Linda Darnell!

 

[Novella]

Barbara Stanwyck
Myrna Loy
Kate Winslet
Rosalind Russell
Audrey Hepburn
Clara Bow
Judy Garland
Emma Thompson
Romola Garai
Gloria Swanson

 

[Lauren]

In no particular order:
Katharine Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
Bette Davis
Rosalind Russel
Cate Blanchett
Norma Shearer
Judi Dench
Joan Fontaine
Claudette Colbert
Ginger Rogers
(and Myrna Loy, but that makes 11)

 

[undertaker]

1. Greta Garbo
2. Katherine Hepburn
3. Bette Davis
4. Luise Rainer
5. Greer Garson
6. Joan Crawford
7. Marlene Dietrich
8. Dorothy Lamour
9. Gloria Graham
10. Myrna Loy

I would have to add Maurene O'Hara . One of my favorites, love that red hair.

Regards,
J.S.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Clara Bow
Joan Crawford
Joan Blondell
Aline MacMahon
Jean Harlow
Ruth Chatterton
Kay Francis
Ann Harding
Marion Davies
Una Merkel

Runners-up include:
Colleen Moore
Lilyan Tashman
Clarine Seymour

I've only seen Colleen and Clarine in one film each and I was BLOWN AWAY by both of their performances. I'd like to see more. As for Lilyan, I've only seen her in tiny bit parts, but she ALWAYS stole the scene.

 

[Lady Day]

When I think of acting....

I think of the actor being able to become that character, be it a Mother who is on the streets, or a famous singer. Versicility is a big thing for me.
So thus far, I only have eight.

Lilli Taylor
Meryl Streep
Katherine Hepburn
Lena Horn
Judi Dench
Emma Thompson
Lauren Bacall
Glen Close

LD

 

[Emblaze]

Some of my favourites:
Ginger Rogers
Jane Russell
Ann Miller
Doris Day
Kathryn Grayson
Angela Lansbury
Bette Davis
Jane Powell
Julie Andrews
Judy Garland

 

[jazzzbaby]

So difficult to narrow it down to ten ~

My personal faves would be...

Bette Davis
Louise Brooks
Katherine Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
Cate Blanchett
Ingrid Bergman
Barbara Stanwyck
Elizabeth Taylor
Kate Winslet
Shirley MacLaine

...and there is certainly more I would & could add, however
these are the actresses that seem to captivate me time & time
again in more than one performance on screen.

 

[Stiff Collared]

Top Ten Actresses of All Time

1. Barbara Stanwyck
2. Geraldine Page
3. Anne Baxter
4. Susan Hayward
5. Katharine Hepburn
6. Lauren Bacall
7. Marlene Dietrich
8. Rosalind Russell
9. Ida Lupino
10. Maggie Smith

 

[beaucaillou]

1. Meryl Streep
2. Katharine Hepburn
3. Ingrid Bergman
4. Sissy Spacek
5. Louise Brooks
6. Judi Dench
7. Elizabeth Taylor
8. Bette Davis
9. Norma Shearer
10. Kyôko Kishida