Iconic Actresses Throughout the Years
Hollywood used to be a man’s world. And while there are still many barriers that need to be broken, the industry today is a far cry from what it was even a few decades ago, and for that we have a list of iconic actresses to thank. Some of them are gone, some of them are retired, and some of them are still going strong. Regardless, one thing’s for sure. Without them, the entertainment industry as we know it today would be extremely different! Also, dare we say boring and bland?
Here is a list of just a few of these powerful women who have played the roles we all know and love, and broke barriers both on and offscreen.
Jaime Pressly
You may not know her name, but Jaime Pressly’s face is instantly recognizable. Jaime first garnered attention as a model, and moved to Japan for a modeling contract at 15! Her first starring role came in the 1997 movie Poison Ivy: The New Seduction. She went on to appear in numerous television roles and a bunch of independent films like Demon Island.
Another one of her noticeable roles is that of Priscilla in the parody film Not Another Teen Movie. But her breakout role was playing Joy Turner in the sitcom My Name is Earl, which earned her a Golden Globe and SAG award nomination, as well as an Emmy win. From 2014 until 2021, Jaime also starred in the hit sitcom Mom. She’s definitely booked and busy!
Julie Andrews
Dame Julie Andrews has had a 75-year career. Aside from all the usual awards, she has been honored with A Lifetime Achievement Award. As if that wasn’t enough, in 2000 she was made a Dame by the Queen of England! Julie was a child actress and singer and made her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend (1954). In 1964 and 1965 she starred in two movies that ultimately defined her career-, Mary Poppins, and The Sound of Music.
She had a career resurgence in the 2000s with notable roles in The Princess Diaries franchise, as well as the Shrek and Despicable Me animated films. In 2020, Dame Julie voiced the narrator Lady Whistledown in the Netflix hit Bridgerton, showcasing her talent to a brand new generation.
Cybill Shepherd
Another icon of the silver screen is the lovely Cybill Shepherd. She got her start via modeling, and was scouted after a director saw her face on a magazine cover. He brought her onto the cast of the hit movie that would become Cybill’s big break (The Last Picture Show). This was her first role, and she did so well that she was nominated for a Golden Globe!
Unfortunately, her next few projects were less than successful and she left Hollywood for her hometown of Memphis. In 1983 she went back to LA, and by 1985 she had a role in the TV series Moonlight that revived and defined her career, winning her two Golden Globes. While no longer as active in the industry, she’s definitely one of Hollywood’s icons.
Alyssa Milano
This lovely lady has been involved in activism just as much as film and TV. She’s best known for her role as Samantha Micelli on Who’s the Boss?, a sitcom about a retired baseball player who begins work as a live-in housekeeper. This was her first TV role ever, and she’d go on to appear in a whopping 196 episodes! Now that’s starting your acting career with a bang.
Milano has also done work to raise awareness for AIDs since the 1980s, even working with UNICEF to raise money for South African women and children suffering from the disease. She’s been outspoken about a number of causes and participated in many programs to raise awareness and money for what she believes in. Go Alyssa!
Jane Fonda
It feels like Jane Fonda has been acting forever, and that’s probably because she has. Her acting debut was in the 1960 Broadway play There Was A Little Girl (where she was nominated for a Tony) and at 84 years old, she’s still busy! She’s currently starring in the hit Netflix series Grace and Frankie. Jane is also an outspoken activist for numerous causes and stands firmly for what she believes in, even though she was blacklisted by Hollywood for her views on the Vietnam War.
Despite these obstacles Jane has been nominated for seven Oscars, has received Lifetime Achievement Awards and in 2019 she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. We’d say she has had a pretty successful career!
Monica Belluci
Monica was born in Umbria in 1964 and broke into the acting industry while already enjoying a flourishing modeling career. The Italian sex symbol started taking acting classes in 1989 and her career began with her playing a few minor and supporting roles. In 1996 she was nominated for a César Award for best-supporting actress for her role as Lisa in “L’Appartement”.
This helped cement her place in the acting world and lead her to larger roles in hit films such as The Matrix Reloaded. In 2015, at the age of 50, Monica also became the oldest Bond girl ever! She has been honored with numerous rewards. Monica is breaking barriers and setting the bar, and looks pretty good doing so!
Debbie Harry
If you’re looking for a triple threat blonde bombshell, look no further than singer, songwriter and actress Debbie Harry! You may know her as the lead singer of the band Blondie, but Debbie also has some impressive acting credits to her name. While already a household name thanks to her rocking vocals, she began appearing in indie art films before landing her first leading role in the 1980 film Union City.
Aside from full-length films, she also has over 16 TV series credits; all while managing to maintain her musical and chart-topping success! In her 2019 memoir, she revealed that she was lured into Ted Bundy’s car in the early ‘70s but managed to escape. It’s safe to say that she has led an interesting life!
Winona Ryder
There are some actresses whose names you know of even if you’ve never seen any of their work, and Winona Ryder is one of them! First starting out with parts in quirky movies such as Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Edward Scissorhands, Winona moved on to more “mainstream” roles with projects like Girl, Interrupted and The Age of Innocence. She’s also making her prowess known to the younger generation with her role in the hit show Stranger Things.
Winona has a long list of accolades that include wins and nominations for Academy Awards, Golden Globes, The Grammys, and a whole lot of others. Winona has weathered a few scandals and has fallen victim to misogynistic tabloid journalism, but her decades-long Hollywood career has cemented her status as a permanent icon.
Jayne Mansfield
With her sex symbol status, successful career, fascinating personal life, and untimely tragic demise, there is nobody who fits the tragic and talented Hollywood Icon trope more than Jayne Mansfield. She landed her first acting gig in 1955 with only a few lines. That year she was featured in Playboy Magazine which helped boost her career to new heights and in 1956 she landed a starring role in the box office hit The Girl Can’t Help It.
Even though she starred in numerous other projects and had even won a Golden Globe, in an ever-changing misogynistic Hollywood she was considered a has-been by the early 60s. Her chaotic private life, including three marriages, endless suitors, and five children, was just too much to handle back then.
Salma Hayek
Before bursting onto the international scene, Salma had already made a name for herself as a talented telenovela actress in her native Mexico. In 1991 she moved to Los Angeles and learned English, but struggled to find roles as a Latina woman. Her breakthrough came in Desperado (1995) and it’s safe to say that she’s been on a roll ever since! Her role as Frida Kahlo in a 2002 biopic led to her being nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
In 2021 she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Selma’s determination throughout the decades has not only made her one of Hollywood’s most loved actresses but has also helped pave the way for other Latina actresses in a more diverse industry.
Lynda Carter
Lynda Carter was crowned Miss World USA in 1972, but she is known for reasons other than her looks; mainly her starring role as Wonder Woman. On the day she got the part, Lynda had only $25 in the bank! Lynda played the role of Wonder Woman from 1975 to 1979, but her brilliant performance still has people identifying her with Wonder Woman today.
She even made a cameo in Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020! Lynda has been voted as “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World”. She’s been honored with a Lifetime Achievement award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. With an ongoing career in acting, music, and activism, it’s clear that she’s a Wonder Woman in real life too!
Marilyn Monroe
There is no name more synonymous with Old Hollywood than that of Marilyn Monroe, who had an unarguably earth shattering impact on pop culture. Before becoming one of the greatest female screen legends, she lived a relatively unglamorous life, spending most of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages. After being discovered, she signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox in 1950, and by 1953 she was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Taking on lead roles in films like Niagara, How to Marry A Millionaire, and The Seven Year Itch– which was one of her career’s largest box office successes. Her many awards include a Golden Globe for best actress. She lived a troubled private life, struggling with intense scrutiny, mental health, and addiction, leading her to overdose at 36.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer is recognized as one of the most prolific actresses of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and for good reason. Her first leading role was in Grease 2 and while the movie flopped, she certainly didn’t. It was her breakout role in the 1983 movie Scarface that put her on the map. Not sticking to a specific genre, Michelle has dozens of movies under her belt and was also one of the highest-paid actresses of the 1990s.
At this point, she had already been nominated for and won numerous prestigious awards, including a Golden Globe, when she decided to take a break to focus on her family. She burst back onto the scene in the 2007 blockbuster Hairspray and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that same year.
Halle Berry
It started with a tiny role in 1991’s Jungle Fever and it ended with Halle Berry becoming one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses! From being homeless in NYC while pursuing an acting career to becoming the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress, it’s safe to say that Halle’s life has been an adventure both on and off screen! Not only has she set the bar, but she has broken countless barriers which have given more opportunities to actresses of color everywhere.
For her role in Catwoman (2004), she received the Worst Actress Razzie Award which she playfully accepted while holding her Oscar with her other hand. Along with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and her Oscar, she has won over 26 other awards!
Sofia Vergara
Where do we even begin with Sofia Vergara? Maybe from her humble beginnings in Columbia, where she left dental school to pursue her show business and modeling dreams? From her first appearance, a Pepsi commercial, when she was 17? The fact that she was the highest-paid actress in America for eight years in a row? Her brave battle with thyroid cancer and ensuing advocacy?
Or how about her most famous role as the beloved Gloria Pritchett in the hit series Modern Family which earned her 19 award nominations and 8 wins? There’s just simply so much to say about her! In 2014, Sofia was ranked as the 32nd most powerful woman in the world, and we can definitely see why. Viva Sofia!
Marisa Tomei
Seinfeld’s George Costanza is not the only one obsessed with actress Marisa Tomei, we are too! Marisa began her acting career with small TV roles and off-Broadway shows, but received international recognition following the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny. For her stellar performance, was awarded the Best Actress Oscar in 1993.
The A-Lister has continued scoring roles in both movies and TV shows as well as bagging awards through the decades, with her most recent appearance being in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Listing all of Marisa’s award nominations and wins would take up more than an entire page, so let’s just say that she is a talent that comes around once in a lifetime. She is definitely a perfect fit for this list!
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler is most certainly an accomplished woman. She is an actress, producer, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, model, and singer. Liv started modeling and appearing in TV commercials at 14 but eventually decided that acting was more up her alley. She first appeared in a 1993 music video for the song “Crazy” by Aerosmith, her dad is Steven Tyler, after all! Her feature film debut followed the year after in the movie Silent Fall.
Liv’s breakthrough role came in 1996 with the movie Stealing Beauty, but she is perhaps best known for her role as Arwen Undómiel in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Poor Liv spent months learning how to sword fight only to have those scenes cut! She did win numerous awards for her role, so we doubt she was too upset.
Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch may have been crowned as one of the sexiest stars in film history by numerous magazines, but she is far more than a pretty face. Raquel’s portrayal of strong female characters and unique film persona helped break the stereotype of the traditional Hollywood “blonde bombshell” sex symbol and revolutionized the industry. After numerous small film roles, her first featured role was in the 1965 film A Swingin’ Summer which helped her land a contract with 20th Century-Fox.
She starred in the hit 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, and the rest is history! She became one of the icons of the 1960s and 70s and her five decade career has cemented her status as an absolute icon. In true Hollywood fashion, she has a Golden Globe and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams is many things. She is a successful actress, holds the record of being the first African-American to hold a Miss America title, and is also a Grammy nominated singer. Vanessa’s first television appearance was in a 1984 episode of The Love Boat and her stage career began with the 1985 production One Man Band. During this time, she was also busy with her singing and her 1988 debut album reached platinum status in the US and scored her an NAACP Image Award.
Her most notable screen role was that of Wilhelmina Slater in the Ugly Betty series which landed her three Emmy nominations. Alongside her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she has a total of 27 awards which is no small feat. Go Vanessa!
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston rose to international fame in 1994 and she hasn’t left the public eye since! Until her big break, she worked in off-Broadway productions and landed four television shows which were all unsuccessful. Then in 1994 she was cast as Rachel Green in the sitcom Friends, and has never looked back! She’s also starred in some of our favorite 2000s films, including Bruce Almighty, and Marley & Me.
She returned to television with The Morning Show in 2019. Alongside her Hollywood star and other awards and honors, she was also ranked by Forbes in 2013 as the third most powerful actress in Hollywood, and is one of the world’s highest-paid actresses. Jen sure is one powerful woman, there’s no doubt about that!
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz may be retired, but the impact she has made on the showbiz world is still going strong. Already modeling for brands like Calvin Klein and Levi’s when she was just in high school, she made her film debut at 21 in The Mask (1994). Her projects include high-profile films such as My Best Friend’s Wedding, Charlie’s Angels, and the Shrek franchise.
She also starred in dramatic comedies such as The Holiday, Bad Teacher, and The Other Woman. After her performance in the 2014 adaptation of Annie, Cameron officially retired from acting. Cameron has appeared in over 40 films and has been nominated for major awards throughout her twenty-year career. She’s certainly earned her rest!
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus holds the honor of being one of the most award-winning actresses in American television history, with more Emmy and SAG awards than almost any other performer. If this doesn’t tell you how talented she is, we’re not sure what will. Julia got her big break after being cast in SNL at only 21, but her breakthrough came after she was cast as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld in 1990.
While she may be best known for Elaine, she has had other successful starring roles, such as in the TV series The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep. Now, onto the awards; Julia has eleven Emmys, a Golden Globe, nine SAG Awards, five American Comedy Awards, two Critics Choice Television Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Enough said.
Diahann Breaker
Diahann Breaker was another silver screen legend who stole hearts and broke barriers. She starred in some of the earliest major studio films to feature African-American casts, like 1954’s Carmen Jones which was her film debut. She was also the first African-American woman to win a Tony Award. In 1974 she was nominated for an Oscar for her starring role in the film Claudine– back then, this was new ground for an African-American actress.
She broke racial barriers by starring in the film Julia, which was one of the first films to star an African-American woman in a non-stereotypical role. Her final role was in the 2016 movie The Masked Saint, and she died three years later. But the legacy she left behind will last forever.
Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman is the undisputed queen of action movies and has had Hollywood in a chokehold since bursting onto the scene back in 1985. Uma began her career as a fashion model but she made her film debut at 17 in the thriller Kiss Daddy Goodnight. Her stellar performance meant that she was cast in more films, including the hit Dangerous Liaisons.
She reached international prominence with her role as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994) which is hailed as one of the greatest movies ever made. Since then, Uma has been a steady Hollywood fixture! Her impact is such that in 2020, scientists named a newfound species of lizard after her, seriously! Uma has won Golden Globe win and numerous other prestigious award nominations.
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver remains a heavy influence on pop culture today and has been acting since 1971 (that’s 51 years!). She has a BAFTA, two Golden Globes, and three Oscar nominations. Numerous polls have regarded her as one of the greatest movie stars of all time. Her breakout character of Ellen Ripley in the Alien movie franchise is regarded as one of cinema’s most significant female protagonists.
She also stole the show in the legendary Ghostbusters franchise as well as the record-breaking movie Avatar. All in all, she has appeared in over 60 films! That’s no small feat. She has also received Tony Award nominations for her appearances on Broadway. If this isn’t the definition of a Hollywood legend, we don’t know what is!
Reese Witherspoon
Everybody knows Reese Witherspoon. Her impact is such that she has been named by both Forbes and Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Reese began acting as a teen, making her screen debut in The Man in The Moon (1991). Her breakthrough came in 1999 with her supporting role in Cruel Intentions.
She gained even more recognition for her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (2003), and her portrayal of June Cash in Walk The Line captivated audiences and won her an Oscar. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Reese dabbles in TV too, producing and starring in the hits Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren is one of the last surviving major stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Beginning her acting career in 1950 when she was just 16, she was launched into international stardom in 1956 after she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. Her film appearances included The Pride and the Passion and It Started in Naples. Sophia quickly gained status as a sex symbol. In 1961 she became the first actor to win an Oscar for a non-English language performance with the film Two Women.
She has garnered a plethora of awards, and in 1991 she received the Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievements. Sophia’s most recent role was in a 2021 documentary titled What Would Sophia Loren Do? Whatever she’s doing, the world sure loves it!
Courteney Cox
Courteney Cox is most famous for her role as Monica Geller on the sitcom Friends, and for playing Gale Weathers in the horror franchise Scream. She has had other successful roles too, but these two have ensured that she will have permanent fame. Courteney has a strong following of fans and somehow manages to look like she hasn’t aged a day since the Friends pilot aired in 1994. Her big-screen debut was in Masters of the Universe (1987) followed by other projects including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Her big breakthrough came with Friends; despite the series ending in 2004, it is estimated that she still earns $20 million in annual royalties! Along with her many award wins, she has also been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Impressive, no?
Eartha Kitt
This talented singer, actress, and dancer started out on Broadway when she performed in Carib Song in 1945. She’d continue her career in the music industry, coming out with a number of popular songs and cover songs. But in Hollywood, one of her most famous roles was as Catwoman in the 1960s TV series Batman.
Her career briefly faltered after making an anti-Vietnam War statement at the White House, but she made a comeback performing in Timbuktu! which earned her two Tony Award nominations. She managed to garner a new generation of fans by voicing Yzma in Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove. Kitt passed away in 2008 but her distinct voice and passionate performances will be remembered forever.
Charlize Theron
This South African actress is among the highest-paid in Hollywood. She’s known for starring in films like The Devil’s Advocate, Mighty Joe Young, and The Cider House Rules. But one of her most critically acclaimed performances was her portrayal of the serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the movie Monster, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Theron has been involved in activism in her native South Africa, particularly in fighting the spread of HIV/AIDs. She’s also been outspoken about her beliefs in women’s rights and LGBT equality. Between her immense talent and passion for equal rights, it’s hard not to fall in love with this starlet.
Helen Mirren
This English actress has won a whole slew of awards for her work in the film industry. She’s won the Triple Crown of Acting in the US and her native UK, a title given to those who have won Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and Tony Awards. She’s been in the business since 1966, so these accolades should come as no surprise!
In addition to several notable film credits, she portrayed detective Jane Tennison in the award-winning TV drama Prime Suspect. She’s also played a few historical figures including Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Elizabeth II. Is there anything this veteran actress can’t do? We don’t think so!
Carrie Fisher
You’ll definitely recognize this actress by her role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, but she has more than a few other great movie credits. Shampoo, When Harry Met Sally, The Blues Brothers, she’s quite the accomplished actress. This should come as no surprise as she’s the daughter of the fabulously talented Debbie Reynolds! Show business is just in her blood.
Throughout her life she was outspoken about causes like women’s rights, LGBT rights, and AIDs. She was very open about her bipolar disorder diagnosis, bringing a ton of awareness to mental health issues. The world was shocked at her sudden passing in 2016, which was followed by her mother’s death four days later. We lost two bright stars that year.
Audrey Hepburn
Star of the Academy Award winning film My Fair Lady, Audrey Hepburn is one of the biggest Hollywood legends. She was one of the most famous actresses during the classical film era, starring in movies like War and Peace, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the aforementioned My Fair Lady. She was also a style icon, known for her minimalist fashion and distinct and delicate appearance.
She was close friends with designer Hubert de Givenchy, who would go on to create outfits for her most iconic roles. But her activism shouldn’t go unmentioned, Hepburn worked closely with UNICEF to help during the famine in Ethiopia as well as clean water efforts in Vietnam. Hepburn truly left an inspirational legacy.
Angelina Jolie
This stunning starlet had her breakout role in 1995 with the movie Hackers, and it only went uphill from there. With acting credits that include Girl, Interrupted (which got her an Oscar), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, this actress is no stranger to hit films. Born to famous actor Jon Voigt, her fame and acting talent should come as no surprise.
But she’s not just a pretty face, Jolie has been involved in a ton of humanitarian work. She’s funded schools for girls in Kenya, set up wildlife reserves in Cambodia, and even traveled to war zones to help refugees. She really is the whole package, beauty, talent, and kindness.
Natalie Wood
This actress started her career at the age of 8 and managed to stay successful into adulthood. Her first role was in Miracle on 34th Street in 1947, but you probably remember her for her roles in Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, and Gypsy. She was nominated at the Academy Awards three times but never snagged a win. Nevertheless, she had a few Golden Globe wins under her belt.
Her lead role in the film Sex and the Single Girl, based on the book of the same name, was culturally significant for its portrayal of a strong, independent woman. Wood’s life ended tragically at 43 when she drowned during a boating trip, but we still remember her for her huge impact on film and culture.
Pam Grier
Cinema’s first female action star was Pam Grier. Her first film role was that of a prisoner in the 1971 film Big Doll House. She quickly became an action movie star and wooed audiences with her roles as bold and assertive women. She also holds the honor of being the first African- American woman to headline an action film! She quite literally paved the way for today’s stars.
She is also well known for her titular role in Jackie Brown (1997). Another one of her most well-known projects was the TV series The L Word. She also has a recurring guest star character in Law & Order: SVU. She has numerous awards and accolades. Pam kicks butts in real life too, having beat cancer back in 1988!
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker may have been a movie star, but she led an extraordinary life offscreen too. She aided the French Resistance during World War II. As a talented and popular singer, she refused to perform for segregated audiences and is noted for her contributions to the civil rights movement despite renouncing her American citizenship and becoming a French national.
Josephine found success as a dancer on Broadway, but her big break came after traveling to France in 1925 where she mesmerized Europe with her erotic stage dancing and sultry voice. Josephine also became a film star and had Europe in a trance, but she only found success in America following World War II. She died in 1975, but her impact and legacy still reverberate around the world to this very day.
Farrah Fawcett
This actress was so iconic that her hairstyle was copied by women all over the nation! The actress and model is best known for her role as Jill Munroe in the TV series Charlie’s Angels. She’s snagged several Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, but her cultural significance goes way beyond her acting credits. The poster you see below is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History!
She’s also the subject of a famous Andy Warhol painting as well as the song “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight & the Pips. The icon was sadly diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and would pass three years later.
Naomi Watts
This actress is best known for her roles in American films, including the David Lynch directed Mullholland Drive and The Ring. While these are her most memorable movies, she’s earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in the films 21 Grams and The Impossible. She’s been in the industry since 1986 and really established a name for herself.
In addition to film and TV, Watts has been highly active in philanthropic work. She’s a goodwill ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDs, and has done a lot to bring awareness to the disease. She also collaborated with actors Hugh Jackman and Isla Fisher to raise money after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. We love that Noami uses her fame and fortune to help others!
Hedy Lamarr
Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American actress and inventor who starred in many films throughout her career. She started making her way in the industry while in Czechoslovakia and had a big breakthrough when she starred in the movie Ecstasy. After moving to London her career boomed and she continued to play in films such as Samson and Delilah, H.M. Pulham, and Algiers.
However, it wasn’t just her acting career she was known for. She was also an inventor who pioneered the technology that would later become the wifi, GPS, and Bluetooth. At the start of World War II, she and George Antheil developed a guidance system operation on radio waves that helped prevent torpedoes from being jammed.
Pamela Anderson
The Canadian-American actress, model, activist, and author is known for many roles during her professional career. But her rise to fame was a series of events that no one could foresee. In 1989 when she was 22 she went to see a football game at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, where she was featured on the Jumbotron wearing a shirt with a Canadian beer company called Labatt.
During that time Anderson was a fitness instructor, but when the beer company saw her appearance at the game they immediately decided to sign her as their spokesmodel. From there she was noticed by Playboy and had her very first appearance as a cover girl on the October 1989 issue. From then on her career kept on growing and she was featured in the Tim Allen sitcom Home Improvement and eventually Baywatch.
Phoebe Cates
Her early life was challenging, growing up with a father that’s a pioneering figure in television and a successful Broadway producer can lead to some pressure. Her first job was in modeling, not acting. But she didn’t like it saying that “It was just the same thing, over and over. After a while, I did it solely for the money.”
Afterward, she moved to star in her film debut, Paradise. At first, she said the transition from modeling to acting was tough. In modeling you need to be aware of the camera, in acting, you can’t acknowledge it. The film included several nude scenes and Cates was reluctant at first but after some encouragement from her father, the 17-year-old actress agreed to take the job. At the end it led her to co-star in the box office hit Gremlins and its sequel Gremlins 2.
Sally Field
Her acting career started off slow when she took roles in lighthearted shows such as Gidget and The Flying Nun. It was only after her time in The Actors Studio that Field’s career took off and Hollywood started giving her more serious roles. In fact, after her performance in Norma Rae she was nominated for an Academy Award and won.
But her life wasn’t all about acting, in 2005 she was diagnosed with osteoporosis which led her to create the “Rally with Sally for Bone Health” campaign. Which encouraged diagnosis of early symptoms through the use of bone-density scans. On top of that she is also a women’s rights advocate and served on the board of directors of an international women’s NGO called Vital Voices Global Partnership.
Carolyn Jones
Not all stars have an easy childhood, Jones’s father left her when she was very young and her family ended up moving in with her mother’s parents. She also suffered from severe asthma, which eventually restricted her activities so much that she wasn’t able to go out. Instead, she stayed home and read Hollywood fan magazines which made her want to become a star.
As she grew older she decided to enroll at the Pasadena Playhouse in California, where she was scouted by a talent agency and signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. From there she played in many movies, but her most famous role is that of Morticia Addams in the original 1964 series The Addams Family.
Jennifer Connelly
Much like other female stars, Connelly began her professional career at the early age of ten while working as a model, appearing in television commercials and advertisements. After a small role in Once Upon a Time in America, she managed to land a leading role in the movie Labyrinth, directed by the talented Jim Henson and George Lucas.
For the next several years she continued to act in minor roles and various music videos until finally she had another breakthrough in her depiction of drug addiction in the movie Requiem for a Dream. However, it was only after A Beautiful Mind that Connelly earned a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as an Oscar for her acting.
Shirley Maclaine
Her life before acting was quite impressive and rather unusual. She started taking ballet lessons at the age of three and ended up always playing the boys’ roles due to being the tallest in the group. Additionally, in school she used to play baseball on an all-boys team and even managed to have a record for most home runs earning her nickname “Powerhouse”.
Around 1952 she went to New York to try and make it as an actress with a few less successful shows on Broadway. It was only three years later that she managed to get her debut in The Trouble with Harry which won her a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. From there, her career took off and she went on to act in over 60 movies, some of which came out this past few years.
Linda Harrison
Many of you might recognize her from Planet of The Apes where she played Nova, Charlton Heston’s mute mate. But did you know that her first role in front of the camera was as a biker chick in the TV series Felony Squad? Although she only had a handful of lines, she can still remember her very first line “Go man go!”.
After her appearance in the very first Planet of the Apes movie, she became an inseparable part of the franchise, starring in all future sequels. In recognition of her contribution to the movies, she was awarded the Maria Honorifica at the Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya in Spain.
Sandra Bullock
Aside from being an established actress who starred in over 50 films, she is also the founder of the production company Fortis Films which later on went to produce the romantic drama Hope Floats and the comedy Practical Magic. What’s more impressive is that she pursued work in all genres of film, making her versatile in many forms of acting.
After starring in The Blind Side she received numerous accolades for her captivating performance, including an Academy Award for best actress. Arguably her best role was in Gravity where she played an astronaut struggling to survive after her spacecraft was destroyed. Her performance alongside acting giant George Clooney earned her an Oscar nomination.
Virginia Madsen
Inspired by her mother Elaine Loretta Madsen, who was a renowned and award-winning filmmaker, Virginia had her first debut at the age of 22. In the years to come, she appeared in many films and some of her best works were Candyman and Sideways, for which she received 22 academy awards including a Golden Globe.
With the help of her mother she formed her own production company called Title IX Productions. Her first project was a documentary about the lives of other women called I Know a Woman Like That. The inspiration for the film was her mother’s active lifestyle of writing and going on book tours.