Can You Please List Your 25 Favorite Actresses?

Discussion of the actors, directors and film-makers who 'made it all happen'
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MissGoddess
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Can You Please List Your 25 Favorite Actresses?

Post by MissGoddess »

OK, I am someone who admittedly
LOVES making lists of favorite things, something
a lot of people here may find pretty lame going.
However, things are pretty quiet right now so at least
it's something to do and please bear with me because
I want to indulge in a couple of new threads in a place
where I won't have to fear being stalked, spammed or
tolled to death. (Sorry for the momentary lapse into
a "vent", but if any of you have seen what has been
happening at TCM lately you'll hopefully forgive me :? ).

I also happen to think lists are a window to each person's
individual tastes. This board in particular seems to have
a very diverse group. Often, our favorites can reveal a few
common characteristics which indicate what draws each person
to a particular kind of performer. I chose the number 25
because I know it's easy to list 5 or 10 in order of preference,
but how many people can do more than that without putting some
thought into it? I know I have a hard time doing so.


So, can you if at all possible share your favorite 25 actresses
of ALL time---in order of perference? This will
require some agonizing I know, but that's partly the point. :twisted:
Really, if it's too hard to put them all in order, at least try to
make the top 5 be in order of preference. And this is
all purely subjective and does not have to reflect who you
think are the top 25 BEST actresses, just favorite or by
whatever criteria you choose.

If, you can give an explanation as to why you
chose your NUMBER ONE selection, that would be best of
all and most welcome.
"There's only one thing that can kill the movies, and that's education."
-- Will Rogers
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ken123
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Post by ken123 »

1. Maurenn O' Hara - Being Irish is good enough
2. Linda Darnell
3. Joan Bennett
4. Barbara Stanwyck
5. Joan Blondell
6. Claire Trevor
7. Ella Raines
8. Katharine Hepburn
9. Ginger Rogers
10.Marsha Hunt
11.Helen Walker
12.Frances Dee
13.Kim Hunter
14.Paulette Goddard
15.Ann Sheridan
16.Cathy O' Donnell
17.Eleanor Parker
18.Teresa Wright
19.Rita Johnson
20.Thelma Ritter
21.Vera Miles
22.Gale Sondergaard
23.Marie Windsor
24.Jane Greer
25.Ruth Roman

Lonette McKee, Dorothy Dandridge, Greer Garson, Merle Oberon, Marilyn Monroe, Ina Balin, Dorothy McGuire,Eve Arden,Margaret Sullavan honorable mentions. :lol: :o :D
Last edited by ken123 on December 6th, 2008, 3:53 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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charliechaplinfan
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Post by charliechaplinfan »

AUDREY HEPBURN - she had style, grace and charm and she gave up her own time for unicef, a wonderful lady.

VIVIEN LEIGH
KATHARINE HEPBURN
MARY PICKFORD
CLARA BOW
CAROLE LOMBARD
GINGER ROGERS
MARLENE DIETRICH
CLAUDETTE COLBERT
GRETA GARBO

My top ten in order, everything underneath is random :wink:
MIRIAM HOPKINS
INGRID BERGMAN
AVA GARDNER
MARILYN MONROE
JUDY GARLAND
CYD CHARISSE
GLORIA SWANSON
LILLIAN GISH
JEAN ARTHUR
BARBARA STANWYCK
SOPHIA LOREN
GRACE KELLY
JULIE CHRISTIE
NORMA SHEARER
MARGARET SULLAVAN
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moira finnie
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Post by moira finnie »

Well, Miss G., you probably know how much I loathe lists :wink: but...if it makes you feel as though you're among friends if I take a crack at it here, I'll try to do one. Sorry to hear that things are getting hairy over on TCM (again!?):
AUDREY HEPBURN
GREER GARSON
SIMONE SIGNORET
MARGARET SULLAVAN
MYRNA LOY
IDA LUPINO
ANN SHERIDAN
HELEN WALKER
EVE ARDEN
THELMA RITTER
MAUREEN O'HARA
ANNE REVERE
AGNES MOOREHEAD
JEAN SIMMONS
KATHARINE HEPBURN
HATTIE MCDANIEL
ANN DVORAK
SYLVIA SIDNEY
DOROTHY MCGUIRE
KAY FRANCIS
ETHEL BARRYMORE
MARY ASTOR
SOPHIA LOREN
ALINE MACMAHON
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Lzcutter
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Post by Lzcutter »

1 Ingrid Bergman Will watch her any time, any place.
2 Vivien Leigh
3 Maureen O'Hara
4 Kate Hepburn
5 Lillian Gish
6 Bette Davis
7 Ann Sheridan
8 Ann Baxter
9 Doris Day
10 Edna May Oliver
11 Thelma Ritter
12 Paulette Goddard
13 Bessie Love
14 Joan Blondell
15 Eve Arden
16 Aline MacMahon
17 Hattie McDaniel
18 Judy Garland
19 Mary Astor
20 Marlene Dietrich
21 Ava Gardner
22 Gloria Swanson
23 Greta Garbo
24 Jean Arthur
25 Barbara Stanwyck
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myrnaloyisdope
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Post by myrnaloyisdope »

1. Katharine Hepburn - Holiday, Stage Door, Bringing Up Baby...need I say more?
2. Myrna Loy - Master of subtlety, and comedic timing, and her early work shows she could handle heavier roles too
3. Joan Blondell - One of the funnest people to watch, she brought something good to every part she played
4. Barbara Stanwyck - might be the greatest actress ever
5. Miriam Hopkins - criminally underrated, could do comedy, drama, and she could carry a picture
6. Ginger Rogers - she could sing, dance, and act, possibly the most dynamically talented performer ever
7. Gene Tierney - pure hotness, wow she's gorgeous, and I love her work in Leave Her to Heaven.
8. Mae Clarke - If Hopkins is underrated, what does that make Clarke? She deserves so much more recognition, it's a shame it won't happen
9. Claudette Colbert
10. Marlene Dietrich
11. Veronica Lake
12. Loretta Young
13. Marion Davies
14. Audrey Hepburn
15. Jean Harlow
16. Jean Arthur
17. Ingrid Bergman
18. Sylvia Sidney
19. Anne Bancroft
20. Ruth Chatterton
21. Louise Brooks
22. Joan Crawford
23. Faye Dunaway
24. Jane Fonda
25. Anne Baxter
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MissGoddess
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Post by MissGoddess »

ken123 wrote:1. Maurenn O' Hara - Being Irish is good enough
13.Kim Hunter


Lonette McKee, Dorothy Dandridge, Greer Garson, Merle Oberon, Marilyn Monroe, Ina Balin, Dorothy McGuire,Eve Arden,Margaret Sullavan honorable mentions. :lol: :o :D
:D Hi Kenny! I can't argue with that logic.

I was surprised to see Kim Hunter on your list. Interesting choice.
You've certainly got just about all the noir babes in your stable. :wink:
"There's only one thing that can kill the movies, and that's education."
-- Will Rogers
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MissGoddess
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Post by MissGoddess »

It's cool to see Aline MacMahon on a couple of lists!

Moira: Thank you for making a list for me. I think this is the first time I've seen your favorites and I must say it has "you" written all over it. Very classy indeed.

Thanks, everyone, these lists say a lot about how unique everyone's tastes are---and a few favorites most of us have in common. Right now, it looks like Barbara Stanwyck leads that pack. It's amazing to me that she's not as well known to the general public as Bette and Joan are. But, I have to admit my own liking of her has grown only fairly recently. I don't recall seeing too many of her films on TV as a kid like I did Bette's.
"There's only one thing that can kill the movies, and that's education."
-- Will Rogers
Mr. Arkadin
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Post by Mr. Arkadin »

No order here:

Lillian Gish
Liv Ullman
Gong Li
Ann Sheridan
Ingrid Bergman
Margaret Sullavan
Joan Crawford
Beulah Bondi
Giulietta Masina
Gloria Grahame
Deborah Kerr
Jeanne Moreau
Gloria Swanson
Eleanor Parker
Barbara Stanwyck
Myrna Loy
Hideko Takamine
Joan Blondell
Maria Ouspenskaya
Irene Jacob
Rosalind Russell
Greta Garbo
Gena Rowlands
Agnes Moorehead
Sophia Loren
Last edited by Mr. Arkadin on December 7th, 2008, 12:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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silentscreen
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Post by silentscreen »

1. Bette Davis (one of a kind!)
2. Jean Arthur (no comment needed. :D )
3. Carole Lombard (great timing- perfect little screwball comedienne!)
4. Marion Davies (Carole's forerunner.)
5. Barbara Stanwyck
6. Katherine Hepburn
7. Ann Harding
8. Audrey Hepburn
9. Lauen Becall
10. Irene Dunne
11. Deborah Kerr
12. Maureen O'Hara
13. Sophia Loren
14. Gene Tierney
15. Ingrid Bergman
16. Ida Lupino
17. Joan Crawford
18. Bebe Daniels
19. Una Mekel
20. Helen Walker
21. Ava Gardner
22. Lillian Gish
23. Mary Pickford
24. Veronica Lake
25. Cate Blanchett
"Humor is nothing less than a sense of the fitness of things." Carole Lombard
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charliechaplinfan
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Post by charliechaplinfan »

Oh no I missed out some of my favorite girls

JEAN HARLOW
MARILYN MONROE
HIDEKO TAKAMINE (thanks Mr Arkadin)
JEANNE MOREAU
CATHARINE DENEUVE

They will have to replace my last 5.
Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself - Charlie Chaplin
moviemagz
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Post by moviemagz »

Dude, I could give you a top 100 list with no problem LOL!!

Anyway, here's my top 25:

1 - CLAUDETTE COLBERT
2 - BARBARA STANWYCK
3 - MARY PICKFORD
4 - JEAN HARLOW
5 - VIVIEN LEIGH
6 - LUCILLE BALL
7 - ANITA PAGE
8 - MARILYN MONROE
9 - MAY ROBSON
10 -JANET GAYNOR
11- PENNY SINGLETON
12 - RITA HAYWORTH
13- CAROLE LOMBARD
14- DOROTHY LAMOUR
15- MARY BOLAND
16- CORINNE GRIFFITH
17- MAE WEST
18- LILLIAN GISH
19 -CLEO MOORE
20- JANE WYMAN
21- BETTY HUTTON
22- GLORIA SWANSON
23- DORIS DAY
24- DANIELLE DARRIEUX
25- UNA MERKEL
melwalton
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LIST

Post by melwalton »

111111111111111111111

JESSIE MATTHEWS
JEAN HAGEN
CELIA JOHNSON
VIVIAN BLAINE
JULIE HARRIS
IDA LUPINO
ROSALIND RUSSELL
MARY BOLAND
LEE GRANT
WENDY HILLER
DOROTHY LEE
MIRIAM HOPKINS
BRENDA DE BANZIE
MAURENE O'SUL;IVAN
KIM STANLET
JUDY GEESON
HELEN VINSON
JOSIE DE GUZMAN
BETTY HUTTON
MARSHA HUNT
DOROTHY WILSON
FRANCES DRAKE
HELEN TWELVETREES
melwalton
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LIST

Post by melwalton »

SORRY I COULDN'T HANDLE THE PREFERENCE LISTS, MISS G .... MEL
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ChiO
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Post by ChiO »

1. Barbara Stanwyck (can I just list her 24 more times?)

2. Joan Bennett
3. Marlene Dietrich
4. Jean Arthur
5. Thelma Ritter
6. Marie Rene Falconetti (so what if she made only one movie)
7. Claudette Colbert
8. Ida Lupino (extra credit for work behind the camera)
9. Gena Rowlands
10. Gloria Grahame
11. Constance Towers
12. Mercedes McCambridge
13. Marilyn Monroe
14. Greta Garbo
15. Lillian Gish
16. Anna Magnani
17. Catherine Deneuve
18. Diane Keaton
19. Rita Hayworth
20. Cyd Charisse
21. Dorothy Malone
22. Sophia Loren (if this were a Goddess List, she jumps to #1)
23. Myrna Loy
24. Sissy Spacek
25. Simone Signoret
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