Top 10 Greatest Actresses of All Time 

Respectfully, there is a great difference between biggest stars and the greatest actresses …

Garbo retired in 1941, after she was embarrassed by her latest film, “Two Faced Woman.” She was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 1954, but her career had been over for 13 years.

All of these actresses from Golden Age Hollywood deserved a mention, literally embodied, charisma, and talent!! Lightning up the silver screen!! Rip ladies. And thank you ❤

I don't believe that AFI should be the standard in determining the top of any film category or genre. Particularly when the top 10 list leaves out Vivien Leigh who won the best actress Oscar twice. And Barbara Stanwyck and Susan Hayward should have definitely made it in the top ten.

The greatest presence by an actress to this day belongs to the incomparable Audrey Hepburn. The camera loved her and her adoring fans loved her back. From her debut in Roman Holiday to My Fair Lady, no one will ever match her. A combination of beauty and vulnerability the world will never see again. Audrey was the number one Hepburn and number one in any smart list. The all time "Star among Stars."

Susan hayworth was very good! I' ll cry tomorrow . she was superb!!

Thank you for sharing video

Good work, I enjoy stories about the early actors and actresses' I hope to see some more of your work.

Love these..and love your accent!

What about Irene Dunne, Loretta Young, Deborah Kerr great actresses

Maureen O’Hara and Gene Tierney are my 2 favorites!!

Wouldn’t have picked Dietrich , Monroe or Crawford

Honorable mention to Angela Lansbury, who was in "A Lawless Street" with Randolph Scott. As always thank you so very much for the videos.

I expected to see Lauren Bacall

You captured good actresses. How do you rate the best? What about Vivien Leigh, Maggie Smith., Meryl Streep (one of the best on my list?

I can't even agree that this is a top 10 greatest stars, let alone actresses.

Taylor in Giant - in my opinion her absolute best performance. I love her character - she grew in that role from a ditzy debutante to a matriach of a huge ranching family in Texas. Giant waa panned at the time - but like Taylor the movie improved with age. Monroe in The Misfits with Clark Gable - great story - epic roles. Other underappreciated Monroe roles in Westerns - Cherri in Bus Stop and with Robert Mitchum in Rogue River. Another actress - Jean Simmons gave a great performance in The Big Country. Debbie Reynolds in How The West Was Won also on the mark.

Great video. AFI needs some updating. But Hepburn is hard to beat.

Deborah kerr???? Susan Hayward???? Well all righty then.

I agree with most of your choices but the one I do not agree with most is Marilyn Monroe. Talented - somewhat, a celebrity - no doubt. I feel Barbara Stanwyck deserved to be on the list instead of Marilyn, or even Shelley Winters (4 time academy award nominee and 2 time winner). I'd like to see you do a top 10 list of actresses of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Thank you for this video. Well done despite non inclusion of minority actresses ❤

Vivian Leigh.?

Wow seriously? This can't be a greatest actress list more like a popularity list with Bette Davis coming in second to Katherine Hepburn? Hepburn was a quality act no doubt but Davis was second to no actress. Also where's Barbera Stanwyck and Olivia de havilland.

Comedy, drama, musical and dancing. The ones that score well in all four categories i would put higher.

reverse the top 2 and then I agree.

Me encantan Elisabet Taylor. Katerine Hepburn. Anne Girardot. Meryl Streep. Audrey Hepburg. Diane Lane.

U have "Movie Stars" U have "Actresses"

Marilyn Monroe over Barbara Stanwyck, Meryl Streep, Vivien Leigh?

Monroe...Garbo...G.Kelly...A.Gardner...K.Hepburn...L.Turner...C.Lombard...J.Harlow....Garland....H.Lammar....E.Taylor....N.Wood.....B.Stanwyck...V.Light...T.Todd....I.Bergman...M.Oberon....S.Loren....A.Hepburn...B.Davis...Rita H....J.Crawford....❤❤❤❤

I like the list, and I disagree with some choices. However, this is a list of golden age actresses, not of all time - Meryl Streep not on the list....

Vivien Leigh only made a few films, mental health problems would ruin her career, even so Vivien should have been in the top 5,if she could have made more films, she would have made the top 2, and in her prime her beauty was unbeatable.

Crawford is closer to #1 than #10. Garland, Dietrich, Taylor, and Monroe don't belong. Where are Stanwyck, de Havilland, Vivien Leigh, and Loretta Young? This list won't stand the test of time.

Ingrid Bergman is my #1

Elizabeth Taylor will always be #1

Meryl Streep, Hedy Lamarr, Mary Pickford,

Hi! It is terribly difficult to choose 10 actresses among so many women with great performances. I agree that Katherine Hepburn is one of the greatest, but with no doubt I would classify Vanessa Redgrave as the one above them all. Of course everybody has a very personal opinion, which must be respected, and none of us can say ª I am rightª. I can see you love cinema and would like to ask you why you did not choose a single italian ( Anna Magnani, Silvana Mangano) or French ( Annie Girardeaux, Anne Moreau...) They sure would fit well in your list. Anyway, thank you for your good video. Salut from Portugal

Marilyn Monroe iconic? Yes! A great actress? No! I'd include Grace Kelly and Jennifer Jones on your list.

Pretty girls!

Myrna Loy should be on there somewhere. She wasn't known as "Queen of the Movies" for no reason. She was also much better than Elizabeth Taylor.

This is my top-10 list -in alphabetical order- since they are ALL the greatest performers of ALL times. We just coincide in one single fact, and as Donald Trump says: “Meryl Streep is over-rated”… Bette Davis (†) Elizabeth Taylor (†) Frances McDormand Glenn Close Ingrid Bergman (†) Isabelle Huppert Jessica Lange Katherine Hepburn (†) Susan Hayward (†) Vivian Leigh (†) Special mention top-10 list (+1 bonus, since they’re damned good as well!): Cate Blanchett Deborah Kerr (†) Gena Rowlands Gloria Swanson (†) Ida Lupino Jane Fonda Julianne Moore Meryl Streep Nicole Kidman Sophia Loren Vanessa Redgrave

As well as all being good actresses but i think AFI's list is not just being a good actress its also based on how popular they were otherwise Eleanor Parker with three oscar nominations would have been there instead of a few actresses who are included mainly for their popularity,

Vivien Leigh and Dame Olivia de Havilland are later in the list

You forgot the very best actress of all time: Gena Rowlands.

Katherine Hepburn is my favorite actress of all time. She was remarkable. Marilyn Monroe was unappreciated in her lifetime. She was a good actress, but I don't believe she belonged on this list. Picking favorites is very subjective.

When was this done? No Merle Streep?

Not to position Meryl Streep at number one, ahead of Katherine Hepburn, let alone not even to mention her, is a bad joke. Katherine Hepburn always basically played herself. Streep has lost herself in some remarkable characters and brought them to life like no other.

Who can come up with this list? What did you use to determine who would be the best actress. What time period was used, looks like to 1920 to 1950's . I see others have named many great women. I would like to give my shout out for Doris Day, she was a triple thread and the girl next door.

'Greatest' is subjective. Many actors start off awkward, even gauche in their early roles, before gaining experience and technique. I personally wouldn't call Elizabeth Taylor a 'great' actress, but I would say she was 'responsive'. The same with Ava Gardner and Natalie Wood. Marilyn went beyond performance in many of her roles, revealing many layers, much like Garbo. Popularity also does play a big part in how we view these performers: I personally love Merle Oberon, Linda Darnell, Paulette Goddard, Audrey Hepburn, Lana Turner and Gene Tierney. Not all of these ladies were 'great' but they (indeed all of the examples I've given) did have an immense 'watchability' and charm.

Marilyn Monroe really?? Olivia de Havilland, Barbara Stanwyck, and Irene Dunne are more deserving.

BARBARA STANWYCK??! HELLO,??!

😂Jean Arthur on my list

WHATEVER HAPPENED, IN THIS VIDEO, WITH VIVIEN LEIGH, A VERY, VERY GREAT ACTRESS ? I'LL WAIT FOR YOUR RESPOUNCE.

Why is Crawford on this list but not Wendy Hiller?

Audrey Hepburn est mon idole absolue. Mais, je trouve que Julianne Moore est une immense actrice. Romy Schneider etait aussi formidable. Annie Girardot etait aussi excellente. Stéphane Audran était aussi une grande actrice. J'allais oublier Danielle Darrieux et Catherine Deneuve.

Dame Diana Rigg,, Epic/Legend in The Avengers ,,,The Grand Elegance of British Shakespearian Theater!

Connie Francis was voted the best female entertainer of the 20th century . I love it . Connie also won a comedy actress award for her classic slapstick 1964 movie ' Looking For Love '. Connie starred in 5 movies , but hey , James Dean was only in 3 films .

I disagree with any top ten actress list that doesnt include Barbara Stanwyck. She was a much better actress than Greta Garbo.

The only actress on the list I like is Marilyn (Audrey Hepburn is okay). Who ( in addition to Marilyn) makes my Top 10 from Classic Hollywood? Sophia Loren, Myrna Loy, Veronica Lake ( the top three for me), Jean Arthur, Madeleine Carroll, Maureen O’Hara, Irene Dunne, Gina Lolobridgdia, Lupe Velez and Jean Arthur.

Where is Vivian Leigh

Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe two of the Greatest Actresses of all time?? Give me a break! One is more a singer and the other a movie star, not an actress!

A list of the 10 best Hollywood actresses that doesn't include Gloria Swanson and Barbara Stanwyck cannot prosper. The first, as Norma Desmond, in Sunset Boulevard (unique and definitive film, which faithfully describes the history of North American cinema) and; the second, like Leona Stevens, in Sorry, Wrong Number, who suffers from nosomiphaly, and discovers that she is the victim of her murder.

I only love Elizabeth Taylor❤.

Where is the Doris Day,Sophia Loren,and the best of the best Maureen Ohara fit in.

In my opinion, an actress alive today and who is truly one of the best is Kathy Bates

Except for Crawford Davis Taylor and Hepburn the rest are famous movie stars. in my opinion the actresses of today are far superior at "Acting" Meryl Streep being the best...with Jodie Foster, Viola Davis, Charlize Theron ( Monster likely one the greatest acting jobs ever) better than half this list.

Joan Crawford the best!!!!! Joan Audrey Bette

So, no new names after the 50's?

💃FRA TUTTE L'UNICO MITO CHE GIUNGE FINO AI NOSTRI GIORNI È MARILYN MONROE. EVIDENTEMENTE NELLA SUA EPOCA DOVEVA FARE UN GRANDE EFFETTO SUL PUBBLICO MONDIALE 🌍 FORSE PIÙ GRANDE DI QUELLO CHE POSSIAMO IMMAGINARE 💋

Irene Dunn, Olivia de Haviland (Joan Crawford's sister), Katherine Hepburn, Grace Kelly (despite not being in that many movies but the ones she was in are amazing). Thanks for another one.

Несколько тенденциозно. Только американки или иностранки, снимавшиеся в Голливуде

Where is vivien leigh???????????????????

As always, I liked your video but I disagree with the list. Maybe because I don’t like some of the ladies on it! My list would be (in no special order): Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Ingrid Bergman--Maureen O’Hara, Lauren Bacall, Sophia Loren and Mercedes McCambridge( a highly underrated actress!)

Ingrid not Ingmar Bergman!!!

Katherine Hepburn unfortunately had a dreadful voice, and that is a very serious part of an actress. Bette Davis had terrible mannerisms, almost couldn't act unless she had a cigarette in her hand.

Jodie Foster....???

I agree with none of these.

Not my opinion but fact, according to a 5 year survey conducted by UCLA, releast in 2019, the gorgeous Ginger Rogers was no.1 by a mile!!!!

Before the comments start flying, let me pull over from the top 10 actors video the AFI's rai·son d'ê·tre for their selections: Star Quality: An actor's charisma and unique personal characteristics that create a strong on- and off-screen presence which is often embraced by audiences as a separate, mythic persona. Craft: An actor's ability to embody distinctly different characters through the use of strong acting techniques and other creative methods. Legacy: An actor's body of work that enriches American film heritage and continues to inspire artists and audiences today. Popularity: An actor's public following over time. Historical Context: The role of world events, politics, and changing social mores in shaping, promoting or curtailing a legend's status and career. AFI defines an "American screen legend" as "an actor or a team of actors with a significant screen presence in American feature-length films (films of 40 minutes or more) whose screen debut occurred in or before 1950, or whose screen debut occurred after 1950 but whose death has marked a completed body of work." In other words, the list generally honors actors recognized for their contributions to classical Hollywood cinema. So living actors would not be considered, as their complete 'body of work' will not occur definitively until after their death....

Heres my list of greatest actresses. PAM ANDERSON. URSULA ANDRESS. JENNIFER ANISTON. GINA CARANO. BO DEREK. ANGIE DICKENSON. FRAN DRESCHER. FARRAH FAWCETT. MEGAN FOX. GAL GADOT. PAM GRIER. MELANIE GRIFFITH. TERI HATCHER. LISA KUDROW. HEATHER LOCKLEAR. LINDSAY LOHAN. JENNIFER LOPEZ. MADONNA. JAYNE MANSFIELD. ROSE MCGOWAN. KIM NOVAK. ROSIE O'DONNELL. GWYNETH PALTROW. SARAH JESSICA PARKER. DENISE RICHARDSON. TARA REID. MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ. ALICIA SILVERSTONE. ANNA NICOLE SMITH. SUZANNE SOMERS. KRISTY SWANSON. SOPHIE TURNER. EMMA WATSON. MAE WEST.

Deborah Kerr

what about Mwerly Streep ???? This list is not right at all

Katherine Hepburn fue sobrevalorada.Deberian estar las italianas Anna Magnaniy Sophia Loren y la francesa Jean Moreay y por supuesto Barbara Stanwyck

#1 Elizabeth Taylor.

THE SCREEN IS FULL OF WRITINGS. HOW GAN WE SEE THE FACES OF THE ACTRESSES? STUPIDITY!!!

Meryl Streep is the greatest actress/actor who has ever lived!

Marilyn Monroe? Awful. Elizabeth Taylor? Really bad. Bette Davis. Superb. Not a good list.

Once again, I disagree with Judy Garland. Marilyn Monroe was not a very good actress. Watch what Sir Laurence Olivier said about her. Garbo, like Monroe became a martyr because she quit acting. Audrey Hepburn had nothing on Joan Crawford. I think Barbara Stanwyck and Claudette Colbert should have been in the top ten.