Top 10 Greatest Classic Hollywood Actresses of All Time

These actresses define classic Hollywood. For this list, we’ll be looking at the greatest leading ladies from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Our countdown includes Marilyn Monroe, Mae West, Bette Davis, and more! If we missed any of YOUR favorite slapstick comedians or femme fatales, let us know in the comments below!

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MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.

#Hollywood #Actresses #Classic #ClassicHollywood #OldHollywood

[denisefreitas]

I think Vivien Leigh deserved a mention. She was a terrific actress from old Hollywood.

[tojin]

Again...Vivien Leigh being left out, not even in honorable mentions really bothers me. She won Oscars twice in leading roles completely in contrast in different decades, often regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses ever (back then the beauty was surely the status in Hollywood), won the role of Scarlett O'Hara (arguably one of the most famous female characters in one of the most prominent Hollywood films ever, which even Katharine Hepburn was desperate to take), and went through a pretty dramatic life till her death. I would put her in the top 5. How she's been underappreciated now is a shame.

[keshawnallen]

Fun fact: Katherine Hepburn is the ONLY actor to have 4 Oscars for LEADING roles!!! What a legend!!!

[MrWaspMan]

Ingrid Bergman had such a distinct personality and gave 110% in every role she had. It's just a shame that her role in _Casablanca, _ while rightfully universally praised, tends to overshadow all the others.

[sophiaisabelle]

These Hollywood actresses back then sure were stunning. They've made a massive impact all around the world.

[Alexeya]

Olivia de Havilland, Greer Garson, Barbara Stanwyck, Rosalind Russell. Just to name a few amazing actresses who belong on this list.

[fabiencoze]

There will NEVER be someone like Audrey Hepburn !

She was truly an Angel <3

[lucasalerno]

My personal list:

1 Katharine Hepburn
2 Bette Davis
3 Marilyn Monroe
4 Ingrid Bergman
5 Greta Garbo
6 Elizabeth Taylor
7 Marlene Dietrich
8 Joan Crawford
9 Barbara Stanwyck
10 Audrey Hepburn
11 Ginger Rogers
12 Vivien Leigh
Gloria Swanson, Olivia de Havilland, Jennifer Jones, Lana Turner, Shelley Winters, Susan Hayward, Judy Garland, Claudette Colbert, Lillian Gish, Rita Hayworth, Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow, Mary Pickford, Grace Kelly, Joan Fontaine, Norma Shearer, Greer Garson, Irene Dunne, Rosalind Russell, Myrna Loy, Janet Gaynor, Ruth Gordon, Linda Darnell, Ava Gardner, Janet Leigh, Doris Day, Lauren Bacall, Gloria Grahame, Anne Baxter, Dorothy Malone ecc...

[eduardocabredonora]

Barbara Stanwyck needs to be in this list !! She is one of the greatest !!

[trinaq]

Audrey Hepburn was an icon, and she always shined in every role. Sadly, her waifish figure was an a result of being starved during the war, suffering from lifelong complications, namely anaemia and multiple miscarriages. Although she died of stomach cancer at only 63 years old, her legacy and style still linger on.

[roxy]

There are a few here that you could do a part 2 on or even a top 20 for this list: Debbie Reynolds, Kim Novak, Cyd Charise, Ann Miller, Loretta Young, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, Ann Sheridan, Kathryn Grayson, Esther Williams, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Stanwyck, Rosiland Russell, Claudette Colbert and Margaret Sullivan.

[tolykozin]

Katherine Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Barbara Stanwyck, Garbo, Bette Davis, GLoria Swanson and Joan Crawford. Thats my list and I am sticking to it!

[supremeoverlorde]

I love Ingrid Bergman. Notorious in particular is one of my favorite classic films.

[eliseosaavedra]

If I were to make a list, it would be as follows:

1. Katharine Hepburn
2. Bette Davis
3. Ingrid Bergman
4. Elizabeth Taylor
5. Vivien Leigh
6. Judy Garland
7. Mae West
8. Joan Crawford
9. Audrey Hepburn
10. Barbara Stanwyck

Honorable Mentions:

Greta Garbo
Sophia Loren
Olivia de Havilland
Shirley Maclaine
Lauren Bacall

The ranking of actresses 1-5 is non-negotiable, 6-10 can be rearranged.

When I say greatest, I focus on their performances and impact on the industry.

[hudson]

1. Joan Crawford
2. Bette Davis
3. Barbara Stanwyck
4. Vivien Leigh
5. Olivia de Havilland
then the rest.

[arenjtumastens]

"Mildred Pierce" is my favorite Joan Crawford film. I've watched it a lot.

[songtrivia]

Some other honorable mentions are: Jane Russell, Rosalind Russell, Vivien Leigh, Natalie Wood, Ava Gardner, Jayne Mansfield, Sophia Loren, Mary Pickford, Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Tierney, Donna Reed, Olivia de Havilland, Hedy Lamarr, Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, Doris Day, Joan Fontaine, Maureen O’Hara, Carole Lombard, Brigitte Bardot, Myrna Loy, Veronica Lake, Loretta Young, Debbie Reynolds, Dorothy Dandridge, Jean Simmons, Susan Hayward, Shirley Temple, Kim Novak, Claudette Colbert, Deborah Kerr, Norma Shearer, Janet Leigh, Jennifer Jones, Anne Baxter, Irene Dunne, Gloria Swanson, Susan Shaw, Yvonne de Carlo, Joanne Woodward, Madeleine Carroll, Joan Bennett, Jeanne Crain, Kay Francis, Eleanor Parker, Ann Blyth, Kathryn Grayson, Hattie McDaniel, Jane Powell, Jane Wyman, Jean Arthur, Merle Oberon, Cyd Charisse, Ida Lupino, Sylvia Sidney, Linda Darnell, Paulette Goddard, Teresa Wright, Greer Garson, Virginia Mayo, Jeanette MacDonald, June Duprez, Helen Walker, Mary Beth Hughes, Lynn Bari, Tallulah Bankhead, Marion Davies, Mary Astor, Helen Hayes, Patricia Neal, Shelley Winters, Frances Farmer, Maureen O’Sullivan, Fay Wray, Eva Marie Saint, Gina Lollobrigida, Ann Rutherford, Judy Holliday, Gloria Grahame, Dorothy Lamour, Betty Hutton, Ann Sothern, Betty Grable, Lee Remick, Rhonda Fleming, Priscilla Lane, Ann Sheridan, Janet Gaynor, Delores del Rio, Anna May Wong, Deanna Durbin, Carmen Miranda, Lena Horne, Joan Blondell, June Allyson, Miriam Hopkins, Anita Page, Ruby Keeler, Judith Anderson, Ann Miller, Luise Rainer, Leslie Caron, Margaret O’Brien, Esther Williams, Maria Montez, Jane Withers, Marie Dressler, Lizabeth Scott, Lupe Velez, Ethel Waters, Eleanor Powell, Constance Bennett, Alice Faye, Celeste Holm, Thelma Ritter, Gloria Stuart, Kay Kendall, Eve Arden, Lillian Gish, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Bessie Love, Ruby Dee, Diana Dors, Shirley MacLaine, Joan Collins, Agnes Moorehead, Jane Darwell, Beulah Bondi, Margaret Wycherly, Gladys Cooper, Anna Lee, Margaret Sullavan, and Ann-Margret

[scinamyn]

Kim Novak? She was luminous in her roles. I especially loved her in Bell, Book and Candle!

[zhenechka]

1. Vivien Leigh
2. Elisabeth Taylor
3. Audrey Hepburn

[mikedbigame]

1. Vivien Leigh
2. Judy Garland
3. Bette Davis
4. Katherine Hepburn
5. Joan Crawford
6. Elizabeth Taylor
7. Shelley Winters
8. Ingrid Bergman
9. Barbara Stanwyck
10. Ginger Rogers