I had a hard time with this list — more so than with the male actors — because, as far as I am concerned, most actresses these days are cast for their looks rather than their acting ability. However, there are still some truly great actresses to be found if you look for them hard enough.
Like my list of actors, this list is purely subjective as what constitutes a great actress differs from person to person and also depends on which actresses a person has actually seen in action. Anyway, without further ado, here is my list of the top ten greatest actresses.
Number 10
Emma Watson
Full Name: Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson
Most Famous For: Her role as Hermione Granger.
My Fave Five: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Number 9
Mariska Hargitay
Full Name: Mariska Magdolna Hargitay
Most Famous For: Her role as Detective Olivia Benson in the hit TV show Law & Order SVU
My Fave Five: Law & Order: SVU (1999 – Current)
Tales of Earthsea (2006)
Lake Placid (1999)
Ghoulies (1985)
Freddy’s Nightmares — Freddy’s Tricks & Treats (1988)
Number 8
Angela Lansbury
Full Name: Angela Brigid Lansbury
Most Famous For: Murder She Wrote
My Fave Five: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Nanny McPhee (2005)
The Last Unicorn (1982)
Anastasia (1997)
Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011)
Number 7
Bette Midler
Full Name: Bette Davis Midler
Most Famous For: Her singing
My Fave Five: Beaches (1988)
The Rose (1979)
The First Wives Club (1996)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Gypsy (1993)
Number 6
Audrey Tautou
Full Name: Audrey Justine Tautou
Most Famous For: Amelie
My Fave Five: Amelie (2001)
The Libertine (2000)
A Very Long Engagement (2004)
Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Number 5
Whoopi Goldberg
Full Name: Caryn Elaine Johnson
Most Famous For: The Color Purple and Jumpin’ Jack Flash
My Fave Five: Sister Act (1992)
Ghost (1990)
Homer and Eddie (1989)
Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990 – 1992)
The Little Rascals (1994
Number 4
Audrey Hepburn
Full Name: Audrey Kathleen Ruston
Most Famous For: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
My Fave Five: Roman Holiday (1953)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Sabrina (1954)
The Nun’s Story (1959)
The Unforgiven (1960)
Number 3
Katherine Hepburn
Full Name: Katherine Houghton Hepburn
Most Famous For: Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story
My Fave Five: The African Queen (1951)
Guess Whose Coming to Dinner (1967)
Little Women (1933)
Love Among the Ruins (1975)
The Trojan Women (1971)
Number 2
Ruth Cracknell
Full Name: Ruth Winifred Cracknell
Most Famous For: Mother and Son
My Fave Five: Mother and Son (1984 – 1994)
The Importance of Being Earnest (1992)
The Importance of Being Earnest (Live Theatre, Date Unknown)
Spider & Rose (1994)
Joey (1997)
Number 1
Cate Blanchett
Full Name: Catherine Elise Blanchett
Most Famous For: The Lord of the Rings trilogy
My Fave Five: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Ponyo — English Dub (2008)
Elizabeth (1998)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
The Missing (2003)
If you haven’t seen any of the movies on this list, I highly recommend that you do so because they all make for excellent viewing. If you have seen them already, what did you think? Do you like the actresses on this list? How would your list differ?
Related articles
- My Top Ten Favourite Actors (raffertysrules.wordpress.com)
- Mariska Hargitay Leads Campaign For Rape Victims (contactmusic.com)
- SVU’s Mariska Hargitay Makes Rape-Kit Documentary (nymag.com)
- Looks for Less: Audrey Tatou’s Rose + Red (myfashioncents.com)
- Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson (born 15 April 1990) is (dimaskrol.wordpress.com)
Categories: Top Tens
Rafferty's Rules is Closing Down 
What are your thoughts?