The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1967 to preserve film history, educate filmmakers, and celebrate excellence in cinema and television. Yet, AFI is also known for something else: keeping information on film and turning out the odd best-of-all-time lists. With so many years of history, the achievements of the American Film Institute’s best actresses of all time are even more impressive.
Compiled in 1999 by the American Film Institute, the list may feel a bit dated, focusing on actresses who had their screen debuts in 1950 or earlier, but it’s still a wonderfully curated look at some of the most timeless, iconic stars in Hollywood history. Take a look at the women who paved the way, set a standard, and are still highly regarded in their field.
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple has been a sensation ever since she was a child, laying the groundwork for many successful child actors to follow. The famous star was loved for her cheerfulness and talent. She could dance, sing, and act, which made her an absolutely delightful presence on screen. With her optimistic presence during the Great Depression, the public grew to be even more attached to her. She is best known for films such as The Little Colonel, Bright Eyes, The Little Princess, and Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm.
Due to her success and positive impact on the screen, she received an honorary Oscar at age 6 for her uplifting contributions to cinema. From 1935 to 1938, she was a major box-office draw in everything she starred in. However, the playful actress didn’t just enjoy a career in filmmaking; she also pursued a path that included building a family, being an environmentalist, and serving as a diplomat, proving her versatility.
Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish had a tough childhood, which led her to act to fend for herself in the world. She is especially notable for her performances in silent films, which powerfully depict her emotionally authentic screen presence. Acting in silent films requires a level of mastery that only the very best actors can achieve, as they rely on close-ups and must convey everything that cannot be expressed verbally.
Despite silent films rarely being produced today, they offer a truly immersive cinematic experience unlike any other. The actress’s career spans 75 years with an impressive filmography that includes The Night of the Hunter, The White Sister, and The Whales of August, and today, her work is more precious than ever. In 1971, the actress was awarded the honorary award for superlative artistry and for distinguished contribution to the progress of motion pictures.
Vivien Leigh
British actress Vivien Leigh, who sadly passed away at age 53 from tuberculosis, was known for her beauty and her incredible performances in theater and on film. She always wanted to be an actress and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts to pursue that dream. Her debut role was in the film Village Squire. One of her major strengths was her impressive memorizing skills, which helped her with her lines.
She deservedly earned two Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the timeless masterpieces Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire, both of which were physically taxing for her. These are two of the most famous films of all time, so it is no wonder she made the list as one of cinema’s most important stars.
Mae West
Mae West wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She expressed her opinions and creativity, even though they would be met with controversial views. She openly portrayed her sexuality and sensuality. Her work often revolved around sex and the stigma attached to it.
She began her acting career by writing, producing, and performing in her own plays, which were performed on Broadway. She later starred in her first brief role at age 40 in Night After Night, and then began appearing in more films. West is best known for her roles in the films My Little Chickadee, I Am No Angel, and Goin’ to Town.
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was a dazzling dancer who began her career on Broadway, where she caught the attention of directors, especially for her performances in 42nd Street and Gold Diggers. This theater success would lead her to land her first performance in the film Follow The Leader. She would then later rise to stardom. However, there was one particular person the actress was matched with who almost guaranteed the film they starred in would be a hit. This is the actor and dancer Fred Astaire.
They first complemented each other on screen in the film Flying Down to Rio and went on to star opposite each other in a number of films, including Shall We Dance, Top Hat, and Carefree. However, Ginger Rogers’ Academy Award-winning performance wasn’t one in which she danced or shared the screen with Astaire; it was for her dramatic leading role in the film Kitty Foyle. Today, she is considered one of the most graceful actors of all time.
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly’s acting career was short-lived, but it is still often regarded as one of the most iconic. It didn’t end as one might expect; she married Prince Rainier III, became the Princess of Monaco, and focused solely on her royal duties until her death. Her film debut was in the early 1950s, in the film Fourteen Hours. Her big break didn’t come until she starred in High Noon, a Western, and Mogambo, a romance film that reportedly had many issues during filming across Africa.
Her career lasted the rest of the decade, and she even snagged two Academy Award nominations, one of which she won. She retired from acting at the tender age of 26. Kelly passed away relatively young and unexpectedly, at 52, due to complications related to a car crash she was involved in the day prior. It was a tragic event, but her son established the Princess Grace Awards to honor her legacy and support newcomers in show business.
Claudette Colbert
Like many of her contemporaries, Claudette Colbert‘s humble beginnings were in stage productions. She dived into the craze of talking pictures to make a name for herself. There was a unique look and an addictive aura to her that made her a casting director’s dream right off the bat.
Radiating poise and handling both comedic and dramatic scripts with finesse, Colbert was everywhere in films between the 1930s and late 1940s. There was a point when she refocused on acting on stage and on some television work. This renaissance in her career is where most of her award nominations lie, including recognition from the Tonys, Golden Globes, and Emmys. Not bad for someone who cut their teeth in the world of silent films.
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck was raised in foster care, so she was never a stranger to working for what she had. Taking part in theater since she was a little girl, Barbara’s breakthrough in the Broadway show Burlesque established her as a national star. Shortly after that, she made the transition from the stage to film in Frank Capra’s Ladies of Leisure. After that came a string of memorable roles, four of those performances being nominated for Academy Awards.
While she did not win any of those nominations, it is still an impressive feat that shows just how talented and hardworking she truly was. Stanwyck shifted her career plans once again when she made her television debut, during which she won three Emmy Awards. Stanwyck was given an Honorary Oscar by the Academy in 1982 in recognition of her lifetime achievements.
Joan Crawford
Classic actresses were prone to change their Christian names before achieving international fame, often to something more alluring, seductive, and memorable. Joan Crawford was perhaps the only actress who achieved the opposite: from the elegantly sophisticated name of Lucille Fay LeSueur, she adopted the name Joan Crawford, which was both simpler and more akin to an elderly grandma. Name choice aside, with a career spanning 45 years, Crawford was an actor with remarkable dexterity and flexibility.
The ease with which she could slip in and out of character meant she was hot in Hollywood, and in 1945, this led to her first and only Best Actress Oscar for her lead role in Mildred Pierce. Crawford reminded everyone of how talented she was, even when the industry discarded her in favor of younger actresses, with the ’60s horror-drama cult classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Marlene Dietrich
An ardent anti-fascist with strong moral principles, known specifically for her humanitarian work during World War Two, the German actress Marlene Dietrich had famously donated her entire salary for Knight Without Armor to refugees who were fleeing war in Europe.
While she was nominated for only one Academy Award, Dietrich’s impact as an entertainer and humanitarian was simply unforgettable. From early masterpieces like The Blue Angel and Shanghai Express to later classics like Touch of Evil and Witness for the Prosecution, Dietrich never stopped being wonderful.
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