Marilyn Monroe

We cannot draw up a list like this one without talking about Marilyn Monroe! The actress continues to be influential even though she passed five decades ago. In the past, she has said, “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

 

Natalie Wood

Natalie Woods has been a performer since she was young. She made it big in Miracle on 34th Street and went on to appear in Rebel Without A Cause and West Side Story. She died under suspicious circumstances, although her case was recently reopened. Her husband Robert Wagner is now a person of interest.

 

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor has unique looks, which is mostly thanks to her rare double row of eyelashes. The beautiful British-American relocated to California from London right before the beginning of WWII. Aside from acting, she was also active in Jewish and AIDs advocacies. What a wonderful role model!

 

 

Michelle Pfeiffer

The gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer made waves in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The talented actress broke out of the pretty girl mold when she got a supporting role in Scarface. The role paved the way for other serious projects. A contributor for Daily Telegraph said she boasts of “the kind of beauty you find yourself involuntarily taking a moment to marvel at mid-conversation.”

 

 

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson might have been on the older side of the Golden Era stars, but she has outlived most of her peers! Now 105 years old, it has been over 80 years since she entered the industry during the ‘40s.

 

 

 

Charlize Theron

The South African actress Charlize Theron had to deal with a traumatic childhood. On top of that, she had to stop training ballet after sustaining an injury. Luckily, she made it big in modeling and even bigger in acting. She is now an Academy Award-winning actress!

 

Raquel Welch

It was not a debut role, but Raquel Welch became an icon after starring in One Million Years B.C. thanks to her fur bikini! She has worked on a number of projects aside from that. She got the “Imagen Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2001 for promoting the Latin heritage.

 

 

Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth was a celebrity who performed her whole life. As a young girl, she was a dancer in NYC. She went into acting after her family moved to California, however. She started out in the dancing movies of the ‘30s before she took on serious parts in the ‘40s. She made it big, although she had to deal with personal problems and financial issues in the following decade. She died in 1987.

 

Ursula Andress

Ursula Andress is the very first Bond girl! She received this title when she starred in Dr. No. She had a heavy Swiss-German accent, which they covered with a dub. She appeared posed nude for Playboy as well. When asked why, she only said, “Because I’m beautiful.”

 

Catherine Deneuve

The French actress Catherine Deneuve got noticed by the international stage in Les Parapluies de Cherbourg. After that, she worked on Repulsion, among other film projects, and became the model for Marianne, the French symbol of liberty.

 

Ann-Margret

Ann-Margret Olsson was one of the biggest stars in the ‘60s and ‘70s. A versatile talent, she became famous after starring in Bye Bye Birdie. She appeared in a number of films and TV shows over the years. It has been a while since the peak of her career, but she is still influential in the field!

 

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh first had to deal with her beauty to bring out her acting skills. One director actually said she was a “consummate actress, hampered by beauty.” She went on to star in projects like A Streetcar Named Desire and Gone with the Wind, but her stage career is more prolific. She fought tuberculosis in the last few decades of her life until she succumbed to it in 1967.

 

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner spoke with such a thick southern accent that MGM called her incomprehensible. Nonetheless, she worked hard until they signed her. After five years, she got her big break when she starred in The Killers. It marked the rise of her popularity, which led her through half a century success in the biz. Sadly, she died of pneumonia in 1990.

 

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr is easily one of the most amazing women here. She depicted the first female orgasm ever and worked on “frequency hopping” to solve radio signal jamming. She patented the technology, which has helped both military and civilian inventors.

 

Sharon Tate

We still mourn the fact that Sharon Tate will always be linked to the Manson Family. The beautiful actress was a promising industry newcomer who showed talent at both dramatic and comedic roles. She married director Roman Polanski, whose child she had been carrying at the time of her death.

Ingrid Bergman

The lovely Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in Casablanca. Before that, she was already active in the Swedish and German film industry. Her international appeal was so great that one biographer said she is “arguably the most international star in the history of entertainment.” Anatole Litvak also said, “Through all her troubles she held to the conviction that she had been true to herself and it made her quite a person.”

 

Sophie Marceau

Sophie Marceau is an actress who established herself as a teenager when she starre din La Boum. Her Hollywood debut role was for Braveheart. Even though she is a common sight on lists like this one, she said at point, “I’ve never really been beautiful. I’m photogenic…”

 

Isabella Rossellini

Isn’t it cool that she is the child of Ingrid Bergman, who is also on the list? Acting aside, Isabella Rossellini also did a good job at modeling despite her late start. She even became the Lancome spokesmodel for a long time. Her biggest role is probably for his film called Blue Velvet.

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Surely, no one is truly surprised to see this name on the list. Aishwarya Rai began modeling as a young woman and took home the Miss World crown in 1994. She later went into Bollywood. Derek Elley said she has “delicately sensual presence and physical grace”.

 

Hayden Panettiere

The American actress, model, and singer, Hayden Panetierre is well-known for all her movie and TV roles. The Hollywood star began her career at a young age. She started booking commercials at eleven months old. Despite the fact that she had many roles in movies and TV shows during her childhood, she made her claim to fame in 2004 when she starred in the Disney Channel movie, Tiger Cruise. Since then, her career has been smooth sailing. Her most recent project was the TV show, Nashville, in which she had a recurring role. However, the series came to an end in July 2018.

 

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot was initially a dancer before she branched out into acting. She starred in And God Created Women. One American critic described her this way: “undeniably a creation of superlative craftsmanship.” Simone de Beauvoir also wrote an essay with the title Brigitte Bardot and The Lolita Syndrome.

 

Barbara Eden

Barbara Eden shot to stardom after taking on the lead role of I Dream Jeannie. She did not initially fit the description for the part, although she got it anyway after charming the crew! Wow.

 

Elizabeth Hurley

Elizabeth Hurley became famous after she and Hugh Grant started dating. She went to the premiere of his movie wearing an incredible black Versace dress, which made her and the fashion house more famous. She went into acting and modeling not long after the event.

 

Anita Ekberg

Anita Ekberg was an actress who worked on both American and European entertainment industries. She is best known for starring in La Dolce Vita. She also went into modeling at one point. She entered the Miss Malmo, Miss Sweden, and Miss Universe contest, by the way.

 

Lauren Bacall

This actress is best known for her seductive looks and voice. Lauren Bacall had such an impact on the industry that she was given an Academy Honorary Award “in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures.” She modeled for big publications in the past as well. Others have described her beauty this way: “cat-like grace, tawny blonde hair, and blue-green eyes”.

 

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger established herself as model in the ‘70s, although she made it even bigger when she went into acting. Perhaps you remember her from Hard Country and Never Say Never Again. She continues to act to this day.

 

Jaclyn Smith

Jaclyn Smith made a name for herself when she played Kelly Garrett in Charlie’s Angels and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. She worked on other TV shows, films, and miniseries as well. Did you know that she has gotten married four times? Whoa.

 

Barbara Parkins

Barbara Parkins moved to Los Angeles to make a name for herself at the age of 16. Initially, she started making a living as a backup singer and dancer. However, she went into acting. Some of the projects she worked on are 20,000 Eyes and Valley of the Dolls.

 

Julie Ege

Julie Ege became a model at the age of 15. She also joined various beauty contests like Miss Norway and Miss Universe. She started doing small roles in the ‘60s. She is best known for Up Pompeii, however. She is considered a glamour actress, but she does not mind the label!

 

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren went on to become one of the most popular stars in Italian history. She was just 14 when she launched her career and remains active in history to this day. Perhaps you remember her from Grumpier Old Men, The Pride and the Passion, and A Countess from Hong Kong.

 

Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin is not French, you know! She is English, although she first became popular when she got into a relationship with Serge Gainsbourg. Even after they broke up, she continued to be a successful actress and singer. Another claim to fame is the fact that Hermes named a popular bag after her!

 

Britt Ekland

Britt Ekland worked on a number of films back in the ‘60s. Among these projects, she starred in The Man with the Golden Gun, which means she is another Bond girl! She earned more fame after she got romantically involved with the actor Peter Sellers.

 

Loretta Young

Loretta Young had a long and interesting career to her name. She began acting when she was just a toddler! The Oscar-nominated actress has worked on different projects like The Farmer’s Daughter and Come to the Stable.

 

Jacqueline Bisset

Jacqueline Bisset is an actress who has been acting since the ‘60s, which was around the same time she starred in Bullitt. However, she was recognized some more when she worked on Day for Night and The Deep. She is the inspiration for wet T-shirt contests!

 

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly had only been acting for five years before she quit acting after marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco. She continues to be the image of grace and sophistication. Sadly, she suffered stroke while driving and died in the car crash.

 

 

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn is probably one of the most famous people on the list. The beautiful woman made her debut in Roman Holiday. She later decided to focus on humanitarian and philanthropy work. She is such an influential figure in Hollywood, and rightfully so

  

 

Kim Novak

Kim Novak was signed by Columbia Pictures to replace Rita Hayworth and compete with 20th Century Fox star Marilyn Monroe. The actress made it big when she starred in Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock. She has only worked in the industry in sporadic bursts since the ‘60s.

 

 

 

Claudia Cardinale

Claudia Cardinale was hailed the “Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia” before. The competition prize had been a trip to Italy, where she launched her career. She had tough time with the language, but she still snagged gig after gig. She is passionate about women’s rights as well.

 

 

Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce Knowles is called the Queen of Pop, which is definitely true. The talented woman got her start with Destiny’s Child, but she became so much more popular when she launched her own solo career.

 

 

Jean Shrimpton

Jean Shrimpton is one of the first supermodels we have ever seen. Now 76 years old, she has appeared in a number of magazines over the years. In fact, Time considers her the most influential icons in all of fashion history.

 

 

Kate Moss

Kate Moss started modeling when she was only 14 years old! She was discovered by the Storm Model Management founder at the JFK airport. She also works as a businesswoman and fashion editor for British Vogue these days.

 

 

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson is a singer, actress, and model in one beautiful package. We are sure you already know who she is! She has appeared in a number of projects like the Avengers in the past.

 

 

Megan Fox

Megan Fox started to go into acting in 2001. She has since appeared in numerous film and television projects. However, she only got her big break when she got the chance to star in Transformers alongside Shia LaBeouf.

 

 

Kate Upton

Kate Upton became the “Rookie of the Year” after she posed for the 2011 Swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated. She did the same thing the next two years! She also graced the cover of the centennial anniversary edition of Vanity Fair.

 

 

 

Halle Berry

Halle Berry is one of the biggest African-American actresses the entertainment industry has ever seen. She has brought home an Oscar for Monster’s Ball as well. Other films she starred in would be Die Another Day and the X-Men movies.

 

 

Adriana Lima

We doubt you are surprised to find Adriana Lima on the list! This Brazilian supermodel has been a Victoria’s Secret Angel for 18 years and Maybelline cosmetics spokesmodel from 2003 to 2009. She now has a net worth of around $85 million.

 

 

Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana started acting on the stage, although things changed for her when she entered the big screen. She spent a year doing minor roles until she got her big break in a film called Center Stage.

 Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot is an Israeli combat instructor, model, and actress. She became famous when she took on the lead role in Wonder Woman. She is married to Yaron Varsano, with whom she has two kids.

 

 

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger has worked with Days of the New, Eden’s Crush, and then The Pussycat Dolls. Dancing aside, she is also an actress and television personality. Perhaps you recognize her from the panel of judges on The X Factor USA.

 

 

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford is one of the most iconic models to have ever graced the United States of America. She is popular for her grace and her iconic mole above the lip. Did you know that she is also passionate about raising leukemia awareness?