The 30 Most Beautiful Female
Movie Stars of All Time

Beauty is, and will always remain, a subjective matter. Thus will this page only mirror my personal opinion on the matter. However, as with every other valuation done on this site, I have tried to stay broad-sighted and universal. For actresses to be included on this page, they must have a history of distinguished or notably commercial appearances in cinema. I have tried to move my attention across the nations, although Hollywood are undoubtedly greatly favoured. Comments on this article, are sincerely welcome via e-mail.

* Gena Rowlands

1 Elizabeth Taylor

Unfortunately, for today's youths, Elizabeth Taylor is known mainly for her way-to-good-hearted supporting of Michael Jackson (in his many struggles). Although still good looking, her many surgical encroachments has viped out one of her main assets of her younger face - the natural appearance of her beauty. Watching her in A Place in the Sun, The Giant or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, distances her from any other actress when it comes to beauty.

BORN: 1932.
NATIONALITY: British.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 50s and early 60s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Eyes and mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: The Giant (1956).

2 Grace Kelly

This elegant and sensual actress was one of the most talented leading ladies of her generation in addition to being one of the most strikingly beautiful. Her combination of cool elegance and tender appearance complemented her natural beauty.
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BORN: 1928.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The early and mid 50s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her vulnerable, but determined eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Rear Window (1954).

3 Emmanuelle Beart

This ageless beauty is lesser known by American audiences, with only a few American features. She has, however, been a first-choice leading lady in France since the mid-eighties, with her uniquely beautiful face adding to her undoubted talent. Her eyes can easily compete with anyone in history.

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BORN: 1965.
NATIONALITY: French
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL:  
From the mid 80s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her magnificent eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: 
Manon des sources (1986).

4 Winona Ryder

Miss Ryder grew from the little sweetheart of Lucas (1986) to one of the most expressiv faces in movies. Her natural beauty is of a vulnerable though extroverted kind. With slight and delicate features, if she was a candy, she'd be melting on your tongue.

BORN: 1971.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: From the 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her silk skin and her beautiful nose and mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: The House of the Spirits (1993).

5 Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney sprung to stardom with Hudson's Bay in 1940, and enjoyed a great spell in American films in the forties. She was equally publized because of her many off-screen conflicts and problems (including a law-sue by her father, and a nervous breakdown which halted her film carreer). Her talent was under-estimated, but her beauty was eternal. Tierney is one of few actresses of her generation who is "contemporary good looking" today.

BORN: 1920.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 40s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her exotic appearance and shining eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Leave Her to Heaven (1945).

6 Isabelle Adjani

One of the very greatest French actresses of her generation, Adjani became a European superstar in the 70s starring in films by great directors such as Truffaut's L'Historie d'Adele H, Polanski's Le Locataire/The Tenant, and Herzog's Nosferatu, Phantom der Nacht. Her face is approaching what one could call perfect, with luscious features.

7 Frances Farmer

The story of Frances Farmer is one of Hollywood's many tragedies. Her talent and beauty was second to few, but her addictment to alcohol and drugs shortened both her carreer and life. Starring in about a dozen films in the late 30s and early 40s, her problems forced her retirement at the early age of 29. Her intellegence as both a writer and an actress, somewhat undermined her beauty.

BORN: 1913.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The late 30s and early 40s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her perfectly placed cheekbones, and her beautiful nose.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Unknown at this point.

8 Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman is regarded as the greatest female talent of her generation. She came to prominence as the precocious Mathilda in Luc Besson's masterpiece Léon (1994), and since then she has revealed that this performance was no one-timer. Portman's incredible natural and charachteristic beauty has helped her gain hails as the new Audrey Hepburn. Although, at age eighteen, she is already better looking.

BORN: 1981.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: From the late 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her smile, her eyes, her hair.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: The Phantom Menace (1999).

9 Katharine Ross

Katharine Ross enjoyed an explosive start to her carreer in films such as The Graduate and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. With beautiful eyes, gorgeous hair and incredible charm, her face was a rare attraction. She has since enjoyed little proffesional success, and is unfortunately not been able to convert into more mature roles.

BORN: 1942.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The late 60s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her lovely, deep eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).

10 Audrey Hepburn

One of the great beauties, adored by everyone, Hepburn rarely experienced professional adversity. With a future in ballett, Hepburn was extremely graceful, and her face was enchanting as well as classically beautiful.

BORN: 1929.
NATIONALITY: Belgian. 
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 50s through early 60s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her shining eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Roman Holiday (1953).

11 Catherine McCormack

As Murron in Braveheart, Catherine McCormack enchanted everybody with her extraordinary lively face. Her beauty is not of the conventional type, but her smile can enlighten any scene and any place. 

BORN: 1972.
NATIONALITY: British.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: An extraordinary charming smile, lightin her entire face up.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Braveheart (1995).

12 Tuesday Weld

Weld began as a child model and TV performer, and had a rough start to life with a nervous breakdown at 9, an alcohol problem at 10, and an attempted suicide at 12. But Weld overcame her problems to become a fine performer and a luscious beauty.

BORN: 1943.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The late 50s and the 60s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her extremely sensual mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Pretty Poison (1968).

13 Jaqueline Bisset

Not the greatest of actresses, this former model had few facial flaws, topped with her magnificently shining eyes. Jaqueline Bisset has kept her status as a sexual interest beyond her forties.

BORN: 1944.
NATIONALITY: French/British.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The late 60s and the 70s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Need I say it? Look at those eyes!
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Unknown.

14 Ingrid Bergman

Often hailed as the most beautiful woman ever to pride the silver screen, Ingrid Bergman's undoubtedly classical beautiful face is somewhat bleak-looking today. She was, however, beautiful way into her older days.

BORN: 1915.
NATIONALITY: Swedish.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL:  
The 30s and the early 40s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her shining eyes and charming smile.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Casablanca (1942)

15 Catherine Zeta-Jones

First came to prominence on British TV-series, and shot to world wide stardom in movies in the mid 90s. Sensual, with beautiful eyes, Zeta-Jones might just have been at her most beautiful before the age of 20, but she still is - as an established movie star - worth watching.

BORN: 1969.
NATIONALITY: British.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her eyes and mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
The Mask of Zorro (1998).

16 Sarah Michelle Gellar

Depending on the range of her talent, Sarah Michelle Gellar has the potential of gaining super stardom as one of the very finest beauties of all time. She has, however, still not reached her peak - neither professionally nor exteriorly.

BORN: 1977.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: From the late 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her glittering eyes, and her sexy voice (for what that counts in this poll).
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
Cruel Intentions (1999).

17 Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall could be as ugly as you'd want, but basically, she had one of the most flawless faces you'll ever see. With utterly sexy eyes, and sensual lips, Bacall was the love interest for her husband Humphrey Bogart in numerous films.

BORN: 1924.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL:  
Late 40s and early 50s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her flawless facial features.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
To Have and Have Not (1944).

18 Sally Field

Mainly charming, but Sally Field deserves a place on the list based on her extremely delicate features. Field was the sweetest girl you'll ever see way into her 30s.

BORN: 1946.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The late 70s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her lovely smile.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: 
Smokey and the Bandit (1977).

19 Claudia Cardinale

Cardinale never was much of an actor, but she was beautiful ornament in a handful of movies after winning a beauty contest in her native Italy. 

BORN: 1938.
NATIONALITY: Italian.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 60s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her well-proportioned face, and her striking eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

20 Angelina Jolie

Still just introducing her self, this talented beauty is the daughter of no. 1 hunk of the 70s, Jon Voight. Strikingly beautiful, time will show if she'll reach as far up to the stars as her father. She's more beautiful than him, anyway.

BORN: 1975.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: From the late 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her sexy eyes and mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: The Bone Collector (1999).

21 Sharon Stone

The number one female sex symbol of the early 90s, Sharon Stone's face actually resembles more aged beauty queens as Ingrid Bergman. Although mainly a sex symbol, Stone's face is disgusting to noone, and that fact remained into her forties.

BORN: 1958.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The early 80s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her sensual mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
Basic Instinct (1992).

22 Charlize Theron

Raised in South Africa, Charlize Theron broke into American movies with The Devil's Advocate. With shining green eyes, and beautiful skin, Theron still is only at the start of what could become a great carreer.

BORN: 1975.
NATIONALITY: French/German.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: From the mid 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
The Devil's Advocate (1997).

23 Hope Lange

Classically beautiful, Hope Lange was only occasionally a leading lady of movies. She was, however, Oscar-nominated for her role in Peyton Place (1957).

BORN: 1931.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL:  
The late 50s and early 60s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Unknown.

24 Ali MacGraw

This incredibly beautiful brunette was a former model who shot to stardom with Goodbye, Colombus (1969) and Love Story (1970). MacGraw has, however, subsequently only done occasional films, but she was one of few 30-plus-actresses to endure sex symbol-status in the seventies.

BORN: 1938.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: Until the 70s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her skin.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Love Story (1970).

25 Madeleine Carroll

Often described as the most beautiful import ever from Britain to Hollywood, Madeleine Carroll was classically beautiful with exceptional skin. She withdrew from the business after the war.

BORN: 1906.
NATIONALITY: British.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 30s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her mouth.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: The 39 Steps (1935).

26 Claire Danes

With lovely expressive eyes, and talent beyond her years, Claire Danes came to prominence in movies like Little Women (1994) and I Love You, I Love You Not (1996), before starring as Juliet in Baz Luhrman's remake of the Shakespeare classic.

BORN: 1979.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: From the mid 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE: Romeo + Juliet (1996).

27 Reese Witherspoon

As a juvenile beauty, Reese Witherspoon made a brilliant performance in The Man in the Moon (1991). She was only fourteen then, but she has re-emerge in the late 90s as a true beauty, with distinctive features and exceptionally beautiful skin.

BORN: 1976.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: From the 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her eyes, her skin, her hair.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
The Man in the Moon (1991).

28 Sadie Frost

Sensual and elegant, Sadie Frost is best remembered in the role of Lucy Westenra in Francis Ford Coppolla's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). She has since done less hyped project, often in British productions.

BORN: 1970.
NATIONALITY: British.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL:  
From the 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES:  
Her luscious smile.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992).

29 Julia Ormond

Not classically beautiful, Julia Ormond projects rare elegance and style to convey a vulnerable kind of beauty. Not the actress for the big productions, Ormond is rather known for seeking artistical challenge in a series of alternative features (with the exception of Legends of the Fall).

BORN: 1965.
NATIONALITY: British.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 90s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her eyes.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
Legends of the Fall (1995).

30 Teresa Wright

Teresa Wright was the quiet sweetheart of movies in the 40s. With shining eyes and a beautiful smile, she was uniquely compelling. 

BORN: 1918.
NATIONALITY: American.
AT HER MOST BEAUTIFUL: The 40s.
MOST DELICATE FEATURES: Her beautiful smile.
THE MOVIE TO CHOOSE:
Shadow of a Doubt (1943).

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Copyright © 2000 F Gunerius Fevang