My 25 Favorite Female Actresses, Part One
How are y’all doing, kittens & dawgs? Here it is Fall time again. How did this happen? Not that I’m complaining because I am not. The heat and humidity of summer gets rather old fast. I love all things autumn but am not a winter fan.
In the fall of 2015, I shared My 25 Favorite Male Actors series. I had every intention to follow up with a list of my favorite female actresses after the holidays of that year but that never happened. *smack forehead* I’m REALLY sorry. I kept posting about other things, pushing this off and until I just about forgot. Without further ado, here are 10 of my 25 favorite female stars!
I’m drawn to two kinds of actresses ~ beautiful or funny and sometimes they are both. This means most flick featuring my favorites are often times romantic comedies or dramas. I might be wrong, but as I review my top picks then a definite pattern will emerge.
The first movie starring Anne Archer I saw was Fatal Attraction. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Beth Gallagher playing opposite to Michael Douglas as his wife. I enjoyed her role as Cathy Ryan in the movies based on Tom Clancy’s novels but my favorite film is Narrow Margin. Have you seen it? Anne’s character goes on a blind date where she witnesses a mob hit and soon finds herself on the run with the help of an L.A. District Attorney (Gene Hackman) seeking her cooperation in a court case. I highly recommend this excellent action/suspense film!
What I love about Anne Archer, other than her natural ability on screen, is her beauty and pose. She always strikes me as someone who’s proud to be a woman with her soft, feminine grace. Sadly, these are traits lost to females on screen and off today.
Another Ann I like is Ann Margaret. I am not sure what the first thing I ever saw her in, but I do remember her appearing on a number of the 70s variety TV shows and I’m 99% sure I watched Viva Las Vegas on a Saturday TV matinee hour when I was a kid. I loved those early Elvis movies!
Many years later in the early 90s
In my childhood I loved watching the I Love Lucy and Here’s, Lucy! shows. Every time I think of Lucille Ball, I can’t help but think about this side-busting episode with Lucy and Ethel trying to keep up the chocolate factory conveyor belt gone wild.
I’d say her years in front of the camera with real-life husband, Desi Arnaz is my favorites but she was a hoot to watch on the screen regardless. Over recent years we have streamed a few of her old films Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968) with Henry Fonda and The Facts of Life (1960) with Bob Hope. Lucille Balls has an illustrious filmology be sure to visit her IMDB page!
Whenever I think Breakfast at Tiffany’s I think Audrey Hepburn. She starred opposite a very dashing young, George Peppard. It’s a film but not my favorite! I had not realized that this wasn’t her first starring role. In fact, the world came to know her in the classic 1953 production Roman Holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this famous movie on Netflix with DH, as well as Charade a few years ago.
As fabulous as the glamorous actress was on screen she was equally so in real life. I was surprised to learn these 6-Lesser Known Facts about the Hollywood starlet. For instance, did you know as a young girl in Holland she helped the Resistance during WWII, but her parents were Nazi sympathizers? That’s a kinda cool fact.
I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.
~Audrey Hepburn
I spent many hours as a kid watching The Carol Burnett show. There are really too many funny episodes to say which is my favorite but one hilarious segment I remember is her production of “Gone With the Wind”. Check it out…
Carol’s road to stardom began in the mid-50s with appearances on the Jack Parr and Ed Sullivan shows. She had short roles on sitcoms, spots on other variety shows, and even performed in Broadway mewsicals. At one point, she was befriended by the late Lucille Ball who liked her so much that she offered her, her own Desilu show but Burnett held off for her own variety show to come along and it did in the late 60s entertaining homes around America for 11-years.
Here’s a piece of fun trivia, Alan Alda and Carol Burnett starred in The Four Seasons (1981) but what I did not know is that they are childhood friends. They did a fabulous job acting but it wasn’t one of my favorite movies.
I was once asked to do my Tarzan yell at Bergdorf Goodman, and a guard burst in with a gun! Now I only do it under controlled circumstance. ~Carol Burnett.
The below clip is a compilation of Carol answering studio audience questions. I’d forgotten how fun this segment of the show was and in this one Carol is asked to do her famous Tarzan yell.
Born November 4, 1940 as Else Schletz-Ho in Berlin Germany. Her family was forced to evacuate their home in 1942 to southern Germany to a small university town. It was there her parents with the introduction of watercolor painting that fanned this new passion into a flame.
At the age of 14, her father died which interrupted her education. She decided to move to Great
To make a long story short, in the late 1950s she won the beauty title while on vacation in Italy and snared the eye of a prominent film actor/director. That set her movie career into motion. Elke moved to California in the early 1960s after captivating Hollywood’s attention.
Ms. Sommer’s career life on the big screen didn’t do as well as expected, but she fared well on TV. That’s where I best know her from popular shows like: The Dean Martin Show, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island.
I guess it was in the 80s when I saw Elke Sommer’s A Shot in the Dark (1964) with the dim-witted Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers). Did you know about this Pink Panther movie? And a flick chock-full of hilarious mistranslated circumstances called Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number (1966) with Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller.
Miss Sommer’s official website (suspended site – removed link) is quite nice and I enjoyed reading her in-depth biography found there. The bits and pieces I gathered primarily came from Wikipedia. One thing I found interesting is Elke found her way back to her first love – painting. Isn’t that cool? Her paintings are online for purchase at her site, too.
Elke Sommer was a nature in front of the camera. She had beauty and charm. I guess it boils down to the movie script will it sell or will it flop? It’s good to know Elke is more than just a pretty face, she’s an artist, too!
Turner’s debate movie production Body Heat launched her career in 1981 but it’s Romancing the Stone that I fondly recall her best in and man, did Hollywood know to write movie scripts back in the day! The sequel Jewel of the Nile was a blockbuster hit in my book, too. After these big hits, we squeezed in Peggy Sue Got Married and Undercover Blues (this is a fun movie), then there weren’t too many other films starring Katleen we were interested in seeing after that. I never knew the story behind her fall out on the big screen, weight gain, and rumors of alcoholism. The short version of the story is she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis; drinking to deaden the pain lead to problems with alcohol. Instead of debunking the claims of alcoholism because of her illness, she knew Hollywood hired drunks all the time but sick actors not so much. Now, you know the rest of the story!
Although my next favorite actress is best known as Gidget, I remember her best as The Flying Nun from my childhood. In the 80s she played opposite to Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit as the runaway bride and continued the role in Part two, as Reynold’s girlfriend.
In the mid to late 60s Houseboat aired on broadcast TV. It’s a great fun romantic comedy starring the remarkable Sophia Loren. I don’t know what it was about this movie, but I loved it! Perhaps I was enthralled by the whole girl falls for boy story. I rooted for Cinzia (Loren’s character) and in the end
This is the oldest film featuring Loren that I’ve seen, other than I have seen bits of Legend of the Lost. Sofia was a bombshell in the 1995 sequel Grumpier Old Men and today at the age of 81, she still turns heads. Whatever she’s doing, she’s doing it right. She’s amazing. I hope I not only look as good as her but still feel
Sigourney Weaver’s career began a few years (non-speaking role in Annie Hall opposite Woody Allen) prior to the release of the sci-fi flick, Alien. That’s the first thing I ever saw her in and that movie terrified me for days after watching it. Although we saw the most if not all the sequels that followed, my favorite films she starred in are Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II. Other movies, featuring Weaver that we liked include Eyewitness (William Hurt), Working Girl (Harrison Ford & Melanie Griffith), Copy Cat (Harry Connick Jr), Holes, and Vantage Point.
Weaver is married to Jim Simpson since 1984 (that’s a long time in Hollywood years) and was 41 years old when her dog was born. I remember a time when that was too old to have babies, don’t you? We’re certainly wiser in our 40s but to begin a family? Let’s just say, that’s not for me. I found it interesting that she’s longtime friends with horror star, Jamie Lee Curtis. 🙂
Do you like any of my favorite female leads featured? What movie(s) can you recommend that I didn’t mention for me to watch?
This month, I’m joining my friend, Mary, in her Rocktober Mewsic Fest. I may not get a chance to play along every day but I’m gonna do my best. That being said, I decided to use a song choice denoting a famous female celebrity. Give it for
I hope you enjoyed the first part of my new post series. Watch for the next edition in the coming weeks. Hopefully, it won’t take me long to get it together. One more thing, I’m a bit sidelined today with DH’s appointment but I’ll be back early tomorrow morning with coffee in hand. Have a tunesational Tuesday and please join me for a not-so-Wordless Wednesday.
X💋X💋, Cathy
31 Comments
Stacy Uncorked
I love the idea of favorite actresses! And all your favorites are favorites of mine, too! 🙂 I knew I liked you for some reason! 😉
partymix25
Lucille Ball is an icon and was a great actress. I personally never cared for Carol Burnett.
Cathy Kennedy
I like both red heads. They are loads of fun to watch! Thanks for visiting!
Myke Todd
Oh, my… What a fantastic exercise this is, and you are obviously enjoying it.
Your poem is brilliant… I visited Eugenia’s post, as well.
messymimi's meanderings
You have excellent taste!
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
So glad you like!
15andmeowing
Great post! Peggy Sue Got Married is my favorite movie, because of Nic Cage 🙂 I love Lucy too. I also like Diane Lane a lot and feel she doesn’t get enough credit.
Cathy Kennedy
Ellen,
Diane Lane is a good actress and while I’ve seen her in a few flicks I just can’t recall any outstanding movies with the star. What are your favorites? I like Nicholas Cage, especially in earlier films. Face/Off is one of my favorites!
-Eugenia
Excellent selection of actresses – the best of the best. Hey, check out this link and thank you for joining in my poetry challenge at the BrewNSpew Cafe. https://amanpan.com/2018/10/02/am-i-weird-posted-by-cathy-kennedy-october-2-2018/
Cathy Kennedy
Eugenia,
Thanks for sharing my little poem. 🙂 You’re way too sweet!
John Holton
Let’s see… Ann-Margret went to New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. The New Trier school district grew so much that they opened a second high school, New Trier West in Northfield (the next town over), from which I graduated. (Charlton Heston also went to New Trier.)
I ended up on an elevator with Sophia Loren, which I talk about here: https://thesoundofonehandtyping.com/2016/01/18/elegance-jusjojan/. She’s gorgeous.
Kathleen Turner is a favorite, even though she has awful taste in movies to appear in. For every “Romancing The Stone” or “Peggy Sue Got Married” there’s a “V. I. Warshawsky” or “Baby Geniuses.”
My mom reminded me of Lucille Ball.
When we still got MeTV in Atlanta, we watched “Carol Burnett and Friends” every night. She’s hilarious. She’s been appearing in dramatic roles as well, on one of the “Law & Orders” and on “Hawaii Five-O.” She’s a good actress.
Audrey Hepburn is a hell of an actress. I loved her in “Sabrina” with Humphrey Bogart and “How To Steal A Million” with Peter O’Toole.
We watched “Gidget” with Sally Field the one season it was on, and really enjoyed it. She’s been in a lot of good movies, and was perfect in “Smokey and the Bandit.”
Looking forward to your next installment.
Cathy Kennedy
John,
Yeah, I recall you shared an elevator ride with Sophie Loren. That’s just so cool! Kathleen Turner hasn’t had the best luck with movie scripts. Romancing is probably my favorite but I also liked “Undercover Blues” really well. I recall reading one of your posts recently where you mentioned that your Lucille Ball reminds you of your mother or vis versa. 🙂 Oh another fabulous Hepburn movie I forgot, “How To Steal A Million”. We caught that either on Netflix or AmazonPrime a few years ago and really enjoyed seeing it. I don’t think I ever caught Gidget on reruns but I know that’s what Sally Fields is best known for, too. She’s a little spitfire and cute as a button, isn’t she?
A.C. Melody
I love Carol Burnett, I used to watch the Carol Burnett show when I was younger, too, but those may have been reruns, I’m not sure. Great post and loved your pick for Rocktober, that’s a good one!
Cathy Kennedy
Melody,
I’m not sure how old you are but The Carol Burnett show kicked off in the late 60s but I remember the first runs from the mid to late 70s the best. It would be pAwesome if they did a reboot of her variety show using her of course as the hostess and the original cast if possible. They was a dynamic team she had on her show!
A.C. Melody
They must have put it in syndication during the 80’s, that’s when I was watching it, along with all the other shows like M.A.S.H. and I Love Lucy, which were also airing in syndication at the time. I also loved her as Mrs. Hannigan in the movie Annie, even though she played the main antagonist, she’s just too much of a character to dislike. A reboot would be amazing! I’d definitely watch it. 🙂
scr4pl80
Love the Audrey Hepburn quote. Good pick on the actresses.
Cathy Kennedy
Janet,
So glad you liked and it’s good seeing ya here!
Mary B
This is a fabulously fun post! And great picks for your favorite female actresses, too. I had to smile to myself when watching the Grumpy Old Men trailer. I loved that show and Grumpier Old Men when they both came out, but had the opportunity to watch them both again earlier this year.
Enjoyed your musical pick for the topic as well. Thank you for joining me in the #RocktoberMusicFest
~Mary
Jingle Jangle Jungle
Cathy Kennedy
Mary,
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matheau were great together. What a naturally fun pair of rivaling friends in these films they made! Boy, they sure don’t make movies like this anymore!
Jacqui Murray
Bette Davis Eyes–one of my all-time favorite songs. I’m rocking out!
Cathy Kennedy
Jacqui,
“Bette Davis Eyes” is a 80s classic and fills the mind with loads of memories.
Comedy Plus
I’m not much for the current folks in Hollyweird, but you got some good ones here from a better time. I loved Lucille Ball. I’ve watched all her shows many times.
Have a fabulous day, Cathy. Big hug. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
The older actors are the best ones. I’m not much into the newer actor/actress scene, either.
Birgit
I love your picks! Anne Archer is Ann under-rated actress and is so beautiful…she kind of looks like Anne Hathaway. I always found it a shame she is a follower of that dreaded Scientology. I also love it that you chose Elke Sommer who was great in A Shot in the Dark which is a great Pink Panther film. Audrey is a true classic and I love her quote on what makes a beautiful woman. I loved her in Roman Holiday and Sabrina and Funny Face. She is well known for her Holly Golightly role but Truman Capote wrote it for Marilyn Monroe and I can see that easily. I a, picking a movie of hers this week. Two for the Road is a great pic and she had a brief affair with Albert Finney. I thought it was just her dad who was a Nazi Supervisor? I knew she worked for the resistance and was starving which may have led to her always watching her weight. Lucy….what more can one say? She is brilliant along with Carol Burnett and how I remember watching that episode and I was unable to stop laughing when she appeared in that “dress” which was created by Bob Mackie who suggested keeping the curtain rod in it. Sophia Loren is always beyond beautiful and was great in so many films including Grumpier Old men that co- starred “Kitten with a Whip” Ann- Margaret. Ann-Margaret also worked in The Train Robbers starring John Wayne. She was dedicated to her husband who, I think, suffered from Parkinson’s but I have to look this up. She was also great in this TV movie, the name escapes me but when she lost the Emmy’s to Barbara Stanwyck for The Thorn Birds, Barbara said Ann-Margaret should have won and was better than she was. Can’t wait to see more.
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
Hmm, I didn’t know Ann Archer is a Scientology follower but then it doesn’t surprise me a lot. It seems a lot of celebrities join that movement. Ann Archer is a fabulous actress. We watched recently the flick, Body of Evidence. The main stars in the movie are Madonna and James Woods but Ann Archer has a supporting cast role and as always she does a superb job. I was actually surprised at how much I liked the movie. Madonna does a good job as an actress.
I forgot about “Sabrina”. That’s a great oldie. I think it’s better than the remake, although it’s good. You might be right about Audrey’s father being the Nazi sympathizer but this article leads the reader to believe both parents were. It seems I read it again in another article sometime ago. You were talking about Audrey’s weight. I read that due to malnutrition that’s why she was always so thin. It’s sad to hear such stories and to think of the horrors that these individuals suffered at the hands of a tyrant and his minions. The actresses in this first edition are such classics and I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I need to begin working on the second part soon so I can try to share it next month. Right now, I have too much on my plate to tend to but if I do a little every day then I’ll have it completed soon enough. Thanks for visiting, my friend!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, again, Cathy!
I just got back home from shopping and found your message on SPMM. Curious as a cat 🙂 I wanted to drop back in and read your poem. First of all, I didn’t know that “quiddity” is a thing. 🙂 I needed to look it up. Secondly, did you write that poem? It’s excellent, Cathy! It reminds me of the type of poetry that used to be read aloud in coffee houses in the 50s and early 60s. It makes you think. The background art is an ideal choice. So let’s review. We already established that you are a fine artist. Now it turns out that you are also are a gifted poet, not to mention that you are the poster girl for physical fitness. 🙂 You are a woman of many talents!
I’m glad my comments are going right through using my new account. Enjoy the rest of your day, dear friend Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
Here’s your quarter. You did an excellent job building me up. lol blush Seriously, you’re much too, much too kind. I don’t consider myself a poet by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I’m always awing over someone poems and secretly wishing to have the ability to pen expressions like what I read.
I didn’t know what quiddity was either. In short it’s a fancy work for quirks or peculiarities. I did feel rather good about pulling it together and it does my heart good to get such a good review from you, my friend. Thank you, thank you!
Brian Frum
Oh they are goodies! Hey, the Mom got to meet Carol Burnett once, they chatted about soap operas!
Cathy Kennedy
Brain,
What’s that, your mom met Carol Burnett? Oh, that’s just way cool! I can see Carol chatting about soap operas. lol That’s a fun story. Thanks for sharing and for visiting this morning. 🙂
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Your Cathy Chats feature reminds me of Coffee Talk with Linda Richman, the recurring sketch on Saturday Night Live years ago. 🙂
In 2007 I got the urge to learn more about films released in the mid 20th century and earlier, including the silent era. I spent the entire year binge watching hundreds of old movies. The original 1952 black & white film noir The Narrow Margin was one of them. As I watched the picture I fell in love with beautiful blonde actress Jacqueline White who is still alive at age 95. I would have to say that Jacqueline White is one of my favorites along with another Jacqueline – Jacqueline McKenzie – who wowed me in the film Under the Lighthouse Dancing and again as star of The 4400. Getting back to The Narrow Margin, I have not seen the 1990 remake starring Anne Archer and Gene Hackman, but now you have me interested. I do like Anne Archer. She’s a beauty.
Lucille Ball was a major part of my childhood because I watched I Love Lucy regularly. She was one of the most naturally funny people in show biz history.
I also admired Audrey Hepburn. I didn’t know that piece of trivia about the ideological rift between Audrey and her parents during WWII. There is wisdom in Audrey’s quote “I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” A smile and a positive attitude can make anyone more attractive, male or female. When everything seems to be going wrong, stay strong, wear a smile, and remember that tomorrow is another day and life is filled with miracles great and small.
I also never missed The Carol Burnett Show and yessum, I remember her Tarzan yell and how she always pulled on her earlobe at the end of the show. Carol and her talented cast of funny people kept me entertained for many years. It is a shame that the brilliant comic Harvey Korman has been dead and gone 10 years now, and that Tim Conway was recently reported to be suffering from dementia.
Sally Field is one of my top favorites. I watched her as Gidget and The Flying Nun, as guest star in a dozen episodes of ER, and on the big screen in Smokey and the Bandit and in the title role of the film Norma Rae. Sally is a treasure.
This was fun and enlightening, Cathy. Looks like you and found a few matches and it is only round one. I can’t wait for you to complete your list of favorite actresses. I’ll be back tamale for not-so-Wordless Wednesday. Have a great day, dear friend!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
Thanks for dropping by for a cup of coffee and a chance to read over my first 10 picks in this series. I didn’t know the 1990 Narrow Margin was a remake but it shouldn’t surprise me. It seems Hollyweird does the recycling thing to rejuvenate new life into an old film and to build a new audience base. I think you’ll like it. It’s surprising to read about some of the WWII starlets who did courageous things to fight the evil ones. I sure have a deep appreciation for those who fought for their freedom which is anything but free. It often comes with a price, a steep price sometimes. I’m delighted that you enjoyed this post. I need to get going on the second edition. I might not get to share it until next month, though. My plate is a bit full these days. 🙂 Have a pAwesome day, my friend!