female professionals The Best Actresses Working Today
List Rules Working actresses who have starred in major films or TV series in the last ~5 years
List of the best actresses working today, ranked. This list includes many of the greatest actresses in film history, but more importantly, focuses on modern female movie stars. Today, Hollywood features a new crop of popular and respected young actresses who command strong female roles that hold their own on the big screen. Current actresses are more talented than ever before.
While many of the talented women on this list are among familiar favorites (Meryl, Tilda, Glenn...), others are not quite yet household names, even if they have been nominated for - or even won! - Oscars for their performances. This list includes the top female actors who have had starring roles in the last few years, both in film and TV (like "Homeland" star / Emmy award winner Claire Danes) and should give you a good idea of the top 100 actresses who are in the business these days.
The recent performances of these women have been widely acclaimed, even if their individual films or works were otherwise ignored. Vote up those actresses who you believe have contributed the most to the presence of strong female characters in film, and be sure to add any who we missed... 1 3,256 1,566
Cate Blanchett age 46 Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Manifesto (2015)
Carol (2015)
The Hobbit series
The Monuments Men (2014)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Manifesto (2015)
Carol (2015)
The Hobbit series
The Monuments Men (2014)
2 3,789 2,654
Meryl Streep age 68 The Post (2017)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
Suffragette (2015)
Ricki and the Flash (2015)
Into the Woods (2014)
The Giver (2014)
August: Osage County (2013)

The Post (2017)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
Suffragette (2015)
Ricki and the Flash (2015)
Into the Woods (2014)
The Giver (2014)
August: Osage County (2013)
3 2,316 1,370
Julianne Moore age 57 Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Suburbicon (2017)
Wonderstruck (2017)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (2014-15)
Still Alice (2014)
Maps to the Stars (2014)
Non-Stop (2014)
Carrie (2013)

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Suburbicon (2017)
Wonderstruck (2017)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (2014-15)
Still Alice (2014)
Maps to the Stars (2014)
Non-Stop (2014)
Carrie (2013)
4 2,239 1,225
Helen Mirren age 72 Collateral Beauty (2016)
Trumbo (2015)
Eye in the Sky (2015)
Woman in Gold (2015)
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
RED 2 (2013)

Collateral Beauty (2016)
Trumbo (2015)
Eye in the Sky (2015)
Woman in Gold (2015)
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
RED 2 (2013)
5 2,766 1,530
Kate Winslet age 42 The Mountain Between Us (2017)
Collateral Beauty (2016)
The Dressmaker (2015)
Steve Jobs (2015)
The Divergent Series (2014-15)
Labor Day (2013)

The Mountain Between Us (2017)
Collateral Beauty (2016)
The Dressmaker (2015)
Steve Jobs (2015)
The Divergent Series (2014-15)
Labor Day (2013)
6 2,349 1,073
Judi Dench age 83 Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Victoria & Abdul (2017)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Spectre (2015)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
Philomena (2013)

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Victoria & Abdul (2017)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Spectre (2015)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
Philomena (2013)
7 2,190 1,109
Maggie Smith age 83 The Lady in the Van (2015)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
Downton Abbey (2010-15)

The Lady in the Van (2015)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
Downton Abbey (2010-15)
8 2,201 1,137
Emma Thompson age 58 The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Alone in Berlin (2016)
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Beautiful Creatures (2013)

The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Alone in Berlin (2016)
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Beautiful Creatures (2013)
9 2,464 1,113
Amy Adams age 43 Justice League (2017)
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Arrival (2016)
Big Eyes (2014)
American Hustle (2013)

Justice League (2017)
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Arrival (2016)
Big Eyes (2014)
American Hustle (2013)
10 2,003 1,344
Nicole Kidman age 50 Big Little Lies (2017)
The Beguiled (2017)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Top of the Lake (2017)
Lion (2016)
The Family Fang (2015)
Queen of the Desert (2015)
Paddington (2014)
Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
Grace of Monaco (2014)
The Railway Man (2013)
Stoker (2013)

Big Little Lies (2017)
The Beguiled (2017)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
Top of the Lake (2017)
Lion (2016)
The Family Fang (2015)
Queen of the Desert (2015)
Paddington (2014)
Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
Grace of Monaco (2014)
The Railway Man (2013)
Stoker (2013)
11 2,090 1,360 
12 1,615 991
Rachel Weisz age 48 My Cousin Rachel (2017)
Disobedience (2017)
Denial (2017)
The Light Between Oceans (2016)
Youth (2015)
The Lobster (2015)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

My Cousin Rachel (2017)
Disobedience (2017)
Denial (2017)
The Light Between Oceans (2016)
Youth (2015)
The Lobster (2015)
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
13 1,912 846
MarySSpiegel added Kathy Bates age 69 Disjointed (2017)
Feud: Bette and Joan (2017)
Complete Unknown (2016)
American Horror Story (2013-2016)
The Boss (2016)
The Great Gilly Hopkins (2015)
Tammy (2014)

Disjointed (2017)
Feud: Bette and Joan (2017)
Complete Unknown (2016)
American Horror Story (2013-2016)
The Boss (2016)
The Great Gilly Hopkins (2015)
Tammy (2014)
14 1,561 1,127
Susan Sarandon age 71 Feud: Bette and Joan (2017)
Ray Donovan (2017)
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Mothers and Daughters (2016)
The Meddler (2015)
Tammy (2014)
The Big Wedding (2013)

Feud: Bette and Joan (2017)
Ray Donovan (2017)
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Mothers and Daughters (2016)
The Meddler (2015)
Tammy (2014)
The Big Wedding (2013)
15 2,287 2,243
Charlize Theron age 42 Atomic Blonde (2017)
The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Dark Places (2015)
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)

Atomic Blonde (2017)
The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Dark Places (2015)
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
16 2,060 1,123
Helena Bonham Carter age 51 Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
Love, Nina (2016)
Suffragette (2015)
Cinderella (2015)

Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
Love, Nina (2016)
Suffragette (2015)
Cinderella (2015)
17 1,403 1,099
Glenn Close age 71 Crooked House (2017)
The Girl with All the Gifts (2017)
What Happened to Monday (2017)
The Great Gilly Hopkins (2016)
Anesthesia (2016)
The Wife (2016)
5 to 7 (2015)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Crooked House (2017)
The Girl with All the Gifts (2017)
What Happened to Monday (2017)
The Great Gilly Hopkins (2016)
Anesthesia (2016)
The Wife (2016)
5 to 7 (2015)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
18 2,065 969 
19 1,609 1,094
Julia Roberts age 50 Wonder (2017)
Money Master (2016)
Mother's Day (2016)
Secret in Their Eyes (2015)
The Normal Heart (2014)
August: Osage County (2013)

Wonder (2017)
Money Master (2016)
Mother's Day (2016)
Secret in Their Eyes (2015)
The Normal Heart (2014)
August: Osage County (2013)
20 2,459 2,334 
Natalie Portman age 36 Jackie (2016)
A Tale of Love and Darkness (2016)
Jane Got a Gun (2016)
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Jackie (2016)
A Tale of Love and Darkness (2016)
Jane Got a Gun (2016)
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
21 1,766 873
Rachel McAdams age 39 Disobedience (2017)
Doctor Strange (2016)
Spotlight (2015)
Southpaw (2015)
Aloha (2015)
A Most Wanted Man (2014)
About Time (2013)
To the Wonder (2013)

Disobedience (2017)
Doctor Strange (2016)
Spotlight (2015)
Southpaw (2015)
Aloha (2015)
A Most Wanted Man (2014)
About Time (2013)
To the Wonder (2013)
22 3,110 2,818
Jennifer Lawrence age 27 mother! (2017)
Passengers (2017)
X-Men series (2011-16)
Joy (2015)
The Hunger Games series (2012-15)
Serena (2015)
American Hustle (2013)

mother! (2017)
Passengers (2017)
X-Men series (2011-16)
Joy (2015)
The Hunger Games series (2012-15)
Serena (2015)
American Hustle (2013)
23 1,591 699 
Emily Blunt age 35 The Girl on the Train (2016)
The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)
Sicario (2015)
Into the Woods (2014)
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
The Girl on the Train (2016)
The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)
Sicario (2015)
Into the Woods (2014)
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
24 1,494 924

25 1,080 814
unintentionalwit added Frances McDormand age 60 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Hail, Caesar! (2016)
26 1,226 817
Naomi Watts age 49 The Glass Castle (2017)
The Book of Henry (2017)
While We're Young (2015)
The Divergent series (2015-16)
St. Vincent (2014)
Birdman (2014)
Diana (2013)

The Glass Castle (2017)
The Book of Henry (2017)
While We're Young (2015)
The Divergent series (2015-16)
St. Vincent (2014)
Birdman (2014)
Diana (2013)
27 999 576 
maguilar added Sigourney Weaver age 68 Ghostbusters (2016)
Chappie (2015)
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
Ghostbusters (2016)
Chappie (2015)
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
28 2,134 2,095
Anne Hathaway age 35 Colossal (2017)
Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
The Intern (2015)
Interstellar (2014)

Colossal (2017)
Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
The Intern (2015)
Interstellar (2014)
29 1,520 1,024
Mweihn added Reese Witherspoon age 42 Home Again (2017)
Big Little Lies (2017)
Hot Pursuit (2015)
Inherent Vice (2015)
Wild (2014)
Gone Girl (2014)
Mud (2013)

Home Again (2017)
Big Little Lies (2017)
Hot Pursuit (2015)
Inherent Vice (2015)
Wild (2014)
Gone Girl (2014)
Mud (2013)
30 1,166 1,000
unintentionalwit added Hilary Swank age 43 Logan Lucky (2017)
The Homesman (2014)
You're Not You (2014)

Logan Lucky (2017)
The Homesman (2014)
You're Not You (2014)
31 879 732
unintentionalwit added Tilda Swinton age 57 Okja (2017)
Letters from Baghdad (2017)
Doctor Strange (2016)
Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Trainwreck (2015)
Snowpiercer (2014)
Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Okja (2017)
Letters from Baghdad (2017)
Doctor Strange (2016)
Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Trainwreck (2015)
Snowpiercer (2014)
Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
32 1,114 763
Jessica Chastain age 41 Molly's Game (2017)
The Zookeeper's Wife (2017)
Miss Sloane (2017)
The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)
Crimson Peak (2015)
The Martian (2015)
A Most Violent Year (2015)
Miss Julie (2014)
Interstellar (2014)
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2014)
Mama (2013)
Wilde Salomé (2013)
Zero Dark Thirty (2013)

Molly's Game (2017)
The Zookeeper's Wife (2017)
Miss Sloane (2017)
The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)
Crimson Peak (2015)
The Martian (2015)
A Most Violent Year (2015)
Miss Julie (2014)
Interstellar (2014)
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2014)
Mama (2013)
Wilde Salomé (2013)
Zero Dark Thirty (2013)
33 979 646
Marion Cotillard age 42 Assassin's Creed (2016)
Macbeth (2015)
Dior and I (2014)
Two Days, One Night (2014)
The Immigrant (2014)

Assassin's Creed (2016)
Macbeth (2015)
Dior and I (2014)
Two Days, One Night (2014)
The Immigrant (2014)
34 911 808
Annette Bening age 59 20th Century Women (2017)
Rules Don't Apply (2016)
Danny Collins (2015)
Girl Most Likely (2013)
Ginger & Rosa (2013)

20th Century Women (2017)
Rules Don't Apply (2016)
Danny Collins (2015)
Girl Most Likely (2013)
Ginger & Rosa (2013)
35 1,113 666

36 819 478 
37 800 535 
38 1,560 794 
ImanBehb added Jessica Biel age 36 The Sinner (2017)
A Kind of Murder (2016)
Bleeding Heart (2015)
Accidental Love (2015)
The Sinner (2017)
A Kind of Murder (2016)
Bleeding Heart (2015)
Accidental Love (2015)
39 1,873 1,893

40 1,223 1,173

41 825 752

42 1,559 1,735

43 914 888

44 566 262 
45 534 362 
46 2,030 2,014

47 1,316 1,136 
48 871 630

49 834 506 
50 666 592
