Originally by Buster McDermottList RulesLiving actresses born in or before 1938
The best living actresses over 80 (or close to it) include the classic beauties who headlined films and television shows of yesterday and those older female actresses we love today. These women might not all be the fresh faces in Hollywood they once were but their legacy and contributions to the entertainment world are timeless.
For classic movie fans, these actresses born before 1935 include many familiar names from some of the best movies of all time. Who can forget Lauren Bacall starring alongside Humphrey Bogart in several movies in the 1940s or Maureen O'Hara appearing in westerns with the great John Wayne? What about the long and successful careers of Sophia Loren, Shirley MacLaine and Brigitte Bardot? They might not be the leading ladies of today but in their time, they were among the best in the business.
Despite their age, which all deal with gracefully, many of these best living actresses 80 or older are still active today. Betty White might be the best example of that as the Golden Girl continues to entertain audiences with her television shows and books.
Which actress over 80 is the absolute best when comparing them at the peak of their careers? That's your vote and you can exercise it below by voting, adding to or re-ranking this list of the best living actresses over 80! Want to rank the top older male actors next? Head over to add your selections to the best living actors in their 80s too!1
1,353659Julie Andrews
Age: 85Birthplace: Walton-on-Thames, United Kingdom
Dame Julie Andrews, (born 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer and author. Andrews, a... more2
1,952858Betty White
Age: 98Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, United States of America
Betty Marion White Ludden (born January 17, 1922) is an American actress and comedian, with... more3
1,141549Maggie Smith
Age: age 82Birthplace: England, London
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (born 28 December 1934) is an English actress. She has had an... more4
1,870979voting closed at #4
Doris Day
Dec. at 97 (1922-2019)Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Doris Day (born April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and animal... more5
1,048720Carol Burnett
Age: 87Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
1933Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American actress, comedian, singer and... more6
1,033565Judi Dench
Age: 85Birthplace: Heworth, United Kingdom
Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Dench made her... more7
1,095711Angela Lansbury
Age: 94Birthplace: Poplar, London, United Kingdom
Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury (born October 16, 1925) is a British-American-Irish actress who... more8
947715Sophia Loren
Age: 86Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Sofia Villani Scicolone Dame Grand Cross OMRI (born 20 September 1934), known professionally... more9
566407Barbara Eden
Age: 89Birthplace: Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead, August 23, 1931) is an American film, stage, and... more10
644310Carol Channing
Age: 99Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States of America
Carol Elaine Channing (January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019) was an American actress, singer,... more11
864662Shirley MacLaine
Age: 86Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American film, television,... more12
675573Ellen Burstyn
Age: 87Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Ellen Burstyn (born Edna Rae Gillooly; December 7, 1932) is an American actress best known for... more13
620582voting closed at #13
Olivia de Havilland
Age: Age: 104Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Dame Olivia Mary de Havilland DBE (July 1, 1916 – July 26, 2020) was a British-American... more14
532457Gena Rowlands
Age: 90Birthplace: Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
Virginia Cathryn "Gena" Rowlands (born June 19, 1930) is an American actress, whose career in... more15
586482Joanne Woodward
Age: 90Birthplace: Thomasville, Georgia, United States of America
Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward (born February 27, 1930) is an American actress, producer,... more16
686594voting closed at #16
Cloris Leachman
Age: 94Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America
1926Cloris Leachman (April 30, 1926 – January 26, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. In a... more17
349378Angie Dickinson
Age: 89Birthplace: Kulm, North Dakota, United States of America
Angeline Dickinson (née Brown; born September 30, 1931) is an American actress. She began her... more18
804778Brigitte Bardot
Age: 86Birthplace: Paris, France
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot (French: [bʁiʒit baʁdo]; born 28 September 1934), often referred to... more19
438436Eva Marie Saint
Age: 96Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an American actress. In a career spanning 70 years, she... more20
490544Rita Moreno
Age: 84Birthplace: Humacao, United States, with Territories
1931Rita Moreno (born December 11, 1931) is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer and singer. Her career... more21
347489Shirley Jones
Age: 81Birthplace: Charleroi, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) is an American singer and actress. In her six decades... more22
384344voting closed at #22
Charlotte Rae
Age: 94Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018), known professionally as Charlotte... more23
384424Joan Collins
Age: 87Birthplace: Paddington, London, United Kingdom
Dame Joan Henrietta Collins, (born 23 May 1933) is an English actress, author, and columnist.... more24
657755voting closed at #24
Diahann Carroll
Dec. at 84 (1935-2019)Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Diahann Carroll (born July 17, 1935) is an American actress, singer and model. She rose to... more25
207304Peggy McCay
Age: 92Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America
1930Margaret Ann "Peggy" McCay (November 3, 1927 – October 7, 2018) was an American actress whose... more
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