Who's The Best Movie Actress of the Sound Era?

• For any single performance?  Got to be Vivien Leigh in GWTW. 

• GOOD LIST. Just add Barbara Stanwyck. 

• My list: Vanessa Redgrave Meryl Streep Bette Davis Katharine Hepburn Isabelle Huppert Greta Garbo

• I have to express I am simply just ecstatic to at last have got Doc exactly where he is supposed to be, the post season

• It's no wonder that with this expertise, her "L.A.M.B." line has become one of the most critically respected and financially successful celebrity brands in history, with sales of more than $90 million a year.

• 1. Greta Garbo 2. Bette Davis 3. Katherine Hepburn 4. Marilyn Monroe 5. Vivian Leigh

• 1-Katharine Hepburn 2-Meryl Streep 3-Bette Davis 4-Cate Blanchett 5-Ingrid Bergman 6-Judi Dench These 6 (I had to list 6 for I could not leave Judi Dench out) are indisputable-They are all acting icons. All have mastered multiple genres, successful theatre careers, are/were prolific, versatile & maintain(ed) undeniable presence onscreen. I challenge any other actor to match that.

• Barbra Streisand es la mujer m�completa que existe. Todo lo que hace lo hace bien!!! amo escucharla cantar, me transporta. Pero como aqui debemos elegir a la mejor actriz, me quedo con Meryl Streep, porque ella produce sensaciones que nadie produce en mi. Verla es un deleite!!!! 1- Meryl Streep 2- Barbra Streisand 3- Helen Mirren 4- Jodie Foster 5- Susan Sarandon y no quiero dejar afuera a Diane Keaton!!

• BARBRA STREISAND would be right up there on my list as well! She has accomplished so much and much of what she has done no other woman has accomplished thus far! She is perhaps the most acknowledged woman director out there and her talents as an actress are amazing!!! She's just so great in everything from Funny Girl, Owl and the Pussycat, The Way We Were, Yentl, Prince Of Tides, A Star Is Born, On A Clear Day to Nuts and many other titles! And I see her as an actress in everything she does. Watching her sing something is like watching a mini movie or play because she gets into the character in order to sing those songs! On this or any other list of great talents, Streisand would always be at the top. There will never be another Barbra Streisand. Her talents and accomplishments are just so broad and amazing! I simply love her! But in all fairness, this is a list about one talent - Acting My best actresses are: 1. BARBRA STREISAND 2. Katharine Hepburn 3. Judy Garland 4. Meryl Streep 5. Lauren Bacall

• what about A Star is Born,Yentl Prince of Tides, & Nuts not only did she star in them she produced or directed. Have you seen Streisands AFI? Im not saying Streep isn't good I am saying their are both very talented in different ways. Why does one have to be better then the other? I love them both, although I am more of a Streisand fan because I love her music as well. That is what I meant by Frank Sinatra, the singing not the acting. I said she was multitalented and I think she is an artist. Just my opinion don't expect everyone to agree. Its okay Really! :)

• Exactly....and Frank Sinatra was not an actor of great range. Ms Streisand is a buffet of talent but to put her on par with Streep is misguided IMO. Streisand is a charismatic star with great talent (The Way We Were, Funny Girl and What's Up Doc represent her at her best) but has a small range dramatically when you put her along side Streep. Watch the AFI tribute montage on Youtube of Streep's career if you need to be reminded of what she has conquered.

• I don't agree, I would put both Streep and Streisand as great actresses. Streisand is not just a movie star. I like them both. There is lots of talent but remember Streisand has multi talents and is considered a female Frank Sinatra

• Some people are movie stars and some people are actors. Meryl Streep is hands down no contest the BEST FILM ACTRESS of all time. There may be more luminous movie stars but that's a different category. As for Ms Streisand.....as much as I love her ...she falls into the movie star category. To suggest she changes for every role is to be in serious denial.

• No one said BARBRA STREISAND??? She is the Actor that sings! She can get into so many different roles it is like watching a different actress each time. She doesn't act/sound the same in every movie that is what makes her the best! She is creative. Ya she has done less then 20 films but who cares, plus she is a great director!

• Glenda Jackson Hanna Schygulla Isabelle Huppert Faye Dunaway Jane Fonda

• Elizabeth Taylor? At one time the most beautiful creature in the world. Her performance in "Suddenly, Last Summer" was mesmerizing. I think she was often unappreciated because of her rather torrid personal life. Ever the humanitarian, however, she has been seen to be loyal and caring to her friends, and has served many good causes that have not received deserved recognition. I have enjoyed most of her performances, and a close second to "Suddenly, Last Summer" was her role as Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." She should certainly be listed in the top ten.

• I totally agree that Meryl's overall performances are superb. I first saw her in the TV mini-series, "Holocaust," decades ago and knew she would be even more impressive as years passed; and she has proven me right. I know of only one of her movies that disappointed me: "She Devil" with Rosanne Barr. I never quite understood why Meryl accepted that role. I believe, however, that Meryl suffers some of the "over-nominated" bias that Susan Lucci encountered with her much-touted soap opera character. It was a given that she would be nominated, but won only once I believe. While Susan is a very attractive and presentable presence, she does not quite measure up to Meryl's acting ability, and, of course, she acts primarily on TV. Meryl is exceptional in many ways, and I'm pleased that she has not "gone into rehab" or had "many nasty divorces," like some of her contemporaries. She seems to have her feet squarely on the ground and gives memorable performances on the screen.

• For what it is worth, New York Times film critic agrees with Mr Musto that La Streep is the 'best screen actress in the world" http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/movies/awardsseason/21scott.html "Since her last one Oscars have gone to Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank (twice) and many other more- and less-deserving younger performers, while Ms. Streep, 60, has been a constant, patient and routinely passed-over Oscar-night presence. Has she received too much recognition or too little? Trying to quantify an answer is really just trivial showbiz math, pseudoscientific data marshaled in support of a conclusion that is already axiomatic: Meryl Streep is the best screen actress in the world"

• Vanessa Redgrave is so wonderful that the next four fade into oblivion. She is by far the greatest ever. One facial expression from her is more than a million words of dialog.

• WTF???? What about Jodie Foster!!!!

• cicley tyson, stockard channing, alfie woodard, diahann carroll, loretta devine

• DEAD: Barbara Stanwyck Bette Davis Carole Lombard Joan Crawford Lucille Ball ALIVE: Helen Mirren Meryl Streep Judi Dench Emma Thompson Vanessa Redgrave

• The best scene stealers of all time: Hattie McDaniel Thelma Ritter Mary Wickes Marjoie Main Then I would tie Streep/Bette Davis/Elizabeth Taylor I know you said only 5 but you said 'Best Movie Actress' and all of them are instantly recognizable, even today....I hope

• Streep Bette Davis Katherine Hepburn Vanessa Redgrave Diane Keaton All the above for longevity, versatility and professional consistancy. Elizabeth Taylor for best performance ever in "Virginia Woolf" with MacLaine a close 2nd for "Terms of Endearment"

• Judi Dench, Emily Watson, Laura Linney and Kate Winslett are the most talented actresses in film today. Miss Barbara Stanwyck, Miss Bette Davis and Miss Carole Lombard were wonderful. One of the most beautiful, and quite good in the only film I saw her in, was Margaret Lockwood.

• 20TH Century? In no particular order: Barbara Stanwyck, Louise Brooks, Garbo, Romy Schneider, Simone Signoret, Giulietta Masina (!), Her Streep-ness, and Tilda Swinton, baby

• Miss Heinaletta Tushka Miss Wilma Butthurt Miss Vee Shee Schwaa Miss Penny Traitor Miss Moniker Murkilix All stars to me~! Love, Sparky Rectospangle Ithaca, NY

• 1) Greta Garbo. She was no mannequin, and as evidence I site "Camille". Absolute magic. 2) Bette Davis. 3) Giulietta Masina. I will never forget "La Strada"....she was transcendent. 4) Susan Hayward. The divine bitch was fantastic in everything. 5)Susan Sarandon. I have never understood the fascination with Meryl Streep.

• I love that all time bitch, Marlene, but she's not really much of an actress. She didn't even think so. Like somebody said of Garbo, a mannequin. Maybe mostly or only comic, but...Madelyn Khan!

• Of living actresses, Meryl Streep definitely tops the list. Then right below would be Vanessa Redgrave Tier 1A actresses would include Laura Linney, Patricia Clarkson, Dames Judi Dench and Helen Mirren. If only all of them could appear in the same movie. What a bitchin flick that would be. Mega hairy muscle hugs, Michael, for setting a higher standard and engaging your loyal fans of Musto Men. BTW, I finally shoveled as much snow as I ever want to see in my lifetime. Falling in snow drift mounds is fun, but I rather have shirtless weather back again.

• For Team Streep - Best Actress 2010 - Join! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Meryl-Streep-for-Best-Actress/285635764582?ref=nf

• There are three and only three who matter here: Streep -- and maybe some of you should go back to some of her earlier films, like Ironweed and Postcards from the Edge to see her true range -- staggering! Redgrave -- Isadora, which isn't available on dvd, and Playing for Time (tv film by Arthur Miller about surviving in the concentration camps) where a bald Redgrave turned eating a potato into transcendent acting. Geraldine Page -- an actor's actor -- a perfectionist -- unprecedented

• Garbo? Are you kidding? She's a glorified mannequin.

• You are right xixi, she deserves to win this year. But I'm afraid that Sandra Bullock is going to win for the piece of shit movie she was in, and her one-note performance she gave with blond highlights. Did I mention that I hated that movie?

• La Streep tops my list of all time greats too. I was flummoxed when I found out that she hasn't won an Oscar in 27 years and has suffered 11 losses in a row. The Academy better wake up! This is embarrassing!

• As it's The Best Actress rather than star, then Meryl is so far beyond anyone else in range rather than playing (albeit very well), versions of her own persona like most stars, that she's pretty much in a class of her own. None like her before, doubt there'll be one like her again. There are others I equally enjoy but if you're asking for "The Best", she's it; a real delight that her career coincided with my lifetime.

• Ida Lupino! - she appeared in 59 films and directed 9 others. Always FUN. - and a couple of other favorites I haven't seen here yet: Myrna Loy Lauren Bacall

• 1-Cate Blanchett 2-Meryl Streep 3-Katharine Hepburn 4-Bette Davis 5-Judi Dench I would've included Emma Thompson or Vanessa Redgrave but I don't think they play great roles outside of British cinema. Kate Winslet is good, but not nearly versatile enough-like someone said above she mainly sticks to dramas and basically gives similar performances from role to role. Nicole Kidman gives the same performance each time even though her film choices are diverse, so I can't include her. Everyone else pretty much pales in comparison, these ladies are the cream of the crop.

• Nobody said Barbara Stanwyck or Shirley MacLaine so... Barbara Stanwyck and Shirley MacLaine I also love Dame Dench though she probably has one of the biggest Oscar robberies in recent memory for a cameo.

• How could anyone forget Pat Ast!

• 1. Vanessa Redgrave 2, Anna Karina 3. Cate Blanchett 4. Kate Winslet 5. Isabelle Adjani

• 1 - Divine 2 - Edith Massey 3 - The little girl robot from "Small Wonder" 4 - Madonna 5 - Mariah Carey

• Jody Foster Meryl Streep Julia Roberts Woopy Goldberg Isabell Huppert

• 1) Jean Arthut 2) Ingrid Bergman 3) Irene Dunne 4) Audrey Hepburn 5) Greta Scacchi

• Liberace!

• You all left out Marie Dressler.

• Carole Lombard Claudette Colbert Jean Arthur Judy Holliday Maggie Smith

• I won't list them numerically, but will include Meryl Streep, Bette Davis, Vivien Leigh, Jennifer Jones...and agree with Southern Dave about Mary Astor, having just watched her in Little Women. Was this the same actress who played the femme fatale in The Maltese Falcon? Lots of fine contemporary actresses besides Streep, but truth to tell, I'm not that interested in them.

• 1. Morgan Fairchild 2. Loni Anderson 3. Maria Montez 4. Ruth Roman 5. Carol Channing

• Liz Taylor was pretty damned amazing in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Suddenly Last Summer," and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

• People forget that being a legend is not the same as being a great actress. Elizabeth Taylor, seriously?

• 1-Judy Garland 2--Vivien Leigh 3--Carole Lombard 4--Meryl Streep 5--Jane Fonda

• Isabelle Huppert

• Theresa Russell hasn't gotten a lot of plum roles, but deserves some serious consideration for her courageous acting in Bad Timing and Whore.

• Bette Davis Meryl Streep Elizabeth Taylor Anna Magnani Marlene Dietrich Those are just my biggest favorites. Current: Meryl, Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, and Tilda Swinton.

• Garbo Davis Marilyn Judy Kate Streep Audrey Hepburn Mary Astor Tuesday Weld Patricia Clarkson

• I think Meryl, Cate and Nicole have the edge on the current group of ladies due to their range of movies. I can't involved the fantastic Kate Winslet on my list because she primarily sticks to drama's, she doesn't have their expansive CV.

• Isabelle Huppert, anyone?

• Joanne Worley Ann B Davis valerie Harper

• Meryl better than Hepburn?? Hmm.

• Garbo Marilyn Monroe Elizabeth Taylor Judy Garland Katharine Hepburn

• 1-Kate Winslet 2--Audrey Hepburn 3-Marlene Dietrich 4-Vanessa Redgrave 5-Judy Garland

TotalComments: 62