We’ll begin with a modern icon. Since her start in stage plays in 1975, Meryl Streep has completely risen to stardom, to the point of being considered by many as the very best actress of her generation.

Streep holds the distinct honor of being the most nominated actress for an Academy Award in history, with 21 nominations and 3 wins. Some of her most memorable performances include Sophie's Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, and The Bridges of Madison County.

Image: Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0

What more can be said about the "Blonde Bombshell" that hasn’t been said before? Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe is definitively one of America’s most famous pop icons. There’s a good reason why legendary pop artist Andy Warhol decided to immortalize her with a series of paintings: Marilyn not only perfectly encapsulates Hollywood in the '50s but also serves as a great representation of how the world sees the American dream.

Monroe’s first on-screen appearance dates back to 1947, when she briefly appeared as a waitress. Nobody knew that this small role would be followed by an extremely profitable career, which included classics like Some Like It Hot, The Seven Year Itch, and The Misfits.

Image: Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0

Many of the actresses on this list are considered Hollywood royalty, but only Grace Kelly holds the honor of being an actual princess. However, while her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco was truly a spectacular moment, we shouldn’t overlook the incredible career of this amazingly talented actress.

After a number of small roles, Kelly first achieved stardom with her performance in John Ford's 1953 film Mogambo, for which she was nominated for her first Academy Award. That being said, perhaps her most iconic roles are the numerous Hitchcock films she appeared in, including such classics as Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.

Image: Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0

Sometimes actresses and actors are typecast after a particularly amazing role: Carrie Fisher will always be Princess Leia, Anthony Hopkins will always be Hannibal Lecter, and Judy Garland will always be remembered as the brave Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz. And while this role truly cemented Garland as an undisputed American icon, there’s so much more to this amazing actress's career.

Garland’s incredible voice and acting chops skyrocketed her to fame from an early age. One year before portraying Dorothy, she starred alongside Mickey Rooney in the 1938 film Love Finds Andy Hardy. As an adult, she received Oscar nominations for such iconic films as A Star Is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg.

Image: Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0

If there’s one thing that you probably remember about Elizabeth Taylor, it’s those hauntingly beautiful eyes of hers: They were a gorgeous blue that almost seemed to shift into a unique shade of violet under the right light. Regardless, this amazing American actress is still remembered as one of Hollywood’s most iconic legends.

Elizabeth Taylor’s many acting roles are too many to count, so we’ll leave you with a few of our favorites: two film adaptations of Tennessee Williams’ plays, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly, Last Summer, and her performance as the Queen of the Nile herself in the 1961 film Cleopatra.

Image: photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0

Throughout her nearly sixty-year career, Katharine Hepburn amassed an impressive number of awards and accolades. Critics and fans alike adored the outspokenness, independence, and freedom that she brought to her characters. It seems only natural that her amazing talent earned her 4 Academy Awards for Best Actress, a record she holds to this day.

Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Hepburn started acting during her college years. After a very successful run on Broadway, she gained international fame after Hollywood discovered her. Her third film, Morning Glory, earned Hepburn her very first Academy Award.

Image: Volha Kudzina

It should go without saying that all the actresses on this list have multiple talents, including singing and dancing. However, it would be a safe bet to state that Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire’s most beloved dance partner, is the very best dancer on this list (which is definitely saying something).

Born in Independence, Missouri, but raised in Kansas City, Rogers began her career in a vaudeville act at the age of 14. In the 1930s, she met her perfect partner in crime, Fred Astaire. From 1933 to 1939, the duo starred in 9 iconic films, which completely revolutionized the Hollywood musical genre.

Image: Kyle Head

Julia Roberts became an instantly recognizable icon in the ‘90s, starring in such classics as Steel Magnolias, Pretty Woman, and My Best Friend’s Wedding. However, it wasn’t until the start of the new millennium that she earned her first well-deserved Academy Award, when she played the paralegal-turned-environmental activist in the 2000 film Erin Brockovich.

Nowadays, Roberts continues to shine on the silver screen. The 21st century saw her starring in films like Ocean's Eleven and Eat Pray Love. Not only that, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2014 for her performance in the 2014 TV film The Normal Heart.

Image: David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0

Caryn Elaine Johnson, known to the world as Whoopi Goldberg, is undeniably a jack of all trades. She is an Academy Award-winning actress, received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor for her work as a comedian, and is also a TV personality who entertains millions of American homes every day.

Whoopi first rose to prominence for her wonderful performance in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film The Color Purple, for which she received a Golden Globe for Best Actress. That first recognition was quickly followed by a myriad of awards, including an Academy Award for Ghost and an Emmy for hosting the TV show The View.

Image: Canadian Film Centre from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0

Just like Judy Garland, many people know Rita Hayworth as "Gilda," a nickname she earned after starring in the titular 1946 film. However, there’s so much more this actress contributed to Hollywood throughout her spectacular career, so we decided to honor her life and work with this final entry.

Born Margarita Carmen Cansino, Rita was already a professional dancer by age 12, performing on stage with her father, who was also a dancer. By the time she was in her early 20s, she had already taken the world by storm, becoming one of the most profitable actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Image: photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0