Back in the day, these iconic actresses were beyond a sight for sore eyes. Having taken the world by a storm in the golden years of Hollywood, you’d be incredibly surprised to see where they ended up now.
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara is most recognizable in the recent years from her gig in the comedy series “Modern Family”, where she portrays the hilarious and passionate Gloria Delgado-Pritchett. Prior to that Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award winning role, the Colombian beauty queen was famous for several other gigs, one of them being co-hosting two shows on Univision TV networks. Vergara appeared in films such as “Four Brothers” and “Madea Goes To Jail”, and is now married to actor Joe Manganiello.
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda, to this day, impresses her fans with her enthusiasm and beauty. Having won two Academy Awards throughout her career, as well as receiving a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the American Film Institute (AFI), Fonda shot to fame back in the 60s and hasn’t stopped since. The actress’ breakthrough role was in “Barbarella”, and at the moment Fonda stars in “Grace and Frankie”, an Original Netflix Series. Moreover, Fonda has always impressed with her workout videos!
Diana Rigg
Today’s kids will probably remember Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell on the recent hit show “Game of Thrones”, but Rigg was a star decades before the show was even around. In the 60s, Rigg gained recognition with her role in “The Avengers”, as well as her Tony Award-winning role in “Medea” on Broadway in 1994. What many fans may not know about Rigg is that she spent a lot of her childhood in India and therefore knows some Hindi.
Morgan Fairchild
If you remember her from the 90s, then you recall her guest appearances in the timeless sitcom “Friends”, starring as Chandler Bing’s writer mother. However, Morgan Fairchild was well-known due to her notable appearances in “Dallas”, “Flamingo Road” and “Falcon Crest”. The actress is now approaching the 70s mark, but what her fans may not know is that Fairchild learned kung-fu after being held hostage twice.
Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch, born to an American mother and a Bolivian father, is still making us do a double take at the age of 75. Welch, born Jo-Raquel Tejada, earned her breakthrough role in 1966 when she was asked to starr in “Fantastic Voyage” alongside Stephen Boyd. Since then, Welch signed a contract with 20th Century Fox and landed some of the biggest roles in Hollywood, including “Myra Breckinridge” (1970).
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett’s trademark blonde curls and piercing blue eyes made her one of the most recognizable faces in the 70s, especially after her “Charlie’s Angels” gig alongside Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Fawcett will always be remembered for her successful acting career and beautiful persona. She met her first husband, Lee Majors, as she appeared on “The Six Million Dollar Man”. Sadly, after a long battle with cancer, Fawcett passed away at the young age of 62.
Catherine Bach
Catherine Bach definitely started the trend of insuring beautiful body parts! After her infamous performance as Daisy Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard”, Bach’s legs gained so much attention that she insured them for a whopping $1,000,000 – and that is probably the most expensive set of legs to this day! Prior to her booming TV and film career, Bach worked as a tailor for theater groups to earn some extra money. Since 2012, she took on the role of Anita lawson on “The Young and The Restless”.
Katey Sagal
You probably recognize that fiery red hair from “Married… With Children”, where Katey Sagal played Peggy Bundy. Since the series ended, Sagal went on to do a number of projects, including starring in a family comedy “8 Simple Rules” and providing her voice in the animated series “Futurama”. From 2008 until 2014, Sagal took on the role of Gemma Teller Morrow in “The Sons of Anarchy”. The show was written and created by Sagal’s husband, Kirt Setter.
Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald was definitely the first of her kind – she wanted to show everyone in the world that she was having fun being a celebrity and she put in the effort to look good while doing it. Ringwald’s first iconic role was in “Sixteen Candles”, which was followed by another hit – “The Breakfast Club” – as well as offers from the producers of “Pretty Woman” and “Ghost”. Most recently, Ringwald pivoted her career to a different direction and now writes a column for “The Guardian”.
Sissy Spacek
Spacek became a well-known name in the industry, but her career started out quite tragically. Spacek admitted that her motivation to act came from her youth, specifically after the passing of her brother. Best known as the leading role in “Carrie” – an adaptation of one of Stephen King’s classics – Spacek definitely achieved her dreams. Today, Spacek is still well-known and stars in a Netflix original series, “Bloodline”.
Barbara Bach
Barbara Bach may have been born in New York City (specifically Queens), but make no mistake that the star is more diverse than it seems. Bach speaks several languages, including Italian, French, and Spanish; this skill landed her several roles in Italian films, and her beauty landed her a modeling contract. Bach started off her career as a Bond girl, and married Ringo Starr in 1981. The two started “The Lotus Foundation” charity, and her contribution to the world was far from merely gracing us with her presence on-screen.
Ally Sheedy
Ally Sheedy always spoke of her desire to pursue a career in dancing, especially since she embarked upon it at the tender age of 6 with the America Ballet Theater. However, Sheedy’s career took a turn when she made a debut in “Bad Boys” alongside Sean Penn in 1983; the film instantly became a classic. Some of other Sheedy’s notable performances include “The Breakfast Club” and “Elmo’s Fire”. Since then, Sheedy landed several smaller roles on television and has written two books.
Pam Grier
Pam Grier, born Pamela Suzette, is an American actress best known for her performances throughout the 70s. Grier commenced her acting career strong, with films like “Foxy Brown”, “The Bird Cage” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown”, which earned her the Golden Globe Award for best actress. You can probably also recognize Pam Grier from her appearances on “Miami Vice”, “The Bronx”, and “Above The Law”, where she acted alongside Steven Seagal.
Lisa Whelchel
Lisa Whelchel, best known for her performance on “The Facts of Life”, embarked upon her acting career in the 80s, but shortly after went on to be a musician. Having proven her talents to the world, Whelchel earned herself a nomination for a Grammy (Best Inspirational Performance) for her Christian album back in 1984. Most recently, Whelchel has spoken out about her passion for writing, and having written 10 books so far, she shows no signs of slowing down. In 2012, Whelchel earned second place on “Survivor: Philippines”.
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster is a name that will never be forgotten in Hollywood. From her teenage years, Foster has been respected by some of the most globally renowned actors in the business. Foster’s breakthrough role was in the film “Taxi Driver”, directed by Martin Scorsese, where she played alongside Robert DeNiro. In 1988, Foster won her first Academy Award for her performance in “The Accused”. Today, the former actress works behind the camera and has two children with spouse Alexandra Hedison.
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah first gained worldwide recognition for her performance as a mermaid in Ron Howard’s “Splash” back in 1984. However, Hannah made her serious debut in 1978 when she starred in horror film “The Fury”. Mostly known for her wispy voice and almost perfect features, Hannah played an assassin in Tarantino’s film “Kill Bill”, which earned her a Saturn Award. Aside from her acting career, Hannah is very involved with environmental activism; she also went on to create two board games.
Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith, best known for her performance in BBC’s “Downtown Abbey”, has an acting career spanning across six decades; she doesn’t seem to be slowing down, either! Smith, now with a Dame status, has over 50 film credits to her name and is one of the most loved and recognized actresses in United Kingdom’s film industry. Prior to her career in acting, Dame Smith was acting on stage and in 2012, received a Stratford Shakespeare Festival Legacy Award. You may also recognize Maggie Smith from the Harry Potter series (2001-2011).
Susan Sarandon
Sarandon first started her acting career in the 70s and is best known for her debut role in the cult classic film, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Since then, Sarandon went on to dominate the industry in film, television, and even Broadway, proving herself to be deserving of an Academy Award as well as a BAFTA. Sarandon went on to be more involved in political and social activism, and is married to actor Tim Robbins, with whom she had a daughter – Eva Amurri – who is also an actress today.
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton gained worldwide recognition after starring in “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” back in 1977; however, since then, every generation recognizes her for a different role. After forming a close relationship and partnership with Woody Allen, Keaton’s career was smooth sailing from the beginning. Keaton received an Academy Award nomination several times for films like “Reds, Marvin’s Room” and “Something’s Gotta Give”. Keaton is not only an actress, but also an author, photographer, and real estate developer. Keaton has never been married but has two children.
Lola Falana
Lola Falana made her acting debut in 1970 in the film “The Liberation of L.B. Jones”, starring as Emma Jones. In the same year, Falana went on to model for “Playboy”, and since then landed plenty of TV roles in shows such as “The Joey Bishop Show” and “The Hollywood Palace”. To add to her television success, Falana was also the first supporting actress hired by Bill Cosby for his show, “The New Bill Cosby Show”. Prior to her acting success, Falana was a dancer and a singer.
Meryl Streep
If you watch television at all, the name Meryl Streep will need no reminder; the actress is a force to be reckoned with. Streep is thought to be one of the most successful and talented women in the acting industry, with a myriad of awards to her name. Streep embarked upon acting back in college, receiving an MFA from Yale in 1975, as well as an Honorary Doctor of Arts from Dartmouth College in the beginning of the 80s. Since then, Streep still continues to wow Hollywood with her diverse skills and limitless capabilities.
Betty White
Now at the age of 95, we can freely say that Betty White has the longest spanning career in television amongst all women in performance history! To this day, White keeps herself occupied with projects, and back in the day was the first female to produce her own sitcom. Known to spread her humor and wit across more than seven decades, White is most recognized for her performances in “Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Golden Girls”. In 1981, White lost her husband to cancer.
Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett was always best known for her roles in biopic films, however after playing Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”, Bassett became an award-winning actress. Having won a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for that role, Bassett went on to portray the roles of Katherine Jackson in “The Jacksons: An American Dream”, Betty Shabazz in “Malcolm X”, and Rosa Parks in “The Rosa Parks Story”. As you can see, her career had an impact in both entertainment and politics.
Audrey Hepburn
When one asks what a Hollywood icon looks like, you would probably refer to Audrey Hepburn. The epitome of class and beauty, Hepburn became an icon after her role in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, which made her recognizable beyond belief. The American Film Institute named Hepburn the third greatest female film star, and her awards only go to show how worthy she was of such an honor. Unfortunately, Hepburn passed at the young age of 63 in her home after a long battle with cancer.
Dawn French
Do not be fooled by her name – Dawn French is a British comedian who has been nominated seven time for the British Academy Television Award. French is known for writing as well as starring in “French and Saunders”, a sketch comedy show, alongside Jennifer Saunders. Furthermore, having made a strong debut, French later played Geraldine Granger on “The Vicar of Dibley”, as well as Fat Lady in the film “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”. Dawn French was previously married to Lenny Henry, also a comedian.
Donna Summer
Donna Summer was the ultimate “bad girl” of her time, born LaDonna Adrian Gaines and one of seven children in her family. Summer began performing at the tender age of eight after replacing a vocalist at a local church; at that moment, a star was born. Summer pursued an education in the field of music and joined the Crow tour weeks before her graduation. Summer passed away in 2012 after suffering from lung cancer.
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson was a shining star amongst the famous Jackson brothers, especially since she was the youngest one and one of the only girls. Jackson soon became a name to be heard – not only was she a talented singer, but also a songwriter and dancer. Jackson was best known for her provocative performances, while her lyrics were always borderline too controversial for her time. In 2017, Jackson gave birth to her first child, but months later her and her partner, Wissam Al Mana, announced their separation.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman became well-known after her portrayal of Rae Ingram in Australian thriller film “Dead Calm”. Since then, the offers just kept rolling in, and Kidman has had a successful acting career since. The award-winning actress is also known for her roles in “Days of Thunder”, “Far and Away”, and “Batman Forever”. Since then, Kidman has gotten an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Satine in “Moulin Rouge”. The actress’ infamous marriage to Tom Cruise ended in 2006, and since then Kidman married Keith Urban.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is a force to be reckoned with since she is credited by most as “The Queen of All Media”, mostly due to her infamous talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. Not only is Winfrey the richest African-American in the world, she was also the first of her race to become a billionaire in North America. If that’s not impressive, between 1986 and 2011, Winfrey became the most influential woman in the world; her show was the highest-rated of its kind in all of history.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields, a former child star, has a career spanning across many decades due to its early start. At the age of 12, Shields appeared in “Pretty Baby”, which was considered controversial for her age. Shields went on to have a massively successful career, even though she took a break from acting while attending college, namely Princeton University, where she got a degree in Romance Languages. Shields still makes minor appearances today but mostly focuses on raising her two daughters.
Sally Field
Sally Field has been our favorite all-American sweetheart since she portrayed the optimist surfer girl on “Gidget”. Throughout her career, Field has become a famous name and face in the industry, as well as an Academy Award-winning one. More recently, Fields has demonstrated her talents behind the camera; the actress moved to directing and created her first mini-series on HBO, “From The Earth to the Moon”. Fields’ work earned her a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2014.
Stacey Dash
This fact will probably shock you most of all, but Stacey Dash is in fact 50 years old! Dash became best known as Dionne Davenport in the film adaptation of “Clueless”; her character, unlike her, is an ever-so-glamarous teenager. Since then, Dash has appeared in films like “Renaissance Man”, “View from the Top”, and “Moving, Mo’ Money”. Dash has recently reshifted her attention to politics, and started co-hosting “Outnumbered” on Fox News.
Vanessa Williams
In 1984, Vanessa Williams was the first African American woman to win the Miss America beauty pageant, which earned her a massive career in modeling. Sadly, the title was taken away from Williams as a result of unauthorized nude photos of the star being leaked to “Penthouse” magazine. Williams attempted to kick-start a career in music, but found herself mostly on television. Her notable recent projects include “Ugly Betty” and “Desperate Housewives”.
Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore embarked upon her career in 1990, which is when she took on the role of Susan on “Tales from the Darkside: The Movie”. However, it wasn’t until “Short Cuts” where she became a recognized actress in Hollywood. Moore went on to appear in “The Lost World: Jurassic Park”, as well as “The Kids Are Alright”. Most recently, Moore was awarded an Academy Award for her performance in “Still Alice”, which received a lot of critical acclaim.
Samantha Fox
English actress, singer and glamour model – Samantha Fox – started her career at the very young age of 16. She quickly became one of the most photographed women of her time, particularly after she appeared practically nude in the famous British newspaper “The Sun”. Although Fox has advanced her acting and singing career (with some inconsistencies), she also made headlines as a result of her scandalous personal life. Fox blamed her father for mismanaging her personal accounts, and by the time he had passed, the two hadn’t spoken for 20 years.
Cybill Shepard
Cybill Shepard is not quite the same as the rest of the classical beauties on this list, but she has proven herself as a triple threat, making herself a name as a model, singer and actress. In the 70s, Shepard started gain attention with smaller roles both on television and theater, but shortly after decided to take a break and focus on regional theater. Most recently, Shepard took on an appearance on “Criminal Minds” and “No Ordinary Family”.
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot raised the bar for classical beauty and is credited to be one of the most beautiful women from the 60s and 70s. Bardot started out her career as a French model and first appeared on television in 1952, where she took on several roles in comedy. Bardot later returned to the industry only in 1973 and completely shifted her priorities – she became an animal rights activist. Over the years, Bardot’s views on immigration became somewhat controversial.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, dubbed of the most famous actresses and models of all time, made history due to her very distinguished appearance, specifically different to the women of her era. Because of this, as soon as Loren began her career, she became extremely recognizable. Loren began her acting career when she was just 15 and instantly shot to fame, signing a 5-year contract with Paramount Pictures. Later on in her life, Loren took a break from the spotlight to start a family.
Lucy Lawless
Lucy Lawless’ career is best described as multidimensional since the star proved herself in acting, dancing and singing. At the age of 10, Lawless appeared in her first musical, and by the age of 21, she won the title of Miss New Zealand. Lawless appeared in “Hercules” in 1994, when she was spotted by producers of “Xena Warrior Princess”. From 1995 until 2001, Lawless became better known as Xena from the series, and also took part in “Spartacus”, a Broadway production.
Tiffani Amber Thiessen
Tiffani Amber Thiessen shot to fame after her most memorable performance in “Saved By The Bell” where she portrayed Kelly Kapowski. After her massive success as a young television star, Thiessen landed another hit part in “Beverly Hills 90210”. Today, at the age of 43, Thiessen has taken on smaller roles in shows like “White Collar”, and is currently a host of her own Cooking show. Chances are, her most memorable role (and the one she’ll be remembered by) will always be Kelly Kapowski.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer was not one of those celebrities who started slow; her instant success was caused by her massive role in the gangster classic “Scarface”, where she played alongside Al Pacino himself. Since then, Pfeiffer took on many projects, but not all of them were successful. While “Grease 2” is one of her unsuccessful projects, Pfeiffer earned an Academy Award for her part in “Dangerous Liasons”. Shortly after Pfeiffer returned to musicals, where she took on “Hairspray” and “Stardust”.
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates was pretty much born into stardom since her massive family was all in the industry. Cates turned out to be a natural when it came to acting, and at some point she was the actress everyone was trying to sign. Some of Cates’ biggest successes include “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and another massively successful project, “Gremlins”. In 1989, Cates married actor Kevin Kline, and at this point of her life focuses more on her family, having left her acting career behind.
Jessica Lange
Jessica Lange is considered to be a great actress by many, but it is not just the crowd who has chosen her. Lange is considered one of the greatest of her generation, and with two Academy Awards on her shelf, she has more than 30 film and television gigs to her name. Shortly after starting as a model, Lange landed a role in the “King Kong” remake in 1976, which shed light on her skills. Lange went on to win an Emmy Award for her performance in HBO’s “Grey Gardens”.
Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress, the Swiss beauty queen, was the first Bond girl to ever grace our screens. Since then, Andress is recognized by most due to her long-spanning career, since she started at the age of 18. After being discovered, Andress was signed by Paramount Pictures, and since then she has been featured on a myriad of lists of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. Andress was romantically linked to actors like James Dean, Harry Hamlin, and John Derek. She has one son.
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan, born Yvette Maies Stevens, has made a huge impact in the music industry throughout her career. Having started solo off the bat in 1978, by 1984, Khan released her 6th studio album, called “I Feel For You”. In 1998, Khan signed with Prince and embarked upon his tour with him. Chaka Khan was born in the Hyde Park area, and is often referred to as “an island in the middle of madness”. Khan has been married twice and has two children.
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway, born Dorothy, proved herself to be an incredibly special talent when she was the first person to be awarded the Leopard Club award, a very prestigious acting award which honors stars who have left an impact on the industry. Dunaway’s breakthrough role was in “The Happening”, but what gained her worldwide attention was her performance in “Bonnie and Clyde”. At the time, however, the film was considered to be very controversial as critics stated it “glorified murders”; however, today, the film is recognized as a Hollywood classic.
Twiggy
Twiggy, born Lesley Lawson, is a British model from the 60s, known for her tiny frame and massive eyes. Twiggy became known as a British icon, particularly throughout the 60s and the 70s. Her androgynous hair and long eyelashes were the definition of the swinging 60s. After her modeling career, Twiggy began to act both on stage and on television, but preferred to stay within the modeling business.
Julie Newmar
Julie Newmar was born in Los Angeles in 1993. Newmar’s most notable role was Katrin Sveg in Broadway’s “The Marriage Go Round”, which earned her a Tony Award for the Best Featured Actress. After that success, Newmar took on the role of Catwoman in the superhero classic “Batman” – a television show very known in the 60s. In the 70s, Newmar pivoted her career and focused on other businesses, where she received two patents, specifically for Pantyhouse and for a braiser.
