The Biggest Hollywood Leading Lady Of Every Year Since 1950

Whether she was co-starring with Mickey Rooney in their many films or taking a trip on a tornado in The Wizard of Oz, the pint-sized, multitalented actress dominated both decades and continued to shine throughout her long career.

This was the year Bette starred in perhaps her best-remembered film, All About Eve, before making an impressive comeback alongside Joan Crawford in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? in 1962.

Despite being made to look much older for her role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, British actress Vivien Leigh's incredible talent gave the tortured character an extra spark. She was perhaps most well known for her portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind.

Debbie infamously dealt with intense pressures while filming Singin' in the Rain, but you'd never know it from the bright and sunny character she brought to life onscreen. Did you know that Debbie was also a cabaret performer and in 1979 she founded a dance studio in North Hollywood, CA?

Marilyn had been turning heads for quite some time, but as the resident blonde in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the actress cemented her status as a Hollywood icon. Who could ever forget the iconic performance she gave when she sang, 'Happy Birthday Mr. President' to J.F.K. on his 45th birthday?

It takes an impressive woman to make an impact opposite James Stewart in a film like Rear Window. Grace did just that — two years before she became an actual princess by marrying Prince Rainer III of Monaco on April 19, 1956.

Natalie Wood was born Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko on July 20, 1938. Natalie perfectly played the naïve yet emotionally charged counterpart to James Dean's reckless abandon in Rebel Without a Cause.

Deborah Kerr was a Scottish actress whose grace and beauty has always been the gold standard for elegance on screen. After steaming up the screen with Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity in 1953, Deborah returned with class as the American tutor in The King and I.

Doris Day was one of America's cinema sweethearts during the latter part of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The Pajama Game epitomized the quirky fun that defined Doris' incredible talent throughout her career. Doris became an animal rights activist later in her career and founded the Doris Day Pet Foundation, now the Doris Day Animal Foundation in 1978.

Joanne Woodward is an American actress and is also well known for her ongoing philanthropy. After winning an Oscar for her role in The Three Faces of Eve, Joanne proved herself once again alongside her future husband, Paul Newman, in The Long, Hot Summer.

This groundbreaking, multitalented actress followed up her Oscar-nominated performance in Carmen Jones (1954) with a starring role alongside Sidney Poitier in Porgy and Bess.

Blonde bombshell Janet Leigh was born Jeanette Helen Morrison on July 6, 1927.  Her career lasted over 5 decades and she also became an author during that time. Her grim fate in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho couldn't overshadow her stirring performance in the thriller.

Puerto Rican actress, dancer and singer Rita Moreno has had a long career, over 70 years of work! With her portrayal of Anita, Rita gave West Side Story a grounding in Puerto Rican identity. The film also starred Natalie Wood.

As the quintessential and first-ever "Bond Girl" in Dr. No, sexy Swiss actress Ursula Andress set a stunning standard while wearing the infamous white bikini she later claimed "made me into a success."

A successful child actress, she'd starred in films alongside Mickey Rooney before breaking into more serious roles, as with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1958. Five years later, Elizabeth cemented her leading-lady status playing the title role in Cleopatra.

Audrey obviously had a string of successful films beforehand. But her iconic role in My Fair Lady proved audiences were still more than willing to spend nearly three hours sitting in a theater to watch her perform.

Dame Julie Andrews is a Brish actress we all know and love for her iconic roles in 2 of the greatest musical films of all time. After her Oscar-winning performance in Mary Poppins the year before, Julie earned yet another nomination for her unforgettable role in The Sound of Music.

The bombshell became a household name after sizzling performances in Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C. — both of which were released in '66. The following year, Raquel was aptly cast as Lilian Lust in Bedazzled.

Before her tragic and untimely death, the beautiful model turned heads acting in films with Roman Polanski, whom she later married. Sharon was best-known for her role in 1967's Valley of the Dolls.

Babs was so impressive in her film debut as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl that she nabbed the Best Actress Academy Award. Of course, she would continue to draw audiences with her incredible performances for years to come.

Following her breakout role in The Graduate (1967), Katharine held her own against big-screen legends Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the only female lead in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

She and Ryan O'Neal made the whole world fall in love with both of them in the beautiful yet oh so tragic 1970's film, Love Story. Ali continued to delight viewers throughout the decade with her honest performances and girl-next-door charm.

After turning heads as a model, Cybill made her film debut in The Last Picture Show and continued a successful career throughout the '70s. Later on, she won over TV audiences with Moonlighting and Cybill in the '80s and '90s, respectively.

Being the daughter of Judy Garland gave Liza Minnelli big shoes to fill, but she more than proved her own talents with an iconic performance in Cabaret. Her commanding features and sassy sense of humor fill the screen or stage each time she deploys them.

Pam was the queen of female-driven action films throughout the decade, beginning this year with Coffy. In 1974, she returned as Foxy Brown, memorably described onscreen as "a whole lot of woman."

After her goose-bump-inducing role in Rosemary's Baby, Mia continued to find success throughout the '70s including her unforgettable performance as Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, opposite Robert Redford.

The Oscar-winning actress made her breakthrough this year in the campy cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Susan's career has continued to impress with fan favorites such as Thelma & Louise, Stepmom, and The Witches of Eastwick.

Despite the terrifying plot, there was no denying Sissy's serious talent as the telekinetic protagonist in Carrie. Sissy also performed in well-loved roles in great films such as Coal Miner's Daughter, If These Walls Could Talk, and 3 Women.

Carrie didn't follow in the footsteps of either of her musically talented parents. She became an intergalactic icon instead, thanks to the Star Wars franchise. She also became a celebrated author after writing several autobiographical works.

After decades of success as a tantalizing songstress, both with the Supremes and as an uber-talented solo artist, Diana took to the big screen as Dorothy, in The Wiz where she impressed audiences all over the country.

Sigourney blasted through her action-packed, breakthrough role in Alien — and continued to kick butt in the franchise's sequels. She later starred in other action/fantasy films such as Avatar and Ghostbusters.

Previously known as the bubbly, cute go-go dancer from Laugh-In, Goldie showed her acting chops in Private Benjamin, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Did you know that Goldie Hawn's daughter is multi-talented actress, Kate Hudson?

Director Bob Rafelson chose Jessica over Meryl Streep for what ended up being her breakout role in the remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice — opposite Jack Nicholson.

Meryl obviously bounced back from being passed over the year before with her stirring performance in Sophie's Choice, which ended up earning her a second Oscar. These days Meryl Streep is considered to be one of the world's finest actresses.

Admit it, just reading that name made you picture her iconic, splashy dance scene from Flashdance. Did you know that before her film career really took off she was actually a teen model? No big surprise there considering her stunning beauty.

In order to avoid being typecast after her breakthrough role as a femme fatale in Body Heat, Kathleen Turner kept audiences delighted opposite Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone.

Molly Ringwald ruled the '80s as the undeniable teen-queen of the "Brat Pack," starring in several John Hughes films like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink. Her quirky and relatable performances still delight today's audiences.

She spent a few years as a model before following in mom Ingrid Bergman's footsteps, making her first notable appearance in David Lynch's Blue Velvet. Isabella Rossellini is one of today's most notable and well-respected actresses.

After playing second fiddle to Matthew Broderick, as the older sister from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Jennifer showed she couldn't be put in the corner for long while starring opposite Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.

Melanie Griffith held her own against Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford in her breakout role as a secretary getting the credit she deserves in Working Girl. She also has a famous daughter, star of the 50 Shades of Gray franchise, Dakota Johnson.

The actress began her string of successful rom-coms opposite Billy Crystal — and forever changed the way we think about dining at a deli — in When Harry Met Sally… just before the start of the '90s.

Julia sealed her status as one of the most bankable leading ladies after a run of successful films between 1988 and 1990: Mystic Pizza (shown above), Steel Magnolias, and, perhaps her most iconic role, Pretty Woman.

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