# Most consistent, dependable actress in history
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 21, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567 "2012-05-21T00:47:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/1 "2012-05-21T00:47:53Z")
Meryl Streep.
Mods go ahead and close this thread. It’s been answered.
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### Author:  [@jordanr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordanr2)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/2 "2012-05-21T01:53:41Z")
Gena Rowlands.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/3 "2012-05-21T01:59:10Z")
I was gonna get all researchy on you and looked up who had the most nominations for best actress and best supporting actress and, well, that’s Meryl Streep. Go figure.
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### Author:  [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/4 "2012-05-21T01:59:41Z")
Katharine Hepburn was no slouch.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/5 "2012-05-21T02:40:21Z")
Do you mean “consistent, dependable” from the audiences’ POV, or from the directors’?
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### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/6 "2012-05-21T04:02:17Z")
Dame Ellen Terry.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/7 "2012-05-21T12:53:42Z")
Bette Davis
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/8 "2012-05-21T13:08:39Z")
Bernadette Peters. She is multi-talented, could justifiably be a diva supreme, yet is one of the nicest, down-to-earth people you will ever meet.
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### Author:  [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/9 "2012-05-21T14:26:15Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#):
>
> Meryl Streep.
>
> Mods go ahead and close this thread. It’s been answered.
1. I’m not even sure what exactly your criteria are.
2. Meryl Streep is most likely a wonderful person but I’ve always thought hat she makes all of her characters larger than life, hence unbelievable, hence I avoid her performances like the plague.
3. Helen Mirren
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/10 "2012-05-21T14:29:32Z")
I can’t stand Meryl Streep.
Goo from about 40,000 BCE was very good. When she mimed that forest fire … wow.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/11 "2012-05-21T14:37:49Z")
Talia Shire.
You didn’t say consistently, dependably _good_.
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### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/12 "2012-05-21T14:47:53Z")
Kate Winslet is well on her way.
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### Author:  [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/13 "2012-05-21T15:10:01Z")
You could make a case for the three dames,
Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren and Judi Dench.
or…Meryl Streep. (And if she were from the UK she’d be a dame as well)
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### Author:  [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/14 "2012-05-21T15:20:03Z")
Katharine Hepburn for me too.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/15 "2012-05-21T16:41:38Z")
Actually, with adjectives like “consistent” and “dependable” my mind goes more to someone like [Mary Wickes](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926897/).
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### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/16 "2012-05-21T16:49:25Z")
Jane Darwell.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/17 "2012-05-21T16:57:01Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> Bernadette Peters. She is multi-talented, could justifiably be a diva supreme, yet is one of the nicest, down-to-earth people you will ever meet.
This. I have met her and performed with her, and it’s true. And I’d add “ageless.”
Otherwise, it’s Bette Davis.
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### Author:  [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/18 "2012-05-21T17:53:18Z")
Emma Thompson.
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### Author:  [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/19 "2012-05-21T17:56:28Z")
Andie MacDowell
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-consistent-dependable-actress-in-history/622567/20 "2012-05-21T18:18:06Z")
Sandra Locke. Consistently, dependably bad.
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