# Who were the five most beautiful women in the history of film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 22, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827 "2005-12-22T18:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/21 "2005-12-22T18:48:25Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Evelyn Nesbitt (Do still photos count? I may be wrong but I don’t think she was in any films.) She made some quickly forgotten [silent films](http://imdb.com/name/nm0626336/). Most of her “film career” was serving as a consultant on movies about her own life and scandals. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/22 "2005-12-22T18:50:06Z")
Rita Hayworth deserves her props. [http://www.msstate.edu/Images/Film/RitaHayworth.jpg](http://www.msstate.edu/Images/Film/RitaHayworth.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/23 "2005-12-22T18:50:12Z")
Oh yeah, forgot Michelle Pfeiffer. Remove Diana Dors from my list. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/24 "2005-12-22T18:52:03Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Oh yeah, forgot Michelle Pfeiffer. Remove Diana Dors from my list. Agreed. Sorry, Cate, but Michelle dressed all in black in Ladyhawke… yikes almighty… ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/25 "2005-12-22T19:11:54Z")
[ol] [li]Hedy Lamarr[/li][li]Ava Gardner[/li][li]Audrey Hepburn[/li][li]Rita Hayworth[/li][li]Marlene Dietrich[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/26 "2005-12-22T19:24:45Z")
For face only (and not in any order) Greta Garbo Hedy Lamarr Marlene Dietrich Katherine Hepburn Donna Reed All of these but Hedy seemed also to inhabit their beautiful faces with great character and intelligence, which made them even more appealing to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/27 "2005-12-22T19:24:53Z")
My Top 5, in alphabetical order: 1. [Maggie Cheung](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-02/06/xinsrc_0202010615167253026331.jpg) 2. [Audrey Hepburn](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Audrey_Hepburn_20.jpg/200px-Audrey_Hepburn_20.jpg) 3. [Anna Karina](http://www.antrodellasibilla.it/images/godard_lepetitsold.jpg) 4. [Diana Rigg](http://www.nndb.com/people/041/000023969/rigg8-sized.jpg) 5. [Catherine Zeta Jones](http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/gallery/i/j/jones2/lg1a.jpg) Rounding out the top 10 would be [Jenny Agutter](http://www.celebrity-pictures-world.com/pics/j/jenny-agutter/jenny-agutter-004.jpg), [Ingrid Bergman](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/4400/bergman2.jpg), [Veronica Lake](http://www.prisonpotpourri.com/ROYALSandCELEBS2/veronica.lake.jpg), [Isabella Rossellini](http://www.nndb.com/people/243/000025168/isabella1-sized.jpg) and [Barbara Stanwyck](http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Stanwyck,%20Barbara/Stanwyck,%20Barbara_02.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/28 "2005-12-22T19:52:07Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] [ol] [li]Hedy Lamarr[/ol][/li][/QUOTE] Hedley. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/29 "2005-12-22T19:52:26Z")
In no particular order: 1. Grace Kelly 2. Elizabeth Taylor 3. Jessica Lange 4. Sophie Marceau 5. Helen Hunt ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/30 "2005-12-22T19:57:51Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Agreed. Sorry, Cate, but Michelle dressed all in black in Ladyhawke… yikes almighty… Never saw the film, so I googled. [Wow](http://www.theavenueonline.info/images/ladyhawk.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/31 "2005-12-22T20:01:45Z")
In their “prime” pre 1960 Grace Kelly Rita Hayworth \* Ava Gardner \* Elizabeth Taylor \* Gene Tierny In their “prime” after 1960 Raquel Welch Nicole Kidman Kim Basinger \* Angelina Jolie \* Michelle Pfeiffer Honorable mention – Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day, and Sandra Dee - top five all time ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/32 "2005-12-22T20:17:51Z")
Grace Kelly Vivien Leigh Elizabeth Taylor Michelle Pfeiffer (older Michelle, not Scarface Michelle) Angelina Jolie ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/33 "2005-12-22T20:21:21Z")
Please, everyone – if you’re going to nominate someone, include a link to a picture. In other words: CITE?! Thank you so much, to those that already included links. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/34 "2005-12-22T20:36:55Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Please, everyone – if you’re going to nominate someone, include a link to a picture. In other words: CITE?! > > Thank you so much, to those that already included links. [Shirley Jones](http://www.reeljewels.com/jones/images/sjones_r2_c1.jpg) [Carolyn Jones](http://elviswomen.greggers.net/images/cj003.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/35 "2005-12-22T20:47:34Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Please, everyone – if you’re going to nominate someone, include a link to a picture. In other words: CITE?! A still photo would only ever tell you a fraction of the beauty of the actress. If you haven’t seen her moving about for yourself; having a name or having a still photo, neither tells you much. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/36 "2005-12-22T21:00:13Z")
In no particular order: Ingrid Bergman Catherine Zeta-Jones Elizabeth Taylor Grace Kelly Kate Winslet ---
**Author:** ![marque\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@marque\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marque_elf)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/37 "2005-12-22T21:00:27Z")
In no particular order: Veronica Lake [http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1096/Mptv/1096/3912\_0176.jpg?path=pgallery&path\_key=Lake,%20Veronica%20(I)](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1096/Mptv/1096/3912_0176.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Lake,%20Veronica%20(I)) Jean Simmons [http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0001739/HH/0001739/iid\_923416.jpg?path=pgallery&path\_key=Simmons,%20Jean%20(I)](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0001739/HH/0001739/iid_923416.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Simmons,%20Jean%20(I)) Carolyn Jones- this is not a good photo for her but imdb didn’t have any good ones.[http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1306/Mptv/1306/0042\_0105.jpg?path=pgallery&path\_key=Jones,%20Carolyn%20(I)](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1306/Mptv/1306/0042_0105.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Jones,%20Carolyn%20(I)) Louise Brooks [http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1303/Mptv/1303/3974\_0092.jpg?path=pgallery&path\_key=Brooks,%20Louise%20(I)](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1303/Mptv/1303/3974_0092.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Brooks,%20Louise%20(I)) Clara Bow[The "It " Girl](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1391/Mptv/1391/19897_0002.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Bow,%20Clara%20(I)) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/38 "2005-12-22T21:01:42Z")
Catherine Zeta-Jones Sophia Loren\* Elizabeth Taylor Madge Sinclair\* Rita Hayworth - I have a thing about high cheek bones. My paternal grandmother, in her youth, resembled Sophia. Wish I gotten the “beautiful gene” she had. ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/39 "2005-12-22T21:01:51Z")
Okay, for a while there I was wondering whether I’d be the first to nominate Dietrich. No particular order: Marlene Dietrich Audrey Hepburn (duh) Sayaka Kusunoki (okay, porn actress, but if HubZilla can nominate Jameson, I can nominate her) Kristanna Loken I’m half tempted to say Marley Shelton for Sin City’s _Lady in Red_ sequence, but I haven’t seen that in a while and don’t have a particularly clear image of it. Coinflip between her and Christina Ricci. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/40 "2005-12-22T21:08:01Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Never saw the film, so I googled. [Wow](http://www.theavenueonline.info/images/ladyhawk.jpg). Now _that’s_ a Sith Lord I can _follow!_ I add Sean Young and Paulette Goddard, and I third Maureen O’Hara. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827.md?page=3)