# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/61 "2005-12-23T01:01:12Z")
Liz Taylor Catherine Zeta Jones (although she’s probably had some ps help) Aishwarya Rai the young Madhuri Dixit (I’ll admit I’m biased, she’s Marathi like me) Audrey Hepburn ---
**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 23, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/62 "2005-12-23T01:24:55Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > They didn’t need words . . . They had _faces_. Yes.!!! The OP didn’t say anything about requiring them to talk. I think Louise Brooks and Clara Bow are 2 of the most beautiful women to ever appear on screen. I also think Theda Bara deserves some mention, even though she brought scenery-chewing to new heights in era when overemoting was a requirement for any actor. I’m surprised that I was the only one to mention Veronica Lake though. **jjimm** the bad links represent my first attempt to create a working hyperlink. i apologize profusely. **Eve** , if it’s possible to fix the coding, I’d be grateful. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/63 "2005-12-23T01:37:53Z")
> [@marque elf](#): > > **Eve** , if it’s possible to fix the coding, I’d be grateful. Well, here’s [Theda Bara](http://silentladies.com/PBara5.html), and here’s [Veronica Lake](http://silverscreensirens.com/veronica3.htm). ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/64 "2005-12-23T01:40:32Z")
[Scarlett Johansson](http://jassebombscans.free.fr/envois/jb_scarlett_johansson03.jpg) ---
**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 23, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/65 "2005-12-23T04:58:42Z")
> [@marque elf](#): > > I’m surprised that I was the only one to mention Veronica Lake though. Check post #27. Though, to be fair, she’s only in my top 10. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/66 "2005-12-23T05:35:52Z")
Greta Garbo Vanessa Redgrave Brigitte Bardot Dorothy Gish Kim Novak ---
**Author:** ![Agnostic\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/67 "2005-12-23T06:00:15Z")
Sophia Loren Salma Hayek Diana Riggs Lauren Bacall [My future wife](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0955471/) [Ziyi](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0385004/Ss/0385004/17.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Zhang,%20Ziyi)[Zhang](http://www.kolumbus.fi/raine.maattanen/final_cut/zhang_ziyi/zhang_ziyi.htm) Runner ups Shakira (she makes videos and starred in a telenovela in Columbia) Jennifer Connelly Ann Margaret Jasmine St Claire [Aishwarya Rai](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706787/) We share a birthday. How cool is that!! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/68 "2005-12-23T06:28:26Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > They didn’t need words . . . They had _faces_. There’s a book tagline if ever I heard one. ---
**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 23, 2005, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/69 "2005-12-23T10:01:24Z")
The mention of Jennifer Connelly reminded me that I’ve been watching some Bud Boetticher movies recently, and there’s an actress named [Julie Adams](http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/julieadams.html) who looked uncannily like her. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/70 "2005-12-23T10:19:47Z")
I have only one name to nominate: Sharmila Tagore in _Devi_ (1959). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/71 "2005-12-23T12:45:59Z")
My new love, [Diane Lane.](http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0328589/5412.jpg) Jodie Foster Sophia Loren Catherine Zeta Jones Charlize Theron ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/72 "2005-12-23T13:46:30Z")
In no particular order: [Sheetal Sheth](http://www.aimpress.com/sheetal.jpg) [Scarlett Johansson](http://jassebombscans.free.fr/envois/jb_scarlett_johansson01.jpg) (and that’s not even a very good picture!) [Audrey Hepburn](http://www.lovefromme.co.uk/layout_images/people/audrey-hepburn-breakfast-at-tiffanys.jpg) [Natalie Portman](http://theresistancearmy.com/blog/images/uploads/thelistgirls/natalie-portman-04.png) [Liv Tyler](http://lebris.cedric.free.fr/hidden/wallpapers/Liv%20Tyler%2001.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/73 "2005-12-23T14:29:05Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > The mention of Jennifer Connelly reminded me that I’ve been watching some Bud Boetticher movies recently, and there’s an actress named [Julie Adams](http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/julieadams.html) who looked uncannily like her. > > That is all. I’ve heard older folks (70+) mention she has a throwback look. What they consider Classic Hollywood Beauty. Jim ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/74 "2005-12-23T14:32:16Z")
Did we get this far wothout mentioning **Jane Mansfield** or **Marilyn Monroe**? _How?_ (maybe I overlooked them…) ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/75 "2005-12-23T14:38:48Z")
How about the original Halle Berry, [Dorothy Dandridge?](http://www.calcable.org/images/dandridge.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/76 "2005-12-23T14:40:47Z")
Oops, typed in wrong [hyperlink.](http://www.johnadams.net/cases/samples/Berry-Dandridge/Dandridge-Berry450.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/77 "2005-12-23T14:45:11Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > Did we get this far wothout mentioning **Jane Mansfield** or **Marilyn Monroe**? > _How?_ > > (maybe I overlooked them…) If we decide to go that route, and considering that she was in at least one movie I can think of, I must add for your consideration the hottest supermodel yet to grace a runway or a page in Victoria’s Secret: [Frederique Van Der Wal](http://mx.geocities.com/humbertosport/frederique4.htm) ---
**Author:** ![beowulf573](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@beowulf573](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulf573)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/78 "2005-12-23T14:53:51Z")
Two pages and no [Natalie Wood](http://imdb.com/name/nm0000081/photogallery) ? And a second for Julie Adams. That bathing suit in Creature from the Black Lagoon, woof! ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/79 "2005-12-23T15:20:40Z")
I’m not going to bother with a whole list. But I am disappointed that there have been no mentions of Mia Kirshner or Claudette Colbert. Claudette : [http://www.msstate.edu/Images/Film/ClaudetteColbert.jpg](http://www.msstate.edu/Images/Film/ClaudetteColbert.jpg) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudette\_Colbert](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudette_Colbert) ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827/80 "2005-12-23T15:23:40Z")
I’m going to have to make two lists. “Beautiful” in the sense of “I could just sit here watching that face until I die of old age, and I’d die happy too”: Ingrid Bergman Catherine Zeta Jones Jennifer Connelly Hedy Lamarr Grace Kelly “Beautiful” in the sense of “I want to rip her clothes off right now and make wild animal love to her until my heart gives up, and I’d die happy too”: Michelle Yeoh Lucy Liu Angelina Jolie Madonna Halle Berry [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-five-most-beautiful-women-in-the-history-of-film/336827.md?page=5)