If I were to say "brilliant actress", which names would spring right to the top of your all time list?

Meryl Streep.

Dame Maggie

Dame Judy

Emma Thompson

Betty Davis

Audrey Hepburn.

Jane Fonda.

Meryl Streep of course.

Kristen Stewart
Cate Blanchett
Dame Maggie Smith
Audrey Hepburn
Jodie Foster
Helen Mirren
Vivien Leigh

Let’s hear it for the girls!
Uma Thurman
Madeline Kahn
Helen Mirren
Audrey Hepburn as stated in my details.

I really like Mary Stuart Masterson. There is just something about her face that draws me in, and I love her acting. Jodi Foster is another one that I enjoy watching.

Judi Dench
Meryl Streep
Michelle Pfeiffer
Helen Mirren
Bette Davis.

I also really, really like Ashley Judd. I think she’s done some great movies.

I love Kathy Bates from “Misery” ” Delores Claiborne” and ” Fried Green Tomatoes.”
Most of the others mentioned as well and the now deceased Jessica Tandy. I recently watched the old Alfred Hitchcock ” The Birds” and was surprised to see J.T. playing the mother of the boyfriend interest as a woman in her early 50’s. She was 54 in the film and it was fun to see her in her prime.

@Coloma Really?? I am going to have to watch that again! I don’t remember the story ever showing the leading man’s mother. It must have been a very small part.

@Skaggfacemutt She stumbled across the guy’s body who had his eyes pecked out & basically lost the plot.

Best child actress by far was Hayley Mills, daughter of Sir John.
Tiger Bay and Whistle Down the Wind bringing two fine performances, great little films those.

@Skaggfacemutt Actually no, J.T. had a pretty prominent role and was in many scenes. :-)

Cher.

^^^ Really? lolol

@Lightlyseared She was very good in both Silkwood & Mask.

@ucme Funny you mention Hayley Mills here. I almost added The Chalk Garden to my list of films I would watch over and over again.

Maggie Smith
Vanessa Redgrave
Eileen Atkins

Hillary Swank

I don’t how good her thespian performances were, but Hedy Lamarr was one of the inventors of spread-spectrum frequency hopping.

@Brian1946 That’s cool!

Charlize Theron
Hilary Swank

•Emma Thompson
•Glenn Close
•Kathy Bates
•Vanessa Redgrave
•Jessica Lange
•Jodie Foster
•Helen Hunt
•Nicole Kidman

Michelle Pfeiffer
Hillary Clinton in the movie “Bill And Monica’s Excellent BJ Adventures and How I Never Wanted To Kick Him in the Balls, I Swear!”

Emma Thompson is amazing.
Dame Judi Dench is also amazing, but she seems to be one of those that you will either really like or really loathe, and I have no idea why.

Will post first, then read the other answers.

Maggie Smith

Judi Densch

Meryl Streep

Cate Blanchett

Emma Thompson

Helen Mirren

Julie Andrews

Oh, I forgot the funny ladies

Cloris Leachman

Madeline Kahn

Fran Drescher

@Kardamom

Wow, you forgot about Frannie for two whole minutes! ;-o

That’s tantamount to you forgetting to post a recipe in a food question.

@Brian1946 I know, I know. I guess I was mostly thinking of dramatic actresses. But I think Fran is about the funniest, most brilliant comedienne of all time. Her timing is spectacular. Her humor in the vein of Lucille Ball, but I think Fran is much better, probably because she can also throw in the double entendres with such perfection. And who woulda thunk that a gorgeous woman like her could’ve “accidentally” married a gay man and can now turn that situation into a positive. I guess I can relate to her too, having had several crushes on fellows who turned out to be gay. They’re just so danged cute! And so is She

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Kristin Scott Thomas.

Helena Bonham Carter
Maggie Smith
Julie Walters
Barbra Streisand (I was a fan of her films long before I loved her music)
Angelina Jolie
Judy Dench
Meryl Streep
Emma Thompson
Jodi Foster

I probably wouldn’t call her brilliant but I have always enjoyed Cher’s acting as well as Dolly Parton’s.

Streisand along with Ryan O Neal srarred in one of my fave comedy movies…What’s Up Doc, brilliantly funny film.

@ucme What’s Up Doc is so underrated, I love that film.

@Leanne1986 It’s consistently funny throughout & very well written, perfect comedy material.
It was on today, one of the sky movie channels & I haven’t seen it in a while so it’s on the planner waiting for me…maybe tonight, can’t wait!

Wang Tsu-Hsien is versatile. In one movie, she plays a sweet and innocent girl as well as her evil twin. She can be helpless victims or strong heroines.