The 10 Best Actresses of the 21st Century

Another list for a dull Monday afternoon in the movie world.

I’ve already tackled the best actors of the 21st century. Now it’s time for the ladies. This was a tough one to narrow down to just ten, but I always knew Cate Blanchett would be number one. There is no more talented actress than her. I don’t know how much more she has to prove herself to be crowned the undisputed GOAT.

This could have easily been a Top 30 and all the actresses chosen would have been more than worthy picks. Clearly, the problem in the industry isn’t the lack of great female performers, but rather the absence of great female-led roles.

Cate Blanchett
Isabelle Huppert
Julianne Moore
Meryl Streep
Viola Davis
Jessica Chastain
Tilda Swinton
Juliette Binoche
Nicole Kidman
Natalie Portman
Kate Winslet

If you had asked me five years ago to choose ten, Naomi Watts and Rooney Mara would have easily cracked the top 10, but they both seem to have slowed down these last couple of years.

Contrary to the actors list, there was an abundance of non-English actresses to choose from, especially from France: Isabelle Huppert, Marion Cotillard, Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Adjani, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lea Seydoux, and Melanie Laurent. Vive la France!

The most underrated actress is probably Emily Blunt, as she practically nails every role she’s given: The Devil Wears Prada, Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow, My Summer of Love, A Quiet Place etc.

Hilary Swank has won two Oscars. Looking through her filmography, it really does seem to show that her only great performances were her Oscar-winning ones (Million Dollar Baby and Boys Don’t Cry). Otherwise, her filmography is fairly limp. Off the top of my head, she’s maybe the least gifted actress to have won multiple acting Oscars.

Ok, fine, here’s a second batch of indisputably great actresses. Call them the runners-up if you have to:

Michelle Williams, Marion Cotillard, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johannson, Olivia Colman, Penelope Cruz, Emma Stone, Isabelle Adjani, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron.

I look forward to your thoughts …