America’s 50 favorite actresses of all time

Vittorio Zunino Celotto // Getty Images From classic icons like Elizabeth Taylor to contemporary darlings like Jennifer Lawrence, the list of America’s favorite actresses is varied and largely reflects personal tastes. Yet certain timeless, talented icons are universally adored across all genres, decades, and styles–even today. To determine America’s most popular actresses of all time, according to today’s audiences, Stacker gathered YouGov Ratings (current as of November 2022). The list was ranked by the percentage of respondents who liked the actress. Ties were broken by actresses with a lower “disliked by” percentage. Further ties were decided by a higher “have heard of” figure. The results, for the most part, were not surprising. The most likable actresses were also the most versatile, transcending such genres as comedies, dramas, thrillers, and others. As you’ll soon see, America’s most beloved actresses possess a certain star quality that can’t always be easily defined. Continue reading to see if you agree. You may also like: America’s 50 favorite actors of all time #50. Lucy Liu Michael Kovac/Getty Images for IMDb – Liked by: 60% – Disliked by: 4% – Neutral opinion: 22% – Have heard of: 86% Lucy Liu rose to stardom from her role as Alex Munday in “Charlie’s Angels.” She was the first Asian American woman to host NBC’s long-running “Saturday Night Live” in 2000. Liu has recently tapped into other interests, such as directing and artmaking. She has exhibited at the National Museum of Singapore and held her first U.S. exhibition at the Napa Valley Museum. #49. Ann B. Davis Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images – Liked by: 60% – Disliked by: 3% – Neutral opinion: 16% – Have heard of: 79% Ann B. Davis is known for depicting the likable live-in housekeeper in the 1970s comedy “The Brady Bunch.” Before her steady TV work, Davis was a cabaret performer at a coffeehouse, where she caught the attention of a casting agent. The agent encouraged her to audition for “The Bob Cummings Show,” where she snagged the two-time Emmy-winning role of Charmaine Schultz. #48. Elizabeth Montgomery AFP via Getty Images – Liked by: 60% – Disliked by: 3% – Neutral opinion: 17% – Have heard of: 81% Elizabeth Montgomery’s famous nose twitch warmed the hearts of many who would tune in to watch her as Samantha in the Emmy-winning ABC series “Bewitched.” Samantha, a witch married to an advertising executive, often avoided using her supernatural powers to appease her husband. But when circumstances called for it, Samantha was usually able to set things right with a simple twitch of her nose. After “Bewitched,” Montgomery kept herself busy with other TV and film projects such as “Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan” and “The Legend of Lizzie Borden.” #47. Queen Latifah Emma McIntyre // Getty Images – Liked by: 60% – Disliked by: 10% – Neutral opinion: 21% – Have heard of: 91% Rapper and actress Queen Latifah made her film acting debut in Spike Lee’s film “Jungle Fever.” She later starred in other notable films, including the rom-com “Bringing Down the House” and the musical “Chicago,” for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. #46. Melissa McCarthy Taylor Hill/FilmMagic // Getty Images – Liked by: 61% – Disliked by: 9% – Neutral opinion: 18% – Have heard of: 89% Melissa McCarthy, who grew up on a corn and soybean farm in rural Illinois, decided to set her sights on New York City as an actress and comedian. She moved to the Big Apple with just $35 in her pocket and did her first stand-up show within 24 hours. It’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since for McCarthy, who has landed parts in such projects as “Bridesmaids,” “Spy,” “Thunder Force,” and 2023’s live-action “Little Mermaid.” You may also like: Can you guess which actresses these real ‘Jeopardy!’ clues are about? #45. Winona Ryder