With 39 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals, Serena Williams is clearly amongst the greatest female tennis players in the history. With 23 Grand Slam singles win, she is just a win away from equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles. She has bagged the top spot in WTA’s world ranking numerous times.
Actress Kate Winslet’s most enduring character remains that of the protagonist in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic, which made her an international star. She’s also known for doing period roles in films like Sense and Sensibility, Jude and Hamlet. Some of her other notable films are Iris, Little Children, Steve Jobs and The Reader. She won an Oscar for her performance in The Reader.
Jenna Ortega is one of the most successful young American actresses. Having made her acting debut at the age of 10, Ortega went on to feature in PopSugar's 20 Under 20 list at the age of 18. She uses her social media popularity to promote charitable causes. She is also a fashion icon for teenage girls.
Emilia Clarke rose to fame with the television series Game of Thrones, which garnered her international recognition and won her several awards. She has also starred in many films like Solo: A Star Wars Story and was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019. Emilia also supports several charitable organisations.
Brie Larson is a name that has become synonymous with powerful, independent female warriors, both on and off screen. From an Oscar-winning performance of a kidnapped victim to playing the lead in the first female-led superhero movie, Captain Marvel, Larson has been breaking gender norms and shattering stereotypes. She has been working fiercely towards inclusivity and diversity in Hollywood.
Success came early to Canadian singer and songwriter Avril Lavigne. At fourteen, she performed with Canadian icon, Shania Twain, and at sixteen, bagged a two-album recording contract with Arista Records. Her debut album Let Go released soon, became a huge success, made her a teen idol and earned Grammy Award nominations. With subsequent albums, her popularity has only increased.
Singer and rapper, Doja Cat, is best known for the music video for her song Mooo!, which went viral in 2018 and made her an international sensation. She subsequently went on to become a social media celebrity with millions of followers across platforms. She often kindles controversies because of her social media comments on sensitive issues.
First gaining media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian didn’t take long to become a celebrity in her own right. She came into the limelight in the early 2000s owing to a leaked sex tape and quickly became a social media celebrity with millions of followers across platforms.
Halsey is an American singer and songwriter. She serves as an inspiration to several aspiring singers as she became a professional singer after posting self-released music on the internet. In 2020, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. Also an activist, Halsey has been involved in racial justice protests and suicide prevention programs.
Rap legend Cardi B rose from being an exotic dancer and internet celebrity to being featured on Forbes and Time 100. Her triple-platinum-certified debut album, Invasion of Privacy, topped the Billboard 200. She was the only female solo artist to win the Grammy for the Best Rap Album.
Carrie Fisher was an American actress best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films. Some of her other films notable film wereShampoo, Soapdish, The Blues Brothers, When Harry Met Sally and The Women. She had issues with bipolar disorder and drug addiction and spoke publicly about it. She died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while on a transatlantic flight.
A distinguished films, television and Broadway actress, Julie Andrews is best known for her performances in films like Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Victor/Victoria. She has also done voiceovers for animation movie like Despicable Me and Enchanted. The legendary actress has also released multiple albums and authored numerous children’s books as well as her autobiography.
Born into a family of actors, Dakota Johnson debuted as a child artist and later began modelling. Her first big hit was the movie, The Social Network but it was the role of Anastasia Steele in the movie, Fifty Shades of Grey, and its two sequels that skyrocketed her fame to an international level. Her other work include the movie, Black Mass and A Bigger Splash.
Olivia Newton-John's breathy voice and stunning beauty made her one of the biggest pop stars of the 1970s. She charmed generations of movie viewers in the blockbuster film Grease. Following a string of country and soft-rock hits, Newton-John starred opposite John Travolta in the 1978 blockbuster Grease, considered as one the most popular movie musicals of all time.
The co-founder of the popular band No Doubt, Gwen Stefani is a famous singer, songwriter, and record producer. One of the most decorated singer-songwriters, Stefani was ranked 13th in VH1's list of 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012. Having sold over 30 million albums worldwide, she is also one of the most successful female artists.
Monica Bellucci is one of the most popular actresses from Italy. Her popularity in the West helped her become the oldest woman to play a Bond girl in the history of the James Bond film franchise. Known for her hourglass figure, she has been regarded as a sex symbol and has appeared in lists like 100 Hottest Women of All-Time.
Maddie Ziegler owes her fame to the show Dance Moms and to Sia’s music videos Chandelier and Elastic Heart. Named one of Time’s 30 Most Influential Teens thrice, she has written a bestselling memoir, works for charities, has appeared in movies and on magazine covers, and owns a fashion line.
Catherine Zeta-Jones is one of the most popular and successful actresses from Wales. Starting out as a child actress, Catherine went on to cement her place in the American film industry with roles that accentuated her sex appeal. She is the recipient of several awards. Also a well-known humanitarian, she was appointed CBE for her humanitarian and film endeavors.
Child actor Hilary Duff turned into a teenage sensation with the television series Lizzie McGuire in 2001. Her film career took off soon with movies like A Cinderella Story. She is currently seen in the hit series Younger. A multitalented personality, she has also released numerous hits albums, launched her perfume brand and clothing lines and published Elixir book series.
One of the most popular American models of the current generation, Bella Hadid has been featured in popular magazines, such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. She was voted Model of the Year in 2016 by industry professionals. The same year, Hadid contributed to Johny Dar's Jeans for Refugees project in order to raise fund for the International Rescue Committee.
American actress, Elisabeth Shue, is best known for her roles in the films like The Karate Kid, Cocktail, Leaving Las Vegas, The Saint, Hollow Man, Deconstructing Harry, Hide and Seek and Greyhound and has shared screen space with some of the greatest actors of all time. She has also worked in television and has won several awards for her acting.
Entering the entertainment world as a teenager in the early 1990s, actress Alicia Silverstone became internationally famous with her role in her film debut in The Crush. Despite gaining mainstream success in the 1990s, she chose to focus on smaller-scale films and theater in the next decade. She is a vegan and has published a vegan cookbook.
Bella Thorne is an American actress who became popular with her portrayal of the character of CeCe Jones on the sitcom Shake it Up. Born to a poor family of mixed descent, Bella Thorne had to start working at a young age to support her single mother. She had a difficult childhood marred by poverty and sexual abuse. She is openly pansexual.
Sigourney Weaver is an American actress. Widely considered one of the most important female protagonists in the history of cinema, Sigourney is also regarded as a pioneer of action heroines in sci-fi films, thanks to her role in the Alien franchise. In 2003, she was ranked 20th in Channel 4's list of 100 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time.
American actress, Melissa Benoist gained recognition with the musical comedy-drama series Glee and superhero adventure series Supergirl. As a singer, she has earned appreciation for her songs in Glee albums. Her film credits include Whiplash and Patriots Day. Earlier, she made her acting debut on stage. Since then, she has appeared in numerous plays and even made her Broadway debut.
Rebecca Ferguson achieved international recognition after playing Elizabeth Woodville in the TV miniseries, The White Queen. Her performance in the miniseries was so impressive that Tom Cruise handpicked her to star in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation after watching her portray Elizabeth Woodville. Thanks to her impressive stunts, she was chosen to reprise her role in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Neve Campbell impressed fans with her performance as Sidney in the Scream franchise. She is also known for her roles in the series Party of Five and House of Cards and the film Wild Things. A trained ballerina, Neve is mostly seen in films of the thriller or horror genre.
English actress Felicity Jones started her career as a child and went on to take up more mature roles as a teenager. One of her uncles is an actor, and he influenced her to take up the profession herself. She appeared in many TV shows in the initial years of her career before venturing into films as well.
One of the most beautiful actresses of her generation, Naomi Watts has been featured in the world's most beautiful women lists by magazines like Maxim and People. Also a well-known philanthropist, Watts is associated with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) as its goodwill ambassador. She uses her fame to help people suffering from AIDS.
A Democrat politician and lawyer, Kamala Harris is the vice president-elect of the United States. She will assume the office on 20 January 2021, alongside President-elect Joe Biden. Half-Indian, half-Jamaican, Harris is the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian-American to be elected vice president.
Feminist and civil rights icon Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was the longest-serving U.S First Lady. She was a prominent human rights activist, wrote columns, and hosted a radio show. She was named to Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century in 1999.
Gwyneth Paltrow is an American actress who has worked in several notable films, such as Emma, Seven and The Talented Mr Ripley. She won the Oscars for her role in the film Shakespeare in Love. She’s also worked on several television shows. She has been criticised for promoting unproven treatments based on pseudoscience via her lifestyle company Goop and has had to face lawsuits over it.
Angela Lansbury played a key role in shaping the Golden Age of Hollywood. Recognized as one of the few stars still alive from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, Angela Lansbury has received accolades, such as an Honorary Oscar. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II appointed her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Susan Sarandon is hailed as one of the best actresses of her time. She has starred in many acclaimed Hollywood films like Bull Durham, Thelma and Louise, Atlantic City and Lorenzo's Oil. In 1995 she won an Oscar for Dead Man Walking. She’s also a political activist and has often protested against issues like war, gun violence and migrant separation policy.
Rita Hayworth was one of the most glamorous Hollywood actresses of the 1930s and 1940s. Her filmography includes 61 films among which the most notable ones are The Strawberry Blonde, Gilda and Cover Girl. The personal life of the actress, who was also known as the Love Goddess, was marked by a series of failed marriages.
Starting out as a child actress, Rachael Leigh Cook went on to establish herself as a successful actress. Known for her good looks, she was ranked 26th in Stuff magazine's list of 102 Sexiest Women in the World in 2002. Also known for her public service, she was selected as a Champion of Change for Arts Education by the Obama administration.
Considered one of the most underrated actresses, the late Kelly Preston left her mark in both films and television shows and across a variety of genres. The charming actress starred alongside big Hollywood actors including her husband John Travolta and made her presence felt in most of them.
Bailee Madison started her career as a child actress before successfully establishing herself as an adult actress. This American actress, who is famous for playing important roles in films like Brothers and Just Go with It, has also worked closely with the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, serving as its national youth spokesperson since 2010.
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka made history by being the first player of Asian origin to hold the world number one rank in singles. Osaka made headlines when in 2021, she withdrew from the French Open after refusing to be part of a press conference to protect her mental health.
Amandla Stenberg is an American singer and actress. An openly gay actress who identifies as non-binary, Stenberg is popular for voicing her opinion on cultural appropriation among other sensitive topics. A self-proclaimed intersectional feminist, Amandla Stenberg was named in Time magazine's Most Influential Teens list in 2015 and 2016. She was also named in Oprah Winfrey's SuperSoul 100 list.