Polynikes

Here's a story from today's The Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-20032...3201347,00.html

Apparantly Channel 4 has done a survey of the best loved film acresses & it contains no British ladies......

Obviously those polled have short memories and I suspect Monroe is there from reputation only, how anyone can rate Julia Roberts over Elizabeth Taylor or Vivien Leigh is beyond me.

Any thoughts?

Steve Crook

Women didn't feature much in the list at all, none in the top 10. Audrey Hepburn was highest ranked at number 13.
Channel 4 web site with list

What about Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons and many others? There weren't many nominations from people who were in films before the 1960s.

I see the Sun got it wrong as usual by betting on Julia Roberts for the top slot

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Polynikes

Yep, The Sun got it wrong....

Jackie Chan at #41???

Ahead of Richard Burton & where's Olivier?

Al Pacino is a great actor but his stock diminished in my opinion when he made the awful and depressing "Scarface".
The Godfather Part III was also a mistake but he was right to turn down Kramer Vs Kramer and Han Solo.

James Caan is also an actor I think deserves more credit.

With regard to the ladies, I can only say that whoever rated Cameron Diaz as an acress obviously has more testosterone that discernment.
I mean, she makes Uma Thurman look like a good actress!

Miranda Richardson acts the pants off both of them...where's she? She's done drama, action and comedy with equally high distinction. Joely Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson all have shown greater range than the rather limited roles Diaz has ever done in the dumbed-down movies she's been involved with.

It's always the same with people's choice of "the best anything". If asked to pick the greatest song ever written, half the people will pick the single that sold most last week.

[ 06. May 2003, 06:47: Message edited by: Polynikes ]

only hooper

I agree, and that's why such polls are always crap. I think there should be some rule in such things where the contenders have to be at least 10 years old (although in the case of movies, preferably more ) Standing the test of time equals greatness...just because something is in vogue now doesn't mean it will be the next time the poll is done!

British Ladies

French Lieutenant

What about Patricia Hodge! Yum Yum!

ZZ_ PICK _ ZZ

Deborah Kerr in "Edward, My Son" - her best
performance !

Gibbie

Gibbie's Favorite British Actresses (No analysis -just favorites):

Julie Andrews
Francesca Annis
Cheryl Campbell
Helena Bonham Carter
Jacqueline Bisset
Claire Bloom
Julie Christie
Petula Clark
Judy Geeson
Audrey Hepburn
Wendy Hiller
Valerie Hobson
Glynis Johns
Suzy Kendell
Deborah Kerr
Jane Merrow
Merle Oberon
Anna Quayle
Vanessa Redgrave
Diana Rigg
Jean Simmons
Maggie Smith
Emma Thompson
Rachel Ward
Kate Winslet
Dana Wynter

locust

thumbs_u

From Russia with Love.

deckard

If we're talking pure beauty it has to be Grace Kelly in Hitch's Rear Window, she purred all the way through,but,if we're talking pure british Celia Johnson has to be near the top...lest we forget............

"and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock"

Gibbie

Deckard,

Grace Kelly was from Philly, PA. My list was British only, though I won't diminsh your respect for the princess.

You are correct concerning Dame Celia. Although, to be truthful, I haven't seen her pictures over here in the US or when I was in the UK (e.g. In Which We Serve, Brief Encounter, etc). I shall have to look them up.

My list is purely my personal favorites for a variety of reasons. While I don't like all of their parts, I value each one for some effort. There are many great ladies who act and many whose beautiful charisma carry their acting.

Indeed, Maggie Smith may be the tops, because she becomes her parts so well and makes them belivable. She is brilliant!

Though she is not my politics (and that's one reason I think she got herself overlooked), Vanessa Redgrave is one of the greats from the post-war to present period. She is a fountain of acting genious.

Although, at two, the alluring beauty and depth of acting of Julie Christie in Dr. Zhivago set a standard. As a teen, Jacqueline Bisset was the movie beauty and was really a better actress than the parts she got. By college, Rachel Ward was the beauty queen, but I was disappointed with her dark films. She could have become a major classic with her beauty, voice, demeanor and sense of humor. There is still time. Unforgettable.

Audrey Hepburn stands alone, but like Rachel's movies, her films tended to subvert her. Her acting and charm was A+. She would have been great to see on stage.

Support favorites were Suzy Kendell in To Sir With Love and Jane Merrow in the Danger Man series (especially - A Date With Doris).

Diana Rigg will always be Emma Peel. She was the one actress in the Avenger series who topped McNee. She was intelligent, beautiful, tough and fun. Wish we could see more of her acting.

Bonham Carter was at her peak as Ophelia in Hamlet and in Lady Jane as the title queen.

One could go on. . . although, it needs to be noted that Emma Thompson wrote a perfect script with Sense and Sensibility. Her acting was great in that film. She held it together.

And what of Jean Simmons and the others. There's so much more. . .

Who are your favorites (reader)? Let us toast the ladies!

Regards,
Gibbie

locust

My latest personal [re]discovery is Tara Fitzgerald in Hear My Song & Sirens. She's gorgeous.
And I would like to express my admiration for the sweet old English ladies - Margaret Rutherford & Dame May Whitty.

From Russia with Love.

Angry Hector

Love all those already mentioned...but here are three more personal faves.

Joan Greenwood (the sexiest voice in motion picture history).
Susan Shaw
Greta Gynt

oh and it was great to see Judy Geeson get a run on Gibbee's list. I reckon I first noticed her when i was about 12 and to a boy just hitting puberty, I fell in love immediately. :)

locust

OH MY. I can't stand her. Don't ask me why - it was hate at first sight. :)

From Russia with Love.

Angry Hector

So, you would have chosen Edith over Sibella, eh Loius? wink

locust

That shows my admirable good taste. lol

From Russia with Love.