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Maggie Smith -

Acclaimed multi-award-winning British actress Dame Maggie Smith, known for her role as Violet Crawley in the TV period drama 'Downton Abbey' (2010–2015) and for playing Professor Minerva McGonagall in the 'Harry Potter' franchise, made headlines as the face of luxury fashion brand Loewe's advertising campaign—at the ripe old age of 88! Smith was born in 1934 and has enjoyed an extensive career in film, television, and theater for over seven decades. The iconic actress sadly passed away in September, aged 89.

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Meryl Streep -

Born in 1949, Meryl Streep is one of modern cinema's most accomplished actresses. In a career spanning over four decades, Streep has collected numerous accolades, including Academy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe awards.

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Frances McDormand -

The recipient of four Academy Awards, Frances McDormand is one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting." Born in 1957, she is especially known for her roles in small-budget, independent movies.

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Helen Mirren -

British actress Helen Mirren was born in 1945. She is currently the only performer to have achieved both the American and the British Triple Crowns of Acting. In the Queen's 2003 Birthday Honors, Mirren was appointed a Dame (DBE) for services to drama.

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Jane Fonda -

Hollywood legend Jane Fonda seemingly defies age. She was born in 1937 and made her screen debut in 1960 in 'Tall Story' (incidentally Robert Redford's first film, too). Fonda's 1982 workout routine is still the best exercise class out there!

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Angela Bassett -

Born in 1958, Angela Bassett has been working in film and television since the 1980s. She won recent plaudits for portraying Queen Ramonda in the Marvel blockbusters 'Black Panther' (2018), 'Avengers: Endgame' (2019), and 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022).

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Susan Sarandon -

Born in 1946, Susan Sarandon remains one of cinema's most acclaimed actresses. She began her acting career in the drama film 'Joe' (1970) and has since appeared in over 80 movies.

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Judi Dench -

One of Britain's finest actresses, Judi Dench is as celebrated for her work on stage as she is in cinema. She was born in 1934 and made her professional debut in 1957, becoming well known for her work in several of Shakespeare's plays. A recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, she was appointed a Dame (DBE) for services to drama in 1988.

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Diane Keaton -

Diane Keaton, born in 1946, has been working in film for over 50 years. Her career actually began on stage, when she appeared in the original 1968 Broadway production of the musical 'Hair.'

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Jamie Lee Curtis -

The youngest daughter of actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis was born in 1958. In 2021 after receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Curtis declared that she felt "so alive, like I'm this 14-year-old person just beginning their life." 

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Glenn Close -

Glenn Close will forever be remembered as the "bunny boiler" from 1987's 'Fatal Attraction,' though her work across film, television, and theater has garnered high praise from critics and no less than eight Academy Award nominations. She was born in 1947.

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Sigourney Weaver -

Sigourney Weaver rose to fame for starring as Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott's scary science fiction film 'Alien' (1979). Born in 1949, Weaver is also an accomplished stage actress.

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Lily Tomlin -

Born in 1939, Lily Tomlin began her career as a stand-up comedian in the 1960s. Roles in television followed before she hit the big screen for the first time in 1975 in Robert Altman's 'Nashville.'

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Whoopi Goldberg -

Another actress whose career began in theater, Whoopi Goldberg is one of currently 18 entertainers to win the EGOT, which includes an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award. Goldberg, whose real name is Caryn Elaine Johnson, was born in 1955.

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Andie MacDowell -

Andie MacDowell came to prominence in the 1980s, her breakout role being in 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' (1989). Born in 1958, MacDowell has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 1986.

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Catherine Deneuve -

Born in Paris, France, in 1943, Catherine Deneuve is widely regarded as one of the greatest European actresses of her generation. She's still working!

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Emma Thompson -

Emma Thompson was born in London, England, in 1959. In a career that's so far spanned four decades, Thompson has achieved phenomenal success, with two Academy Awards among her many accolades. In 2018, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to drama.

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Mary Steenburgen -

Mary Steenburgen got her big break after being discovered by Jack Nicholson, who cast her as the female lead in his second directorial work, the 1978 Western 'Goin' South.' Born in 1953, the award-winning actress was recently seen in 2023's 'Book Club: The Next Chapter' alongside Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Candice Bergen.

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Candice Bergen -

After appearing in a string of movies, among them 'Soldier Blue' (1970) and 'Carnal Knowledge' (1971), Candice Bergan reinvented herself on television in the hugely successful sitcom 'Murphy Brown' (1988–1998).

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Tilda Swinton -

In 2020, The New York Times ranked Tilda Swinton as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. She was born in London, England, in 1960.

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Michelle Pfeiffer -

Michelle Pfeiffer's career spans over four decades. She was born in 1958 and made her acting debut in 1978, appearing in an episode of the fantasy drama television series 'Fantasy Island.'

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Julianne Moore -

Born in 1960, award-winning actress Julianne Moore has also been named by The New York Times as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.

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Holly Hunter -

Born in 1958, Holly Hunter won an Oscar for her performance as Ada McGrath in the 1993 drama film 'The Piano.'

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Sharon Stone -

Sharon Stone was born in 1958. The controversial leg-crossing scene in the 1992 erotic thriller 'Basic Instinct' won her worldwide fame. Later, her performance as a trophy wife in Martin Scorsese's epic crime drama 'Casino' (1995) earned her the best reviews of her career.

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Kristin Scott Thomas -

Kristin Scott Thomas has enjoyed an illustrious career in film, television, and on stage. Born in 1960, her breakout role was playing Brenda Last in an adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's 'A Handful of Dust' (1988).

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Annette Bening -

Born in 1958, Annette Bening is known for her roles in films such as 'American Beauty' (1999) and 'The Report' (2019).

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Geena Davis -

Geena Davis made her acting debut in the film 'Tootsie' (1982), 26 years after she was born, in 1956. An Academy Award winner, Davis is still busy working in film and television.

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus -

A legend in American television, actress and comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus' list of accolades makes her one of the most award-winning actresses in US small screen history. She became a cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' in 1982, 21 years after she was born, in 1961.

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Jennifer Tilly -

Jennifer Tilly has been noted for her distinctive nasal voice ever since she was born in 1958. Among her best-known films are 'Bullets Over Broadway' (1994) and 'Bound' (1996). Unsurprisingly, these days she gets a lot of voice-over work!

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Kim Cattrall -

Born in 1956, Kim Cattrall is best known for her role as Samantha Jones on HBO's 'Sex and the City' (1998–2004). Cattrall was recently seen on the small screen in the Netflix comedy drama series 'Glamorous' (2023).

Sources: (CNN) (Vogue) (The New York Times)

See also: Actors who found success on multiple TV shows

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