In a poll conducted by Sky HD, Audrey Hepburn was voted “top screen beauty of all time”, beating out Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts and Grace Kelly. My beloved Gravatar, Ava Gardner did not make the top twenty! What the…? And yet Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Aniston made the list?
Even though Audrey Hepburn made number one, there is a distinct lack of the old-school glamour goddesses of Hollywood’s Golden Age. There’s no Rita Hayworth, no Greta Garbo, no Katherine Hepburn. I actually think Audrey Hepburn deserves this honor – her or Grace Kelly, two of the most beautiful women to ever walk this earth. Here’s the complete Top 20 list of “Most Timeless Beauties”:
1 Audrey Hepburn
2 Angelina Jolie
3 Grace Kelly
4 Marilyn Monroe
5 Sophia Loren
6 Catherine Zeta Jones
7 Elizabeth Taylor
8 Keira Knightley
9 Halle Berry
10 Brigitte Bardot
11 Julia Roberts
12 Vivien Leigh
13 Nicole Kidman
14 Cameron Diaz
15 Doris Day
16 Scarlett Johansson
17 Charlize Theron
18 Jennifer Aniston
19 Michelle Pfeiffer
20 Liv Tyler
Audrey Hepburn has been named the ultimate screen beauty in a survey of Hollywood actresses through the ages.
The star of Breakfast At Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday was chosen ahead of modern stars including Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightley and Halle Berry.
While blondes have more fun, brunettes appear to have more enduring appeal. Of the top 10 actresses, only three – Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot – are blonde.
The poll of nearly 2,000 film fans put Hepburn in first place, citing her perfect bone structure and almond eyes. Jolie was second, although she was a favourite with younger voters, and Kelly was third.
Nicola Moulton, beauty and health director of Vogue, said: “A great cinematic beauty by definition has to look amazing in motion, not just in pictures. Audrey Hepburn is clearly a timeless beauty explaining why she is the nation’s choice, though a personal favourite of mine has always been Vivien Leigh – she was not only breathtakingly beautiful but had an astonishingly expressive face. Unlike many actresses her expressions never run counter to her beauty, which seems an essential point of her being rather than just a quirk of genetics.”
From The Daily Telegraph
Though I adore Angelina, and think she’s one of the most beautiful women of Hollywood today, the old-school goddesses are better. Give me Bette Davis over Liv Tyler, or Eva Marie Saint over Kiera Knightly. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there’s just something better about the goddesses of times past. Better to “discover” a woman’s beauty through her talent in some old movie than have it forced down your throat by the 24-hour gossip cycle.
Audrey Hepburn and her first husband Mel Ferrer are shown below on 10/22/64. Other photos are stills from her films Breakfast at Tiffanys and Sabrina Fair. Credit: WENN. Angelina Jolie is shown in stills from 2006’s The Good Shepherd
No surprises there. Hepburns personality has a lot to do with her beauty.
….but CZT at number six????
Holy crap!! How do Scarlett J, Cameron D and Keira K end up higher on a list of beautiful women than Michelle P and Liv T?? And no Katherine Hepburn, no Jessica Lange, no Lauren Bacall. If Bardot can be on this list then Bacall should be on it.
….and how does Vivienne Leigh end up below Julia Roberts?
And Catherine ZJ above Liz Taylor?! Catherine’s lovely an’ all but Taylor’s stuunning (We can probably continue this all day!)
Will I correct that *stuunning? No, Liz deserves an extra ‘u’.
I think the list is terribly biased towards present-day stars.
And no Faye Dunaway! She was a knockout in her day. But – like Jessica Lange – people don’t remember her as she was, but as the plasticized version she has become.
I’ve always thought CZJ was the most genuinely beautiful of the modern actresses. Angelina, Keira, etc… whilst undeniably striking, have always been a bit too “Emperor’s New Clothes” for me – the media rave about them, but I just don’t get the skeletal thing, sorry!
My vote would be for Grace Kelly – according to those who worked with her she was as beautiful inside as out.
Duh! No one like the great Hepburn. I miss her!
Anjelina Jolie????? Give me a break. Looks like a tired ole skank!!!!
aniston has nothing to do with being beautiful.
But Audrey Hepburn was an extremely unattractive woman! I’ve never understood how anyone could consider her beautiful. And we won’t even get into her nonexistent acting “talent.”
I don’t get. There are true beauties on that last, and she doesn’t come close to being in their class.
as going to tell me that audrey is not the most beautiful. she is more beautiful than Grace Kelly and Marilyn has size, glamor, and the most perfect face were fine but the other was the most beautiful audrey.
Breath people, this was only a survey of 2000 people. This list would be completely different with 2000 other people polled. 🙂
I have always thought that the personality is a big part of someone’s beauty. I still have a problem with Faye Dunaway from seeing Mommy Dearest as a child, despite how stunning she has been in other movies.
And yes, I completely agree about Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn and the other old school actresses. Liz Taylor was more tabloid fodder after stealing Eddie Fischer from Debbie Reynolds, but in general they had an ethic of keeping their images dignified. The grace with which they carried themselves was timeless, which is why Audrey Hepburn is and should be on the top of that list.
Mmm… I actually think Ava Gardner should be No. 1
Angelina, Kiera, Cameron Diaz and Aniston should all be off that list. Actually Angelina could be on it but I think wayyy lower than #2. She’s got bug eyes and a huge forehead! She can’t compete with the likes of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn!!
better check that again Santa, because CZJ has had a bunch of plastic surgery to look like she does today. have you seen her old nose?
Cameron Diaz?
They must of surveyed alot of young people who couldn’t list one other “old hollywood actress” except for audry hepburn because they sure left out alot of really stunning women who were stunning with out all the cosmetic surgery and photo shop help these ladies have now.
Lena Horne not even mentioned, oh well She is still a beauty at 80/90 plus. I guess no one has heard of her. The woman was considered a beauty. Who did they poll for this list? I would consider the source LOL
WHERE is Rita Hayworth in this list?
Jennifer Aniston – Very, very average looking. Boderline unattractive. Big nose, small eyes, large Jaw.
Liv Tyler – Just plain unattrative. Messy lips.
Kiera Knightley – should not be on the list. Skinny, looks like PWT.
Charlize and Vivian Lee should have been higher.
Marilyn Monroe should have topped that list.
After 3 nose jobs, lips injections and other plastic work done- Angelina doesn’t quite belong to the list.
Her “look” is grotesque and changes every now and then (with new visits to the doctors).
Her upper lip alone changes every now and then.
Angelina should come in second on the plastic serugies list, right after Ashlee Simpson, who has the best work done.
Kiera Knightley is very pretty.
Her eating problems has nothing to do with her pretty facial features.
Vivian Lee vs. Julia Roberts?!
Is this a joke?
Why is Julia even on this list?
Vivian is a beautiful woman who should have been way higher.
Plastic serugies =(should be) surgeries
Ned, Norma Jean had a nose job and her teeth fixed so you can’t call out Jolie for plastic surgery.
As far as I know too, Jolie didn’t use the casting couch for the horizontal bop to get parts either.
That being said should Jolie be number 2? No way.
timeless beauty my ass. How can Keira, Angelina, Jennifer, Scarlett and Julia Roberts be considered as timeless beauties? Within 20 years noboby will remember they ever exist. They have no class at all (and no acting skills). This poll is just ridiculous, but Audrey Hepburn as number one is well deserved.
truer words have not been spoken. no one has ever been as beautiful as audrey hepburn.
Audrey, Marilyn & Grace definitely. I think Grace Kelly should have been #1.
I agree; where is Rita & Ava?
Sorry but Cameron, Scarlett, Jennifer & Julia should not be on this list.
@Ned; unless you were AJ’s plastic surgeon, speculate don’t declare positively.
Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston made the list but Ava didn’t? The hell? These lists always throw up the most ludicrous things – there was a poll of 100 Greatest Britons some years back. My flatmate and I spent an entire week quite randomly shouting out “Robbie Bleedin’ Williams” as he was included on the list whilst others weren’t or placed higher. We had to highlight William Blake’s name to calm ourselves down.
Don’t think most people would argue with Audrey being top of the list, she did photograph beautifully (unfortunately when the lighting or makeup wasn’t right you could see how ill she was – watch the newsreel footage to a party connected with My Fair Lady she looks so frail)
I like Cammie and Scarlett, so I’m not going to get too bent out of shape because they’re on the list – but neither of them are more beautiful than Michelle Pfeiffer. While I think women admire Kate Hepburn’s beauty (worship worship), I don’t think as many men would agree.
No Marlene though? Bloody sacrelidge.
Well no DUUUUUHHHH, Audrey was a timeless beauty like fine artwork.
Doris Day? Timeless beauty?
Ava Gardner. Seen a picture of her when she was young? Amen to those who think Scarjo, Cameron and Jennifer Aniston shouldn’t even be on the list at all.
I adore Audrey Hepburn, she definitely deserves 1.
But no way should AJ be 2. She’s definitely one of the most beautiful women in hollywood today, no doubt.
But we’re talking top screen beauty! We’re talking classics!
I agree, where’s Rita? I’m glad Vivien’s on the list (GONE WITH THE WIND BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME) but she should’ve been higher imo.
Vivien Leigh isn’t even in the top 10? And how come the beauty that is Olivia de Haviland not make this list?
did not* i miss edit more than anything right now
OMG, Scarlett is on the list?
She is not even pretty. Not even talking about BEAUTIFUL.
Baho- There is a different between getting yout teeth fixed and having nose jobs and lip injections.
and if you bother to call her “Norma Jean”, then why do you call Angelina- “Jolie”?
“Jolie” means “pretty” in French and it’s a name Angelina arrogantly invented for herself.
So if we are sticking to real names and not stage names- don’t call her “Jolie”.
Um, isn’t Jolie her middle name? Angelia Jolie Voight? She’s never had a name change except for dropping the ‘Voight.’
Monroe was Norma Jean Baker when she had her nose job and her teeth fixed. Anyway.
oops, typo: of course I mean ‘Angelina’
Boo on most of the stars making the list today. AJ, Aniston, ScarJo, Keira, Diaz, Roberts, blah.
The only classic beauties up there that are around today are CZJ, Charlize, and Halle Berry. Other than that, they’re just not that hot.
I don’t care if you like them, this is a superficial poll. Asking about beauty. And those three are the only actresses today that I think measure up. They have the bodies and the faces to compete with Old Hollywood Glamor.
I vote Grace Kelly for #1. Gorgeous, gorgeous woman.
AJ #2? uhhhhgggg…she looks like a transvestite…
It looks like there’s a feminine kind of bias regarding the list…which isn’t necessarily a *bad* thing, because at least you can say that whether you agree or disagree you find these women beautiful, they are “ranked” according to their facial features.
Most of these women have distinguished facial features…Angelina Jolie’s lips, Audrey Hepburn’s tiny face and impish charm, even the sex symbols possess their own trademark characteristics.
This list beats the shit out of Maxim and FHM, IMO, who only honors women for how they look in lingerie fellating an ice cream cone.
And I find Jennifer Aniston to be very pretty, and I’m not just saying that because I dislike Brangelina, but because she has lovely skin and pretty eyes…and I like her angular chin!
I don’t know why anyone would get all annoyed that she made the list…after all, Angelina Jolie still took a higher spot in the damn list.
Edited to add: I still think Angelina Jolie is pretty. She’s not sexy anymore, but she does have enviable facial features.
LOL Christina – AJ isn’t the problem some of us have with JA being on the list, it’s that she’s on it and others aren’t.
I’m not saying JA isn’t attractive, but it’s like comparing say Jean Harlow to Carole Lombard, or Judy Garland to Lana Turner or even Barbara Streisand to Julie Christie or Faye Dunaway, the former are attractive, whilst the latter more beautiful.
Angelina hasn’t had plastic surgery. Get over your hatred and jealousy. I don’t think she should top the classic beauties but she is as close as we can get to a modern beauty on par with the classics. This list is bad though because it has left out some great beauties like the article said in favor of some modern mediocre stars that are beautiful but can’t come close to Gene, Katherine or Audrey. I don’t think Marilyn should count because if she were a star today, there would be an immense backlash against her “beauty” since it is a plastic surgeon’s work. Iknow that’s harsh but its true.
How the hell did Julia, Cameron, and Jennifer Aniston qualify??? Liv Tyler on the other hand probably should have been top 10…she is stunning
Where’s Natalie Portman on this list? She’s one of my favorite modern beauties of the screen today. I think she’s way prettier than Kiera Knightly even though they look similar.
.
No Vivien Leigh? No Lauren Bacall?
What about Kate Winslet? She is a timeless beauty inside and out, far more attractive than Cameron Diaz or Jennifer Aniston, who rely on fake tans, hair, and the gym to maintain their “hotness factor.”
In a list about the most beautiful women, Aniston, Roberts, and Diaz certainly should not be counted. They have “sex appeal” and “girl next door” faces.
I just realized Vivien made the list, but certainly not high enough on it.
“How the hell did Julia, Cameron, and Jennifer Aniston qualify??? Liv Tyler on the other hand probably should have been top 10…she is stunning”
Liv Tyler has a really long narrow face to me, so I never thought she was pretty. But I agree with you about the rest, Thy never should have been put on a list/ I like classic beauty like Grace Kelly, CZJ. But that’s not as popular these days. But these lists don’t mean anything anyway. It’s silly. They’ll come out with a new line up/list/poll in another month.
Julia Roberts, WTF? Mr. Ed could’ve placed higher than that.
And the fact that Jennifer Aniston is on this list automatically turns it to shit.
I’m a little surprised there’s no mention of Lauren Bacall. I guess with such a small group of people surveyed regarding such an unimportant topic I shouldn’t really care. But seriously! No Lauren Bacall?!?
Ava Gardner was much more beautiful than either.
Cameron Diaz?!!
Oh! I thought the list was serious! Now I see they are just yanking me.
Indeed, Rita Hayworth! And so many others of real class and beauty.
This list sucks ass!
I’m lovin’ this page!
I think Charlize Theron is stunning, far more attractive on screen than most of the modern day actresses. The industry used to have class and the women on screen reflected it.
Merle Oberon. God, now that woman was gorgeous.
When you think of most of these women, they had distinctive features that people remember about them and why they were considered beautiful: Liz Taylor’s eyes, Marilyn Monroe’s body, Angelina Jolie’s lips…I think if you took out those who are known for just random bits of unusual beauty, you’d get a much different list.
Audrey Hepburn would still be up there, Grace Kelly, Halle Berry, Catherine Zeta Jones (regardless of her plastic surgeries)…they all have that classic, screen beauty along with the classy way they carry (or carried) themselves and stayed mostly out of the tabloids.
Keira Knightley has always been odd-looking to me. She has kind of an alien shaped head with big eyes and a really wide mouth with strange teeth. And her nose is too small for her face.
Cameron Diaz doesn’t belong anywhere near this list with her bad skin and creepy joker smile.
Scarlett Johanssen is odd-looking as well. Kind of like a grown-up Who from Dr. Seuss.
Charlize Theron’s features are too small for her face to me. It’s like her face always looks fat even though she is nowhere near fat.
Jennifer Aniston can look really cute or really weird depending on how she’s made up. I personally love her hair, body and complexion and think she has beautiful eyes, but top screen beauty? Nope.
Diaz and Aniston? Diaz has the methface that only ‘Blake Incarcerated’ could love.
Audrey? Sigh… without question. Beyond the charts. But where the H**ll is Katherine Hepburn? Ingrid Bergman? Helen Mirren? Julie Christie and NO list is ever complete without Isabella Rossellini. Come on! Think about your choices. Jennifer/Scarlette/Cameron/Liv Tyler? This is a pathetic list.
Oh yes, yes, yes. Add Lauren Becall to my list, I missed her and a true beauty even now.
i definitely agree about ava gardner…i loved the biography love is nothing
Angelina? Really? Over ANY of the old school actresses? Goes to show you how many sheep, excuse people are influenced by the media.
I bet you the people polled don’t even know who the hell Rita Hayworth, Marlene dietrich, Julie Christie, Ingard Berman, etc, even are and couldn’t name a movie past 1985.
Also Gene Tierney! She was so gorgeous.
“Well no DUUUUUHHHH, Audrey was a timeless beauty like fine artwork”
Like a Jackson Pollack, maybe. No beauty there…underweight, bland features, blah personality, very poor sense of style…never have understood why anyone would think AH was anything better than middle of the road ordinary. Very, very vanilla.
Mairead- sorry, my mistake. I started skimming the thread, as I always do.
Sad that the woman who won out was an anorexic. Just another reminder of how “attainable” Hollywood beauty really is.
And I love Liv Tyler, but seriously? I can think of women more beautiful than her. In fact I think I could find one in my apartment building. She’s likeable and pretty but a list like this? And Cameron Diaz? WTH?
Audrey was pretty, talented and glamourous but should not top this list or any list where beauty in itsel is the topic. Ava should be #1 or at least be somewhere in this list over any of the average gals and ugly ducklings that made it. Rita and Marlene were also a BIG oversight so was Heddy Lamar and Lauren Bacall. With the exception of Charlize and CZJ none of the other current stars has a place near classic beauties on any list. Anjelina was hot for like 5 minutes in Gia, but her features are actually grotesque and she no longer has a body.
I actually think that the most beautiful contemporary actresses are generally from “Bollywood”, to be honest.
I don’t know why Michelle Pfeiffer is all the way down in 19.
I also don’t know why Jennifer Aniston is on the list at all. Same with Cameron Diaz.
Where are the Kims? I happen to think that Kim Basinger and Kim Novack are understated beauties. As well as Tippi Hedron. Angelina probably doesn’t belong as high on the list as she is. IMO, her looks are so striking because her face is so unusual and her features are exaggerated. I don’t know if that’s automatically attractive in the true sense, but striking nonetheless. But here are a few more who belong: Candice Bergman, Dorothy Dandridge, Judy Garland, and the lesser known Sherylynn Flynn. Just an opinion.
They should have two lists: Pre surgery stars and post-surgery stars. You can’t compare the gorgeous stars of Old Hollywood (who didn’t have extensive plastic surgery) with the botoxed beauties of today. It’s not fair.
Personally, Vivien Leigh should have been in the top 10, and where’s Margarita Consano? Or, Rita Hayworth.
She certainly deserves a spot.
audrey was naturally skinny. not anorexic. she was always the same weight.
i never thought of roberts being sexy or beautiful. her face looks strange.
as much as i love aniston…she’s not like grace, marilyn or audrey.
diaz is overrated anyway.
liv tyler has something…i can accept that…even czjones
but not jolie and not doris day and not scarlett johansson.
i’m fine with bardot and knightley. i miss portman. ava gardner…yes…should be on that list.
grace kelly should be first…marilyn second…then audrey.
yes! kim novak! she should be on that list! and tippi hedren. yeah!
Emmanuelle Beart in manon des sources, she was just perfect. So incredible beautiful.
angelina is to skinny she seems like an old women
halle berry,CZJ grace jones and audrey ofcourse! and where are kate winslet and Nathalie portman?
keira too skinny, strange laugh and false lips, see bend it like beckman
scarlet has strange face
Oy vey. Too many current celebrities on this list who are not worthy – the list is supposed to be overall, people! See the big picture!
Also, Botox is gross; I hope people everywhere aren’t inspired by it.
Angelina does not belong in the top 20. What is pretty about her? Put a young Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, or Audrey Hepburn next to Angelina and it is like night and day.
Angelina Jolie does not belong in the top 40! Put a young Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, or Grace Kelley next to Jolie and there is no comparison as to what beauty is.
Angelina does not belong in the top 40! If you put a young Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly or many more next to her, there is no comparison.
Maureen O’Sullivan, too.
She was Jane in Pride and Prejudice, and then she was Jane in Tarzan!
I grew-up in a communist country, having only two hours of television a day… So I’ve learnt to treasure each moment with Audrey, Grace and Sofia, Vivian and Liz. But Greta Garbo, Ingrid, Marlene, Rita and Lana Turner… where are THEY???
I think we should simply call this “a list” and not “the top of all times”! I very much admire Charlize, Michelle, Halle, Angelina and Nicole- I find them not only stunning but stylish, in the old fashion way. And I have nothing against Cameron, Jennifer, Scarlett, Liv Tyler, CZJ, Keira or Julia (which smile I adore). Maybe a TOP 50 will do :-). But it doesn’t seem fair to forget the classic beauties…
Nevertheless, let’s not be sarcastic: they will all be remembered ( for grace, style, beauty, talent, Oscars, Golden Globes and so on), since every women on this list has something to be admired for!
This list was fun. I think Vivien Leigh should’ve been in the top 5. There were several girls that shouldn’t have made it and several that didn’t. I think Penelope Cruz should be on the list.
I agree with Audrey on the list but disagree with the modern choices. What can you do though? They are the most known; it’s not like Rita Hayworth, Gene Tierney, or Ava Gardner have that much fame outside of classic movie fans.
As for barnesir, you have the freedom of speech to say stupid things, and I have the freedom to say: Shut the hell up.
Oh yes for that anorexia comment: read any short biography.
Audrey keeps appearing on these lists people; you are either blind or jealous if you can’t see why.
audrey is a timeless americas sweetheart
http://www.audreyhepburnposters.com
Angelina is not even close, just look!
people are always going to say “what about so and so”? you cant please everybody, someone’s favorite is always going to be left off the list. i absolutely agree with the writer of the article though about how much more beautiful the glamour girls from back in the day were, i have a pin-up collection myself. my favorites are rita hayworth, marilyn monroe, jayne mansfield, bettie page (not an actress, but still one of my favorites), brigitte bardot (all-time favorite, elizabeth taylor, anita ekberg and sophia loren. although i like audrey hepburn, i DO NOT think that shes the # 1 screen beauty of all time. even in her time, she wasnt thought of as being sexy like the women i named. she was cute, but certainly not a seductress.(kind of like julia roberts) anyways, what can you do? everyone has their own opinions! as far as angelina, anybody who think shes NOT pretty is just hating that she made it higher than their favorite! angelina is to this era what marilyn was to the 50s, what raquel was to the 60s and what farrah was to the 70s! but un-like some of them, shes actually respected as an actress!