Who is the Greatest Actress of all Time?

Its a bit early to tell, but  honestly I think in the long run it could be one of two other Kate's - Kate Winslet or Cate Blanchett. 

Oooooh good point!

The best actress of all time is probably a three way tie between Bette Davis, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench. It's true that Kate Hepburn and Barbara Stanwyck would be in the top 5. If I had to pick one, Bette Davis would be my pick. She has the biggest filmography, at least of great films, and the most stunning performances. Hepburn and Streep may have more awards but nowhere near the running total of great films. The other Kates, Blanchett and Winslet, will never have as many great films as the other ladies.

I'm stunned none of you thought of Davis or Dench. Particularly you Luke.

What a hard question! I think Meryl Streep and Katharine Hepburn automatically come to mind when you think of best actress, but I agree with EET and I could see both Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett as two of the top actresses of all time in the future.

Other actresses that in my opinion would be at the top of the list are: Ingrid Bergman, Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn and Jodie Foster.

OOh Audrey Hepburn...good one.  I thought about Jodie Foster - the reason why I didnt add her to my list of two was mostly because with the exception of The Brave One she hasnt really taken any roles in some time that really tested her.  Cate playing Kathrine Hepburn in the Aviator or Kate w. in the Reader - those choices were far more risky and challenging than say Nim's Island.

I like Judi Dench but couldnt really put her on my list because I havent seen enough of her work - not a huge fan of british entertainment, but am absolutely going to see NINE!!

Katherine Hepburn = Goddess

This is a tough one. I'd say greatest actress of all time is Meryl Streep - she's a true chameleon. I would say Cate Blanchett has that same quality about her, though I don't think she's reached Streep's level yet.

I'm glad that Barbara Stanwyck was mentioned because I think she's really underrated these days. She's been wonderful in such diverse roles. As far as I'm concerned she gave flawless performances in so many different genres: romantic comedy (The Lady Eve), tearjerker (Stella Dallas), noir (Double Indemnity, Strange Love of Martha Ivers), thriller (Sorry Wrong Number), and she's in one of my favorite Christmas movies (Christmas in Connecticut). I know she was in a bunch of Westerns as well, but I've never seen any of them. I just think she's FAB!

I also love Kate Hepburn, Bette Davis, Sigourney Weaver, Maggie Smith, Jessica Lange.

My favorite movie star is Natalie Wood, but that's not the same as greatest actress

For me, there is the classic era which goes up till about the early 60s--and then the modern era--everything after that.

Classic era--really tough cause there are so many greats. I probably would go with Bette Davis too. Just the sheer force of her talent mixed with her personality is something to behold. She was made of awesome.
 
Others--Katherine Hepburn, Stanwyck, A Hepburn and Irene Dunne.
 
Irene Dunne is the most under-rated classic movie star IMO. So versatile. This woman did everything and brilliantly. She could musicals--she was in Showboat. She could do screwball comedies--Theodora goes Wild, The Awful Truth, My Favorite Wife, LIfe with Father,. She could do drama--I remember Mama, Pennny Serenade, Love Affair.  Many of her films were remade--and so the original version gets lost in the mix. For instance, Love Affair was later remade into An Affair to Remember and then the Warren Beatty  remake.Many believe the original version was the best and I agree..  Showboat was remade in the 50s. Irene Dunne was even in the movie Anna and the King of Siam with Rex Harrison--before it became a Broadway musical and movie. If you ever get a chance to see it--I highly recommend it.
Anyway, she was nominated for 5 oscars--but never won (like her co-star Cary Grant. He also said she was the finest comedienne he ever worked with)

I also love Rosalind Russell, Vivien Leigh and some others.

As far as the Modern era--IA about Meryl Streep, Kate W and Cate B

Great comments Crustee, Irene Dunne was a fabulous performer and under-rated indeed. There are so many great ones that we seem to forget *sigh*

Crustee: The only Irene Dunne movie that I've seen is Penny Serenade and I really liked it. What a tearjerker!!!  Actually I did see Life with Father when I was a kid, and I remember liking it, but can't remember anything about it. I'll have to revisit that one sometime.

Craig Peters--I'm glad you agree about Irene Dunne. I forgot to mention that she was also in A Guy Named Joe (remake called Always) and The White CLiffs of Dover. Another reason she may not be remembered besides the fact that many of her films were remade--is that she had such a quiet personal life. I think she stayed married to the same man and was fairly religious etc. She wasn't a larger than life character off screen like Davis, Hepburn and Crawford.

Daisy CLover--now I uunderstand your name---Natalie Wood film, She was wonderful and so beautiful. I highly recommend you watch some Irene Dunne films if you get a chance. I adore My Favorite Wife w/ Cary Grant --directed by the great Garson Kanin who went on to write Adam's RIb and Born Yesterday among many. It is such a funny movie with a great supporting cast. But, she was in many great films. I do love Life with Father too. I love William Powell-- that's really his film

It might be best to separate out the eras for "Best of All." Then you could argue that Kathleen Turner or Hillary Swank might be in the running. Both, AA winners, Kate Blanchett is good of course but some of her rolls seem to be too heavyhanded for me, like she's trying too hard. 

Of course Meryl Streep is wonderful, and for drama or serious film, she probably is the best. But Which Actress is the best comedic actress of all time?   

This is really HARD!  Does Meryl Streep EVER do anything wrong?  She is  AMAZING!

Crustee: Wow, it's pretty rare that anyone gets the reference to Inside Daisy Clover!! I'll definitely check out My Favorite Wife. I like Kanin's work a lot. And funny enough he collaborated on the Hepburn/Tracy films with his wife Ruth Gordon, whose work as an actress I LOVE (she was fab in Rosemary's Baby, Harold and Maude and...Inside Daisy Clover :) )  As for William Powell, I haven't seen nearly enough of his films.  But I did love him in My Man Godfrey.

Craig: Good idea about splitting it up into eras/decades.  For the 80s, I would definitely say Kathleen Turner. I especially liked her in Body Heat, the Romancing the Stone movies, War of the Roses, and The Man with Two Brains (slightly embarrased to mention that one, lol.) She gave some good performances in the 90s (like Serial Mom), but I think the 80s were her decade. Never saw Prizzi's Honor, but I heard she was great in it.

I don't think I can name just one Best Comedic Actress. My nominees (for their eras): Carole Lombard, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr, Rosalind Russell, Claudette Colbert, Barbara Stanwyck, Whoopi Goldberg. And though I'm not a huge fan of theirs, I would say a lot of people would nominate Marilyn Monroe and Goldie Hawn.

As for Meryl Streep, while I think she wouldn't rate as the best comedic actress of all time, I have enjoyed her work in comedies.  I thought she was wonderful in Postcards from the Edge, Defending Your Life, Heartburn ( a dramedy) and while She-Devil, Death Becomes Her and Mama Mia! weren't great films (to say the least) she gave good comic performances in them.  Her dramatic work is more accomplished, but her comedy work is part of the reason I think she's the greatest of all time.

DaisyClover--I really enjoyed INside Daisy Clover--very interesting movie. Ruth Gordon is wonderful in it. Did you ever see the movie The Actress with Jean Simmons and Spencer Tracy? It's about Ruth Gordon's early life--I think taken from a play she wrote. Very sweet movie--and of course--beautifully acted.

Craig--Fave comedic actress--I guess I will stick with Irene Dunne. ALso, Carole Lombard and Roz Russell. I guess you could throw in Eve Arden in the 2cd banana type role. We may need a thread for those great character actors.

More recent--I might go with Diane Keaton. I think she's great

Crustee: No, I've never seen The Actress. I just checked Netflix and it's not on there :( Guess my only hope is if TCM plays it sometime. A thread for character actors is a great idea!! I'd put Thelma Ritter on there. She was hilarious!

DaisyClover--I saw the movie on TCM. They do show it once in awhile--do check their site.
I will have to start a thread on the great character actors soon. Right now I am reeling that they have cancelled my fave soap ATWT. So sad

Oh Crustee, I know!! I'm so sad about ATWT. When I read about it this morning, I felt like I had gotten punched in the stomach

I would definately have to go with Meryl Streep, but i also think that Rachel McAdams, Reesewitherspoon could one day be almost as great! I also think that Sandra Bullock proved that shes pretty dang amazing in The Blind Side and we all know she can do comedy.

Honorable Mentions:
Diane Lane
Glenn Close

but i think angelina Jolie is really an awesome actress