actor, histrion, thespian, role player, player - a theatrical performer

leading lady - actress who plays the leading female role

starlet - a young (film) actress who is publicized as a future star

tragedienne - an actress who specializes in tragic roles

Lucille Ball, Ball - United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)

Bankhead, Tallulah Bankhead - uninhibited United States actress (1903-1968)

Georgiana Barrymore, Georgiana Emma Barrymore, Barrymore - United States actress; daughter of John Drew and wife of Maurice Barrymore; mother of Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore (1854-1893)

Ethel Barrymore, Barrymore - United States actress; daughter of Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Barrymore (1879-1959)

Bergman, Ingrid Bergman - Swedish film actress (1915-1982)

Bernhardt, Henriette Rosine Bernard, Sarah Bernhardt - French actress (1844-1923)

Shirley Temple, Shirley Temple Black, Black - popular child actress of the 1930's (born 1927)

Cornell, Katherine Cornell - United States actress noted for her performances in Broadway plays (1893-1974)

Joan Crawford, Crawford - United States film actress (1908-1977)

Bette Davis, Davis - United States film actress (1908-1989)

Dietrich, Maria Magdalene von Losch, Marlene Dietrich - United States film actress (born in Germany) who made many films with Josef von Sternberg and later was a successful cabaret star (1901-1992)

Duse, Eleonora Duse - Italian actress best known for her performances in tragic roles (1858-1924)

Fonda, Jane Fonda - United States film actress and daughter of Henry Fonda (born in 1937)

Fontanne, Lynn Fontanne - United States actress (born in England) who married Alfred Lunt and performed with him in many plays (1887-1983)

Garbo, Greta Garbo, Greta Louisa Gustafsson - United States film actress (born in Sweden) known for her reclusiveness (1905-1990)

Garland, Judy Garland - United States singer and film actress (1922-1969)

Gish, Lillian Gish - United States film actress who appeared in films by D. W. Griffith (1896-1993)

Harlean Carpenter, Harlow, Jean Harlow - United States film actress who made several films with Clark Gable (1911-1937)

Hayes, Helen Hayes - acclaimed actress of stage and screen (born in 1900)

Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Katharine Houghton Hepburn - United States film actress who appeared in many films with Spencer Tracy (born in 1909)

Glenda Jackson, Jackson - English film actress who later became a member of Parliament (born in 1936)

Grace Kelly, Grace Patricia Kelly, Princess Grace of Monaco, Kelly - United States film actress who retired when she married into the royal family of Monaco (1928-1982)

Emilie Charlotte le Breton, Langtry, Lillie Langtry, the Jersey Lillie - British actress and mistress of the prince who later became Edward VII (1853-1929)

Gertrude Lawrence, Lawrence - English actress (1898-1952)

Eva Le Gallienne, Le Gallienne - United States actress (born in England) (1899-1991)

Leigh, Vivien Leigh - English film actress (1913-1967)

Beatrice Lillie, Lady Peel, Lillie - British actress (born in Canada) (1898-1989)

Loren, Sofia Scicolone, Sophia Loren - Italian film actress (born in 1934)

Mary Martin, Martin - United States actress (1913-1990)

Anna Amalia Mercouri, Melina Mercouri, Mercouri - Greek film actress (1925-1994)