Throughout the centuries, women have always been considered beautiful. Men have gone to war for them, written poetry about them, and this has not changed in the present. Women have always been seen as beautiful, but these ones have had nearly universal praise for their beauty. These are some of the most beautiful women in history.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren surely is an Italian beauty. While beautiful, she’s still earned several academy awards for her work. She’s appeared in several movies over the years and has even appeared in movies through the 2000s. Even though she’s currently 87, she’s still quite the beauty.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is often reported as being the source of the “Let them eat cake” line that supposedly led to the French Revolution. Although, her rule at the time is still what lead to her and her husband’s death. Regardless, Marie was still seen as one of the most beautiful women of her era. It just didn’t save her from the guillotine.
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly wasn’t just a famous actress, she even became the Princess of Monaco. That shouldn’t be too surprising considering how beautiful she was. Not only was she an accomplished actress, but she was also an activist, forming the children’s rights advocacy group AMADE Mondiale. Unfortunately she died at age 52 from injuries sustained in a car accident. But her legacy lived on through her son, Albert.
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a universally renowned British actress, as well as a humanitarian. Not just a pretty face, she’s one of 17 actors to have ever won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards. But other than that, she even won the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 for her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Unfortunately, she passed away at age 63 from appendiceal cancer the next year.
Helen Of Troy
Helen of Troy is recognized as the woman that launched a thousand ships. Every heard of the Trojan War? Yeah, it started over her after Paris kidnapped her from Greece. As the legend goes, Paris was promised to marriage the most beautiful woman in the world. That woman was Helen, but she was already married to a Greek king. So he spirited her away and the Greeks sailed to Troy to rescue her. The exact facts of the matter are somewhat unclear, still steeped in myth, but it’s generally agreed that Helen was where it all stemmed from.
Marilyn Monroe
It’s hard to look at photos of Marilyn Monroe and think she’s anything other than drop-dead gorgeous. She was a famous actress, one of the first Hollywood starlets. It’s just a shame that she died before reaching her prime. She died at age 36 of an overdose in 1962. And ever since then, people have wondered what could have been.
Ana De Armas
Ana de Armas is probably one of the hottest upcoming starlets. A Cuban actress, she’s appeared in both Spanish and English language films, gaining popularity for her roles in Bladerunner 2049 and Knives Out. She was even casted to portray Marilyn Monroe in a biopic about her called Blonde. That has to be proof of how beautiful she is.
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke, while most famous for her role in Game of Thrones, is still a skilled and beautiful actress. She was even voted the sexiest woman alive in 2015. While her most iconic look has her appear as a platinum blonde, she’s an absolutely stunning brunette without the wig on.
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry wasn’t just a socialite, but an actress and a producer in the 1800s. It was her looks that attracted many to her and allowed her to perform in many West End stage productions. Not only that, but she was the subject of multiple art pieces during the Aesthetic Movement in England. As such, there are a lot of portraits of which to examine her beauty.
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o was voted the sexiest woman alive. Twice! Once in 2014 and again in 2022. And it’s easy to see why. She’s absolutely gorgeous. And she’s an incredibly skilled actress to boot. A Kenyan-Mexican woman, she’s had broad appeal in both blockbuster films and think pieces.
Natalie Dormer
If you’re constantly hired to play characters known for their beauty and charm, that has to mean something. There’s just something about Natalie Dormer that makes you smile whenever she’s onscreen. Even if the character that she’s playing is terrible, that cute smirk she does would make anyone fall for her.
Beyoncé
All hail Queen Bee! She’s had such an impressive musical career as well as an acting one. And not just that, but she’s gorgeous as well. It doesn’t matter how much time passes or how she changes her look, she’s always beautiful. GQ even voted her the hottest woman of the 21st Century.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway has appeared in a lot of movies since she debuted onscreen as a teenager. And people have gotten to see her blossom into a beautiful woman. She always seems so glamorous, regardless of what role she’s in. And it’s very hard to argue that Hathaway, herself, isn’t attractive.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie was credited as the reason why Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston divorced for quite some time. After all, she’s drop-dead gorgeous. More recently, she’s moved on from just acting and has also begun directing and producing films. Jolie has actually stated she suffers from body dysmorphia. While her feelings are valid, it’s very hard to see what anyone could find wrong with her visage.
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek only seems to get more beautiful with age. Her acting career doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. Although, the types of films she’s been appearing in have changed a bit. She’s most famous for her dramas, which are what garnered her such critical acclaim. But she’s been appearing in more action films as of late, such as The Hitman’s Bodyguard and The Eternals.
Josephine Baker
While born in America, Josephine Baker became a naturalized French citizen. She became famous for her exploits in Europe. A talented singer and actress, she dazzled audiences and earned herself several nicknames, such as Black Venus. But that’s not all she did. During World War II, she was an active member of the French Resistance. Her exploits actually earned her the Resistance Medal after the war ended. She died in 1975 at age 68 and became the first black person to be interred at the Panthéon in Paris.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra was known to use her attractiveness to seduce men to do her bidding. It’s how she ended up taking control of Rome. And it’s how she ended up getting Julius Caesar and Mark Antony under her thrall. She probably would’ve become a major leader in the Roman Republic had Octavius not waged war against Egypt for the assassination of Caesar.
Kate Upton
Kate Upton has proven herself as both an actress and a model. She’s breathtaking. Initially, as she attempted to move into the film industry, she’d only really get cameo appearances. However, she’s since been able to gain larger roles. She mostly appears in comedy films, but she certainly has a lot of options. Looking at her Wikipedia page also shows that she’s won and been nominated for several awards relating to her attractiveness.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra has made waves in both Bollywood and Hollywood. She’s got talent to spare and a killer look. Of course, acting isn’t her only talent. She’s also a producer, model, and singer. Forbes actually considered her one of the 100 most influential women in the world. She’s a powerful businesswoman with the looks of a model.
Cara Delevinge
Cara Delevinge already proved herself as an exceptionally beautiful model before jumping into the acting sphere. While some of the movies she starred in at the beginning of her career weren’t exactly great she’s been gaining more traction. And it’s easy to see why she can still get work. Even if the movie’s bad, she always brings her all. Not to mention she’s stunning.
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara’s most famous role was as Gloria in Modern Family. And she’s been wowing audiences with her looks ever since. It seems as though it doesn’t matter how much time passes, Sofia hasn’t aged a day. If anything, she only seems to get more beautiful. While much slower than it was initially, she’s still got an active career though.
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress, starring in a variety of famous American and European films. In 1999, she was recognized as the fourth greatest screen legend of all time. In her heyday, she was the contender for the top spot. She’s starred in a variety of films, including Casablanca, Joan of Arc, and Gaslight, the latter of which earned her an Oscar. It’s easy to see why she was the 40s “it girl”. She passed away in 1982 at age 67 from cancer.
Song Hye-kyo
Song Hye-kyo is a rather rather and prominent Korean actress. While she may not be as well-known to western audiences, it’s hard to argue that she isn’t stunning. She’s starred in a variety of films and television in her homeland of South Korea. Forbes voted her the 7th in the Korean Power Celebrity list in 2017. And in 2018 she made 6th. It seems as though every year her fame only grows.
Gemma Chan
Gemma Chan’s more recently become a well-known face for her portrayal of Sersei in The Eternals. However, she was still acting long before that. She’s an English actress, having more recently rose to prominence in the acting field. And since her first appearance she’s started to take people’s breath away. She may have started out small, but she’s only on the rise in Hollywood. And her looks and acting talent will ensure she stays in the business for as long as she wants.
Angie Varona
Angie Varona is probably one of the least famous people on this list. But to those that know her, they won’t easily forget. She’s an Instagram model with well over three million followers. While working as an influencer is currently her primary method of income, she recently got a law degree. So, it’ll be interesting to see what she decides in the future. Hopefully, for her fans, she keeps modeling.
Nichelle Nichols
Lieutenant Uhura herself, Nichelle Nichols gained quite a bit of popularity for her role on Star Trek. She was the first major black and female reoccurring character on the show. Not to mention, was a part of the first interracial kiss in television. And let’s not forget just how attractive she is. And also incredibly fit. In some episodes of Star Trek you can seem just how muscular she is.
Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall is considered one of the greatest American actresses of all time. She just has this icy glare to her that makes her irresistible. But she didn’t just play colder characters. The woman had range. She starred in dramas, mysteries, and comedies. Other big name actors would begin to request her by name to act as their co-stars. She died in 2014 at the age of 89.
Jamie Chung
Jamie Chung started out as a reality TV star, but soon after transitioned to acting. She’s appeared in several films and TV shows, gaining much critical acclaim. And in the action films she stars in she seems more than willing to do her own stunts. She’s got great acting chops and a great look as well.
Hedy Lamarr
Austrian-born, Hedy Lamarr eventually moved to America where she would become one of the greatest actresses of all time. Even since she started acting on stage, she seemed to have knack for it. And this just served to get her more and more roles. She’s appeared in her fair share of films and made several milestones in the film business. Due to her good looks, she seemed to get around a lot. She’s been married six times, but none of those men ever seemed to be able to tie her down for long.
Empress Elisabeth
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, was so gorgeous she stole her husband from her sister. Franz Josef was to be betrothed to Sisi’s older sister, Helene. But he took one look at Sisi and decided he wanted to marry her instead. It must have been a particularly awkward situation for all parties involved. Hopefully Helene didn’t hold it against her sister.
Ursula Andress
Ursula Andress wasn’t just a Swiss actress and a model, but a sex symbol. She known for being one of the first Bond Girls in the 007 franchise, as well as in the parody film Casino Royale. Her good looks certainly carried her from film to film. At her peak, people just couldn’t get enough of her.
Keira Knightley
Dramas, action films, comedies, Keira Knightley has a large body of work. And she’s looked beautiful in all of them. It’s hard to describe exactly what makes her beautiful. She just has this sort of elegance to her, in addition to a spitfire personality. She’s definitely a joy to watch whenever she’s onscreen.
Shoreh Aghdashloo
Shoreh Adhdashloo is an Iranian actress that’s been in the business for decades. Yet, somehow, despite being in her 70s, she’s still more gorgeous than women half her age. You could argue that she doesn’t age, but if you look at younger pictures of her she’s even more beautiful. Some people just age like fine wine.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman’s another actress with a large body of work. She’s been acting since she was a child and has garnered critical acclaim since her first film, Leon: The Professional. She’s not just pretty, but smart too. She’s actually a Harvard graduate with a degree in psychology. Of course, she still continues to act as her primary money maker.
Virignie Amélie Gautreau
Virginie Amélie Gautreau is more commonly known as the subject of the painting, Madame X. And that painting transfixed and attracted many men to her. It’s actually credited for ruining her life, as its what put her face out to the public. However, it still allows people, even in the present, to see just how gorgeous she was.
Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson’s shot into the forefront of everyone’s mind after appearing in television and films such as West World and Thor: Ragnarok. And her smile and charisma really showed audiences just how attractive she is. It’s unlikely Thompson’s going to have to worry about finding work in the future. She’s got that perfect combination of good looks and actual talent.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer may not be as young as she used to be anymore, but she’s still a total knockout. And looking at older images of herself from her early years in Hollywood, it’s easy to see why she had become a Hollywood “it” girl. She’s another one of those actresses that are drop-dead gorgeous and possess amazing talent.
Marisa Tomei
There are probably a lot of people that only became familiar with Marisa Tomei after seeing her in the MCU Spider-Man films. Well, those people have been missing out. Not only is she a fantastic actress, but she’s beautiful too. Just looking at older pictures of her and you’ll understand. Even looking at pictures of her today will show she’s simply matured into an equally attractive woman.
Claire Abbott
Claire Abbott is another model on Instagram. And that job has led her to becoming a rather successful social media influencer. She’s really got everything going for her. And as young as she is, she’s still got plenty of good years left to go.
Sally Field
Sally Field’s 75 years old now, but she’s aged remarkably well. Aside from some wrinkles, she doesn’t look any different from how she did in the 70s. She was a knockout then and she’s a knockout now. And she’s had a pretty successful acting career to boot.
Kathy Ireland
Kathy Ireland is a former model that simply decided to make her own business. She’s an author and entrepreneur and she definitely looks good while doing it. Not to mention, her brand’s been rather effective. While still a beauty at age 59, her success is owed to her savviness and business and not anything else.
Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley was actually named one of the most attractive women of all time by magazines like Allure and Men’s Health. She’s been a prominent model since first appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A lot of people seem to agree on how attractive she is. She’s been married four times, with one of her marriages being to Billy Joel.
Dolly Parton
It’s hard to think of a country music star more attractive than Dolly Parton. In her younger years she was beautiful enough to make a deal with Playboy and appear on the cover. Of course, modeling wasn’t her primary interest, even though she would’ve been fantastic at it. Over the years, she hasn’t lost her luster. She’s actually known for often getting work done to maintain her looks.
Raquel Welch
If you looked at a photo of present day Raquel Welch, you wouldn’t be able to tell she’s 81 years old. She’s been voted the sexiest and most attractive woman on the world by multiple magazines. Her good looks made her a sex symbol for several years, appearing on a variety of films and posters.
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth’s good looks garnered her so much acclaim she even was named in The Shawshank Redemption. A poster of her was hung up in the protagonist’s room. Not to mention, all the other male characters would coo whenever she showed up while watching her films. Even the people watching that movie could see what they were gawking at. And that’s just the most minor example of how hot she was. Watch one of her actual movies and you’d have no choice but to agree. She died at age 68 in 1987.
Farrah Fawcett
Not a lot of actresses get a hairstyle named after them. The curly, long blonde hair look was popularized by Farrah Fawcett. And her beauty is what gave it so much staying power. Her performances have always garnered positive reviews as well, both onstage and in movies. She died in 2009 at the age of 62.
Queen Nefertiti
Queen Nefertiti ruled Ancient Egypt alongside her husband, Ahmenhotep IV. While it’s hard to gauge what she may have looked like in the present, there were many tales of her beauty from the era she lived in. Although, there is a bust of her head that many do find to look quite fetching. Her name literally translates to “a beautiful woman has come”. It’s hard to argue she wasn’t hot.
Lena Headey
Some people may be hesitant to call Lena Headey beautiful because of her most famous role. Cersei Lanister from Game of Thrones truly was one of the worst people there is. But that didn’t exactly make her any less beautiful. Although, she looks much better with her natural, brown hair.
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Morena Baccarin
Morena Baccarin’s so attractive a few of her most famous roles were given to her because of that. She’s portrayed Inara in Firefly and the leader of the V in their self-titled series. Both characters were notably attractive in-universe. And it’s not just makeup or lighting that makes her beautiful either. She looks good no matter where you run into her.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez was once a bright, young star. Now she’s got all those traits and is just older. She’s really grown into her beauty and still often graces our screens with stellar performances. It’s honestly incredible how she’s still single. But she probably just hasn’t met the right person yet.
Gigi Hadid
Someone who’s entire brand is based around beauty is just as likely to be beautiful. She’s still young, but young and beautiful nonetheless. She’s a model and TV personality that’s only growing in popularity and notoriety.
Naya Rivera
Naya Rivera was taken from the world all too soon. Most well-known for her role on the shows Step Up and Glee, she had a varied body of work with a lot of talent backing her up. Her death was truly a tragedy.
Jameela Jamil
It’s hard to argue that Jameela Jamil isn’t drop-dead gorgeous. Just look at her. She’s on the taller side at five-foot-ten, but if that’s a turn off you’re just a coward. Even the characters in The Good Place, where Jamil earned her star power, gush over how good she looks.
Gal Gadot
Gal Gadot has a penchant for appearing in action movies. Yet, in every one she’s in, despite kicking so much butt, she always looks good. But what else would you expect from the person that plays Wonder Woman.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is also known for her performances in many action films. She’s got quite a bit of range as well. Although, that’s not why she’s on this list. No, she’s able to kick butt and look good while doing it, just like any skilled multi-tasker.
Sienna Miller
An actress of great beauty, Sienna Miller has been gracing our screens since 2000. She’s most well-known for her roles in rom-coms and other romantics films, but branches out from time to time. But she’s always seen as a beautiful and desirable woman in every film she’s in.
Claire Danes
Claire Danes has been appearing in films since 1990 and we should really be thanking her for it. Her varied body of work has allowed people to see her do all kinds of things. From romance, to action, and even a little comedy, it’s always nice to see Claire Danes in a movie.
