Iconic Actresses Of The 1980s

Every decade has their own stars that captivate audiences worldwide with their charisma and talent, and the 1980s were no exception. There were women of all ages and personalities that helped to make 1980s movies and TV shows as timeless as possible. Before the days of social media scandals and sex tapes leaking every other week — there was a group of 1980s actresses that captured the hearts of millions, whether it was for a moment, or for years to come. Here are some of the most iconic actresses of the 1980s, in no particular order.

1. Meg Ryan

It’s odd to think that Meg Ryan was still acting in minor roles in the beginning of the 1980s, even if she was memorable on As The World Turns. This led to more significant supporting roles, but she certainly wasn’t on the superstar radar for most of the decade until her moving performance alongside Kiefer Sutherland in Promised Land.

However, Meg Ryan actually solidified her spot as one of the most iconic actresses of the 1980s at the last minute — in 1989 — with the classic Rob Reiner romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally. It is still referenced to this day, as many believe that the “deli scene” in the movie is one of the most memorable romantic comedy scenes of all time.

Meg Ryan’s legacy is by no means limited to the 1980’s, as she arguably saw her most success in romantic comedies of the 1990’s, in movies such as Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.

2. Molly Ringwald

It’s hard to argue that there is an actress more synonymous with the 1980s than Molly Ringwald — who wasn’t even old enough to drink by the time she was a world-famous star. She is known for her timeless collaborations with the director John Hughes, with her breakout performance being the movie Sixteen Candles, a coming-of-age comedy released in 1984. However, it was her subsequent performances in The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink that solidified her legacy.

Molly Ringwald actually ended up turning down many leading performances in the 1990’s and decided to move to Paris and star in French films rather than pursue female lead roles in movies like Pretty Woman and Ghost, which both went on to be commercially successful without her involvement. She has also been praised for the fact that she was conscientious of her fame, attempting to be a “good role model” to teenagers everywhere after she achieved a certain level of fame. She elaborated on this when asked about her 1988 movie For Keeps, where she played a high school student who gets pregnant prior to graduating. She stated that she didn’t want to send a message to her fans “that having a baby at that age was going to be easy”. To this day, she is considered one of the greatest teen actresses of all time.

3. Michelle Pfeiffer

The 1980s were certainly an era of charming women that captured our hearts, but Michelle Pfeiffer dazzled audiences with her intense sexuality and piercing performances, with many critics highlighting how versatile she could be. After a string of supporting roles on TV shows, she got her big break on Grease 2, the sequel to one of the most culturally important musical films of all time.

However, it was her complex performance as Elvira Hancock in the cult-classic Scarface that many believe was what proved her skill to the world. Ironically, both the director, Brian De Palma, and the star of the movie, Al Pacino, argued against this particular casting choice, as she was an unknown actress at the time. Of course, after its release — this all changed. This led to a performance in the John Landis movie Into The Night aside Jeff Goldblum, and she parlayed this into her first big box-office success — The Witches of Eastwick. As if this all wasn’t enough to cement her spot as one of the iconic actresses of the 1980s, her critically acclaimed performances in both Married to the Mob and Dangerous Liaisons were simply icing on the cake. She went on to achieve continued success in the 1990’s, as well.

4. Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is known as one of the greatest actresses of all time, but it was the 1980s where it was clear where her career was headed. Her track record speaks for itself — the icon is nominated for a record 21 Oscar nominations. For those who are wondering how she did in the 1980s — she was nominated five times within that decade alone.

Her decade of dominance began with The French Lieutenant’s Woman, an intense romantic drama, and she rounded out the ’80s with her critically acclaimed role in Evil Angels, released in 1998. However, it was the 1985 movie Out of Africa that solidified her as a superstar, although, at the time, many criticized the fact that she was asking $4 million a movie as a result of the movie’s massive success. Regardless, she is now considered one of the most talented actresses of all time, receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards from various organizations, and even receiving a National Medal of Arts Award from Barack Obama in 2010. She also has 31 Golden Globe nominations and 8 Golden Globe wins — more than any other actor or actress in history.