1940 to 2020 – Check Out Which Female Icons Ruled The World

There have always been women who have led the feminist movement in all walks of life. From starring in huge blockbusters, leading social movements, topping the music charts, and excelling in the field of science and discovery, there has been an endless number of women icons the world has seen.

But have you ever wondered which female pop culture icon ruled the world each year for the last 80 years? In this article, we have compiled a list of the most popular female icons in pop culture history ever since the year 1940. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.

1940: Katherine Hepburn

Known for her works such as ‘The African Queen’, ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’, and ‘On Golden Pond’, Katherine Hepburn was one of the most popular actresses in the 40s, and had a career that lasted almost six decades. The actress also won four Academy Awards during her career, making her one of the finest actresses in the Hollywood history.

1941: Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck was one of those versatile actresses who could dance, act, and do great comedy. She first worked as a Broadway actress before transitioning over to the movies, where she made a name for herself with The Locked Door, which opened the floodgates of success for her.

1942: Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Berman was a versatile actress from Sweden who made a name for herself with some of the most popular movies from the era, such as Casablanca, Gaslight, and Anastasia. She also appeared in a number of TV shows and went on to win three Oscars, four Golden Globe awards, a BAFTA, and a couple of Primetime Emmy Awards.

1943: Lena Horne

Lena Home was one of the very first actresses from the African-American community who made it big in the Hollywood industry. An established singer and a civil rights activist, Horne was known for her popular flicks such as Stormy Weather and Cabin in the Sky.

1944: Judy Garland

Judy Garland began her career as a child artist, signing a contract with MGM when was only a 13-year-old girl. Her most popular movie was The Wizard of Oz, which made her a household name. She also worked in her own Broadway theater shows, which pulled a large number of people. Some of the other movies she starred in include Pigskin Parade and Love Finds Andy Hardy.

1945: Gene Tierney

Known for her lovely green eyes and stunning smile, Gene Tierney was quite a popular actress in the 40s. She was a solid actress, and some of her greatest works include Laura, Ellen Berendt Harland (a movie that earned her an Oscar nomination), and Leave Her to Heaven. A strange fact about her first piece of acting stint was that she was supposed to just cross the stage with a bucket full of water. Soon, she signed a contract with 20th Century Fox and never looked back after that.

1946: Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall was a popular model who made it to some of the most famous magazines before making it big as an actress. Her first movie was To Have and Have Not, which also starred Humphrey Mogart, whom she later got married to. She ruled over the Hollywood industry for well over a decade, acting in classics such as Murder on the Orient Express and Key Largo.

1947: Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Haviland was born in 1916, Japan, but her family relocated to California where she was raised as a kid. Her first big break came when she attracted a lot of recognition for portraying Hermia from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on stage. She went on to star in major classics such as Gone With the Wind, The Heiress, and To Each His Own.

1948: Margaret Whiting

Margaret Whiting was a popular country singer whose songs were immensely popular way back in the 40s and 50s. Born to a music composer father, she was a talented singer on the orchestra circuit as well, performing in The Old Black Magic, It Might As Well Be Spring, and Moonlight in Vermont.

1949: Jane Wyman

Jane Wyman was a versatile, allrounder who could sing, dance, and act amazingly well. She worked for well over seven decades in Hollywood and won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress. She starred in famous flicks such as Jonny Belinda, Stage Fright, Public Wedding, and Brother Rat.