“Well, that is your name, isn’t it? Calvin Klein? It’s written all over your underwear,” – a line delivered by no other than Lorraine Baines from the ever-iconic “Back to the Future” trilogy. During the 80s, roles for women were becoming increasingly juicier, and lines like this one signaled a turning point; women weren’t just sexualized objects, they were funny and witty too!
Kicking off our list of celebrated women of the screen is Lea Thompson, who had her start in TV commercials at the age of 20! The actress has since gone on to star in “Dennis the Menace,” “JAWS 3-D,” “Switched at Birth” as well as a stint on “Dancing With The Stars. “She most recently appeared in the 2018 hit Netflix film “Sierra Burgess is a Loser!” Did you know that her daughter is Zoey Deutch, known for her roles in “Beautiful Creatures” and “Why Him?”
Bo Derek
Bo Derek is a legend in the acting game, and has also developed a reputation as a pretty prolific model. Without a shadow of a doubt though, she is best known for her role in the 1979 flick "10." It was in this movie that Derek pretty much epitomized what it means to be a 10 out of 10 when it comes to beauty. And her looks never let her down throughout her entire career, right up until the present day.
Performances in "Tarzan, the Ape Man," "Bolero" and "Ghosts Can’t Do It" whilst not exactly critically acclaimed, were directed by her former husband John Derek. Whilst Bo didn’t have the feisty female roles, she was known for her wanton sex appeal and glamour. She now spends her semi-retirement with Carrie Bradshaw’s ex Aidan, John Corbett, whilst also maintaining small acting gigs on the side. We salute you, you gorgeous woman!
Jane Fonda
Forever reminding us to be ourselves, is the one-and-only Jane Seymour Fonda. “I don’t want my wrinkles taken away – I don’t want to look like everyone else,” and let’s be real here, Fonda doesn’t look like anyone else her age – she looks absolutely impeccable at her age! Whilst she admitted to having some work done, she still notes “I am what I am.” You do you! If her lesson was to teach us to be more unapologetically ourselves, then that’s a valuable lesson taught!
At her age, she looks back on a range of careers and accolades. Actress, writer, fashion model, political activist…and of course, fitness guru! Not to mention two Academy Award and two BAFTA Award wins. A true example of a living legend, she leaves us with one last golden nugget of advice “your age is less chronological and more attitudinal.” Well said!
Sophia Loren
Irresistibly Italian, next we have the sultry, dramatic Sophia Loren. With a timeless, natural beauty and elegance that cannot be bought, she is one of the most celebrated Italian celebrities of all time. Fondly known as the “Italian Marilyn Monroe,” Loren entered Hollywood in the golden era; the 1950s.
A film actress and singer, Loren was also a major sex symbol, starring in Marriage Italian Style and Two Women. With a sense of confidence that is SO European, and her famous quote: “Everything you see I owe to spaghetti,” she is the embodiment of femininity and extravagance. Sophia’s acting days are behind her, and now she resides in Geneva, Switzerland, enjoying the fruits of her long, starred career.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
For all your 90s babies...as soon as you hear “Buffy” it’s like the theme music starts playing in your head. Now that’s iconic! Sarah Michelle Gellar, immortalized by her role as Buffy Summers in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," is considered to have brought to life one of the greatest female role models of all time.
Her feisty attitude and, let’s be real, kickass moves didn’t only make us all want to take up martial arts, it made #GIRLPOWER a thing! Gellar was amazingly discovered at the age of four in a restaurant, from which she grew into acting and modeling. These days she is married to Freddie Prinze Jr., is the co-founder of Foodstirs, and has two wonderful children. A real-life wonder-woman it seems!