5. Meryl Streep

If there were a royal family in Hollywood, Meryl Streep would undoubtedly be crowned as Queen. Regarded by many, if not all, as one of the greatest actors of all time, this chameleon of the silver screen has had a record-breaking career by being nominated for 21 Academy Awards, winning three, and 32 Golden Globes, winning eight. With an uncanny ability to disappear into any character, regardless of genre, she has been a constant inspiration for both women and men alike.

And it is not just the movie-going audience that has sung her praises, many of her contemporaries have piled on the compliments. Megastars like Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson have both stated that her influence has had an impact on their own performances. Still going strong today, a new generation is looking to her for the ultimate inspiration, especially female actors as Streep has carved out a long career portraying strong and capable women.