Hollywood's Coolest It Girls Of The 1960s And '70s Have Us All Nostalgic

Liza Minnelli is the daughter of Judy Garland, so she grew up in the entertainment industry. And then she conquered it. In 1965 she became the youngest person ever to win a Tony for Leading Actress in a Musical, and not long afterwards she landed an Oscar for her role in the iconic musical Cabaret. 

Carrie Fisher made space sexy. She dazzled audiences as Princess Leia Organa, a strong and beautiful woman. And then, of course, there was that famous gold bikini. As Fisher grew older she became a celebrated author and often shared her thoughts on stardom and well, the bikini again. She passed away in 2016 leaving a tremendous legacy behind.

The beautiful Ali MacGraw was discovered at the age of 22 when she was working as a photographer’s assistant. Before long, she was the one being photographed. After some modeling work she began appearing in movies, and became a fully-fledged, Oscar-nominated star in 1970 with the hit movie Love Story. 

Eartha Kitt is one of the most famous sex symbols of all time, thanks in no small part to her role as the sultry Catwoman in Batman. Orson Welles apparently once called her “the most exciting woman alive,” and you can see why he might have felt that way. Even now, many years after her death, her talent and beauty are celebrated. 

Stevie Nicks brought a new kind of bohemian style to the ’70s. If you love velvet, chiffon and wacky top hats you’ve got her to thank in part: she made them super-cool. Oh, and that’s not forgetting the amazing music she made as part of Fleetwood Mac and beyond. The Queen of Rock and Roll indeed.

Farrah Fawcett’s beautiful feathered hair caused women all over America to descend on salons demanding to look like her. But she was more than just her hairstyle. Throughout her life, the Charlie’s Angels sex symbol was an artist, a three-time Emmy nominee, and a tireless advocate for cancer awareness. 

Sophia Loren’s story is a true rags-to-riches one. She grew up in a slum in Italy, only finding a way out when she entered a beauty contest at the age of 14. She caught the eyes of enough important people to get her a movie contract, and by the ’60s she was an Oscar-winner and a major sex symbol.

Of all Hitchcock’s beautiful leading ladies, Janet Leigh was one of the most famous. She was, of course, the unlucky murder victim in Psycho. And, it’s safe to say, the iconic film wouldn’t be the same without her. Fun fact: Leigh is also the mother of Jamie Lee Curtis, who inherited her good looks.

Carly Simon became a superstar with one smash-hit song in 1972: “You’re So Vain.” To this day it’s beloved, especially since no-one knows for certain who it’s actually about. But Simon was far from a one-hit wonder. She released award-winning music throughout the late ’70s and is still very popular.

Everyone in the mid-‘60s knew and admired the face of Barbara Eden. She was the title character of the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, which was a massive success. The beautiful blonde was in several big movies beforehand though, including 1960’s Flaming Star, where she starred opposite Elvis Presley.

British actress Julie Andrews had it all when she appeared on the scene. She had good looks, a winning personality, a lot of acting talent, and a great singing voice. You’ll have heard it in films such as The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. Unsurprisingly considering her achievements, Julie Andrews is Dame Julie these days.

It’s very hard to think of the ’70s without Olivia Newton-John being in there somewhere. She starred in the movie Grease, of course, and then she pretty much ruled the entire decade with her music and her fantastic sense of fashion. Girls, next time you pull on a big sweater and jeans – or some tight and shiny pants – think of her.

Of course, Barbra Streisand has been popular in every generation. But it was back in the ’60s that she was an “It girl.” She won the first of her many Grammys in 1963 and then jumped into acting with the movie Funny Girl, which was an instant success. And that was the start of a legendary career.

Lynda Carter is best known for being the first live-action Wonder Woman. Still, she did plenty more than that. The former Miss USA has maintained a steady career ever since then, and pops up frequently on TV, especially in superhero shows. And, of course, we can’t not mention her remarkable beauty.

The gorgeous Rita Moreno won an Oscar in 1962 for her portrayal of Anita in West Side Story. She didn’t stop after that, though. She has the full EGOT set – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony – the first Latina woman to achieve this feat. Oh, and don’t forget the Presidential Medal of Freedom she was awarded in 2004, either.

Donna Summer’s incredible musical abilities put her in the spotlight during the ’70s. She’s the woman responsible for such hits as “Love to Love You Baby” and “Bad Girls,” and she was nicknamed “The Queen of Disco.” Sadly she succumbed to cancer at the age of just 63.

Beautiful redhead Tina Louise was one of the stars of the massively popular Gilligan’s Island. She played Ginger Grant, but reportedly she wasn’t always happy with being confined to television despite it putting her on the map. Once the show was over she tried to distance herself from it, but it’s still the role for which she’s most famous.  

Former ballerina Jane Seymour was an “It girl” and a Bond girl – she played Solitaire in Live and Let Die. That opened the door for her to get more acting work, and she excelled at it. Her beauty never faded, either. She posed for Playboy magazine in 2018 when she was 67 years old, and she looked fantastic.

Diane Keaton was one of the biggest female stars of the ’70s, thanks to a series of now-iconic movies including The Godfather and Annie Hall. Her good looks and fashionable clothes naturally only increased her popularity. Women wanted to dress like her, and men wanted to have her picture on their walls. 

Jaclyn Smith became a sex symbol when Charlie’s Angels came out, and she still remembers the experience. In 2019 she told magazine The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s like you’re a rock star. You don’t go anywhere without being bombarded. You don’t stand in a line at a movie… And do you want to pose for Hustler for $1 million?”

Diana Ross of The Supremes was most definitely an “It girl.” When she embarked on her solo career in 1970 she just went from success to success. She had smash-hit songs through the decade and beyond, and she had an acting career on the side as well. She’s now in her 70s, believe it or not, but still looks fantastic.

Faye Dunaway was a movie icon back in the ’60s and ’70s. She was in Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown before winning an Academy Award for her performance in 1976’s Network. Still, she has a reputation for being difficult on-set… and according to those in the know, it’s reportedly well-deserved.

Carol Burnett had that rarest of talents: making people laugh. The Carol Burnett Show started in 1967, and before long, it was grabbing awards left, right, and center. The world fell totally in love with her witty persona, and these days she’s considered a TV comedy icon second only to her mentor Lucille Ball.

Pam Grier was the queen of the “blaxploitation” genre during the ’70s. During her time in Hollywood she saw it all, and hung out with other big names of the era including John Lennon and Liza Minnelli. In 2020 New Yorker magazine asked her what Hollywood was like in 1970, to which she simply answered, “Another planet.”

The ’60s show Bewitched was huge in its time, and a large portion of that success was down to its charming leading lady. Elizabeth Montgomery was never in anything so popular again, but she was still a beloved television icon, and naturally her fans were devastated when she died of cancer in 1995. 

Surely Raquel Welch was one of the most iconic sex symbols of all time? Her poster hung on seemingly every teenager’s wall back in the ’60s. But in 2010 she told the Oprah website, “I thought when I came along… I was a thing to be seen and not heard. By the time you get to 70, you might have a couple of things you’d like to say.”

Nichelle Nichols made television history with Star Trek in 1966. When she played Lieutenant Commander Nyota Uhura, she marked a new era for African-American representation on TV. And she was so popular that when she was asked to help recruit actual astronauts in the ’70s, application rates shot up.

Of course these days Meryl Streep is a legendary actress, rightly considered one of the best in the world. But before that, she was an “It girl”. In 1979 she put in three of her most celebrated performances: her roles that year included Manhattan, The Deer Hunter and Kramer vs. Kramer. From there, she just went up and up.

Tippi Hedren was the leading lady in Hitchcock’s The Birds. It propelled her to fame, but it wasn’t a good experience for her actually filming the movie. She alleged in later years that Hitchcock harassed her on set and used real birds in some scenes despite having promised to use fake ones. So her time in the limelight apparently came at an awful price.

Jane Birkin, the daughter of a World War II spy, was one of the most popular singers in Europe during the ’60s. She had an amazing voice and she seemed so effortlessly cool. Behind the scenes her life wasn’t easy, especially when it came to her longtime love Serge Gainsbourg, but no matter what she’ll probably always be considered an icon.

In the ’60s Tine Turner was one half of a famous musical duo, Tina and Ike Turner. The level of success they achieved definitely made young Tina an “It girl” in that era – yet it all seemed to be over when she and Ike divorced in 1978. But she wasn’t about to be discarded, and she fought her way back to the top.

Nancy Kwan became a star at a time when it was very difficult for an Asian actress to break into Hollywood. She was labeled “the Chinese Bardot,” and she was extremely popular. So popular, in fact, that when Vidal Sassoon cut her hair into a neat bob in 1963 it became the new fashion sensation.

Everyone of a certain age remembers Catherine Bach wearing those shorts in hit TV show The Dukes of Hazzard. She worried about the length of them at first, but perhaps she shouldn’t have; after all, the look made her mega-famous. When she posed for a photo as Daisy Duke, the resulting poster sold millions of copies.

Soul singer Aretha Franklin was one of the public figures who defined the ’60s. She became part of history via her music, releasing hit after iconic hit and even performing at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. One thing is certain, she’ll always command “Respect”.

Elizabeth Taylor was never out of the headlines during the ’60s and ’70s – the sign of a true “It girl.” Between her Academy Award wins, her famous performance in Cleopatra and her eight marriages – yes, eight, including Richard Burton twice – the world couldn’t get enough of her. Arguably they still can’t.

Julie Newmar became an “It girl” as soon as the world got a look at her in that sexy Catwoman suit. She was the first actress to play the character – Eartha Kitt eventually took over from her – and it’s the role for which she’s most remembered. But after Batman she became an inventor too! We have her to thank for Nudemar pantyhose.

After being discovered by an American photographer in Paris, Christie Brinkley became one of the biggest supermodels of the ’70s. Her face smiled out from countless billboards and magazine covers, and why shouldn’t it? It was a beautiful visage. These days she’s still gorgeous, still working, and owns a home worth $29.5 million.

She may not necessarily be a household name now, but Claudia Cardinale was huge during the ’60s and ’70s. You may have seen her in movies such as The Pink Panther or Once Upon a Time in the West. Unsurprisingly, she went down in history as one of the most beautiful actresses to ever grace the silver screen.

There was never an icon to match Audrey Hepburn. To this day she’s celebrated for her beautiful face, her talent as an actress, her immaculate sense of style, and the graceful way she navigated being a world-famous “It girl.” And as an older woman, she gave back to the world by becoming a tireless ambassador for UNICEF.

West Side Story Oscar-winner Rita Moreno told Glamour magazine in 2018, “Certain parts of you, your fears and your love, never really die. There are parts of me that are very young that live – the girl who was always sure that nobody liked her and that she wasn’t pretty enough.” And yet she was, and they did.

Jayne Mansfield was a beautiful Hollywood sex symbol and an acclaimed actor. Known for self-promotion, she was arguably one of the most glamorous stars of the 1960s. Today, her daughter – the actress Mariska Hargitay – remembers her mother as an accomplished and intelligent woman gone too soon.

Jane Fonda was unsurprisingly a model before getting into acting. But as the daughter of Henry Fonda, the whole entertainment world was opened up to her. She’s now considered a Hollywood legend and a prime example of how to age well, but people also remember her for her anti-war activism.

Cheryl Ladd starred in Charlie’s Angels, which became a massive phenomenon. And she thinks she knows why. In November 2019 she told CNN, “None of us [were] actually trying to be men. We were women, 100 percent women, and we were powerful and smart and fun to watch and intelligent.” And, of course, good-looking.

Dyan Cannon rose to fame in the 1960s. Part of that was because of her beauty and acting skills, but her marriage to Cary Grant also put her on the map. They made a very good-looking couple, although they would later divorce. Cannon is in her 80s now but still considered beautiful.

Cicely Tyson helped bring black beauty into the mainstream during a time of racism. But she was lauded for her talent as well as her looks, gaining critical acclaim for her performances in dramas such as Sounder and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. And in 2019, at the age of 94, she received an honorary Oscar.

Moonlighting star Cybill Shepherd was always pretty, but she seems quite ambivalent about being lauded for it. In 1994 she told newspaper The Orlando Sentinel, “Being beautiful is a drawback sometimes.” And in 2015 she recollected to the Today show that her mom had always told her, “Beauty is as beauty does.”

Ursula Andress was the first-ever Bond Girl, and she paved the way for all the others to come. The moment where she walks out of the ocean dressed in a white bikini became an iconic movie moment – and for good reason. Indeed, the actress is even considered to have popularized that particular type of swimwear among American women.

In 1977 Jacqueline Bisset was given the title of “most beautiful film actress of all time” by Newsweek magazine. And it’s easy to see why. Bisset herself though was never sure, telling newspaper The Independent in 2014 that, “I never felt beautiful. That just wasn’t the way I was brought up.” Bisset was arguably an ’80s it girl, too – just like these gorgeous leading ladies from that era. Here’s a look at those who made a lasting impression – and what they’re up to now...

It’s fair to say that Demi Moore was no stranger to the tabloids during the 1980s. After all, the actress was not only among the stars of the Brat Pack, but she was also Mrs. Bruce Willis. She was apparently known for the odd diva moment, too. But while the beautiful Blame It on Rio star is still making headlines today, she’s not headlining movies anymore.

As most fans will know, Kirstie Alley shot to fame after she was cast as Rebecca Howe in the iconic sitcom Cheers. Subsequent roles in popular movies including Shoot to Kill and Look Who’s Talking brought the star even bigger success, too. But these days, Alley is probably better known for reality TV shows – such as Kirstie Alley’s Big Life, which follows the ups and downs of her dieting – and courting controversy on Twitter.

Barbra Streisand may have been in the spotlight for decades, but her star was especially bright in the 1980s. During that era, the actress and singer released her highest-selling album, Guilty, and both directed and performed in the award-winning musical movie Yentl. And Streisand has barely slowed down in the years since – although it doesn’t show on her face one bit.

Sigourney Weaver was a big action star in the ’80s thanks to her role as Ripley in the iconic movie Aliens. That performance actually earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination, which she followed up in turn with two more Academy Award nods: one for 1988’s Gorillas in the Mist and another for Working Girl the same year. These days, Weaver is still keeping busy, having since appeared in blockbusters Avatar and Ghostbusters, and she’s aged gracefully to boot.

In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, Goldie Hawn said of the 1980s, "A lot of the movies that we made then were feel-good movies; they don’t make them much anymore.” We’re just as nostalgic about the era, which saw Hawn shine in flicks such as Private Benjamin, but at least the iconic actress is still a regular feature on our screens. And her beautiful looks have by no means faded, either.

Millennials may know Annie Potts from the Toy Story movie franchise or hit TV spin-off Young Sheldon, but she found fame long before that. Yes, Potts actually starred in a lot of big movies during the 1980s, including the iconic Ghostbusters. And since then, the actress has aged very well indeed, making it hard to believe that she’s in her sixties now.

Anjelica Huston was a beguiling beauty back in the 1980s. And during that era, she appeared in films that have undeniably stood the test of time, including The Postman Always Rings Twice, This Is Spinal Tap and Prizzi’s Honor. But the iconic actress cares not one bit that she looks older. In 2014 Huston explained to Vogue, “There [are] a few nice things about [aging]; don’t let them kid you.”

While Madonna is famous all around the world for her music, during the ’80s she actually appeared in several movies, including Who’s That Girl and Desperately Seeking Susan. And while the “Like a Prayer” singer’s on-screen career may not have gone so well in recent years – she’s even been nominated for a few Razzies – both her voice and her good looks have certainly stood the test of time.

Justine Bateman – sister of fellow actor Jason – made a name for herself as a teenage star in the 1980s. As well as landing several TV movie roles, she played Mallory on the popular show Family Ties. Nowadays, though, the natural beauty has turned her hand to directing and writing, with her book Fame relating some of her own experiences of life in the public eye.

Model Heather Locklear found the limelight after being cast on Dynasty in the early ’80s. After that, she went from strength to strength, even becoming the only woman at the time to simultaneously star in two prime time shows: Dynasty and T.J. Hooker. Yet while Locklear’s career has faded away in recent years, her good looks haven’t changed much – so maybe it’s time for a comeback.

While Oprah Winfrey is still best known as a chat show host, back in the 1980s she was also a movie star. Most notably, she won acclaim – including a Best Supporting Actress nod at the Oscars – for her performance in 1985’s The Color Purple. And over 30 years on, Oprah is still a huge name in entertainment, with her stunning looks having barely changed during that time.

Without any doubt, Candice Bergen was huge back in the 1980s. Not only did she steal the show as the titular character on Murphy Brown, but she also shone in the multiple-Oscar-winning film Gandhi in 1983. And while the former model may be getting older now, she’s still going strong. In 2018 she told the website Mindfood, “I believe 70 may be the new 50.”

Lisa Bonet’s acting in hugely popular sitcom The Cosby Show, her spectacular fashion sense and her marriage to rocker Lenny Kravitz made her a shining star in the 1980s. And now she’s a poster girl for aging gracefully. Bonet has credited coconut oil, African dance classes and Dayle Breault’s skincare line for her seemingly never-changing beauty.

When Joan Collins joined Dynasty as Alexis Carrington in 1981, the show finally began to soar in the ratings. And while the British actress has appeared in numerous roles in the decades since, Alexis continues to be the character with whom she is most often associated. Even in her eighties, she still looks like the iconic soap queen, too.

Kelly McGillis dazzled as Charlie in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun. But when the long-awaited sequel got under way, McGillis said that she hadn’t been asked to return. In 2019 she told Entertainment Tonight, “I’m old, and I’m fat, and I look age-appropriate for what my age is... I’d much rather feel absolutely secure in my skin and who and what I am at my age as opposed to placing a value on all that other stuff.”

Linda Hamilton achieved massive ’80s fame playing Sarah Connor in the popular Terminator franchise, but behind the scenes she was suffering from bipolar disorder. And while work began to dry up for the actress as the decade ended, she managed to bounce back after a hiatus – and appeared to have aged very gracefully in the interim. Now, she’s very much on our TV screens again in shows such as Defiance and Chuck.

Splash star Daryl Hannah quickly established herself as one of Hollywood’s most gorgeous leading women back in the ’80s. Since then, however, some have criticized the actress-turned-activist for trying too hard to cling on to her youth. Yes, onlookers still speculate that Hannah has undergone plastic surgery – even though in 2010 she insisted that she never would.

Kathleen Turner – the star of Romancing the Stone – sadly had to retreat from Hollywood due to severe arthritis. But she remained very much in demand as a stage actress, and she seemingly doesn’t care that her appearance has changed over the decades. “I don’t look like I did 30 years ago,” she told the Daily Mail in 2014. “Get over it.”

Ally Sheedy – a.k.a. the basket case of The Breakfast Club – revealed in a 2015 interview with Elle that she didn’t actually like her character’s makeover scene in the iconic 1985 movie. And so it’s no surprise that she looks perfectly down-to-earth 30 years on, even if she’s only working sporadically as an actress.

Grace Jones was huge in the ’80s, conquering both the film and music scenes and even re-popularizing the flattop hairstyle. These days, while the actress is slightly less in the public eye, she’s still very much respected in both industries. Plus, she looks completely fabulous.

Michelle Pfeiffer only became a movie actress in 1980, but she quickly made her mark on the big screen. She racked up hit after hit during the decade, including Scarface, The Witches of Eastwick, Dangerous Liaisons and The Fabulous Baker Boys – even receiving Oscar nominations for the latter two films. And over the years, the striking actress has kept her good looks incredibly well.

Although Glenn Close had been acting on stage since 1974, she didn’t make her big-screen debut until 1982’s The World According to Garp. After that, of course, Close became one of the most respected Hollywood stars in the business – as well as arguably the poster woman for graceful aging.

Kelly LeBrock became a major sex symbol in the ’80s, but that alone didn’t make her life smooth sailing. The Woman in Red star’s marriage to Steven Seagal was reportedly abusive, for example, while drug addiction is also thought to have played a role in her exit from the spotlight. So, although LeBrock is no longer a pin-up these days, hopefully she’s a lot happier.

Lea Thompson is best remembered for her role as Lorraine in Back to the Future, and although she continued to be successful, she never starred in anything quite as iconic again. Now, though, Thompson looks fantastic and definitely younger than her years. Maybe she got her hands on Marty’s time machine…

Elizabeth McGovern shot to fame in 1981 after receiving an Oscar nomination for the film Ragtime. The Illinois-born actress followed that up with 1984’s gangster movie Once Upon a Time in America and coming-of-age drama Racing with the Moon. More recently, though, TV fans may recognize McGovern from her role as Cora on hit drama Downton Abbey. And to top it all off, she’s aged amazingly.

Karen Allen will forever be known as Marion Ravenwood from 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, although she’s worked on a few other projects since. And when she reprised the iconic role 27 years later in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it looked as though she’d hardly changed at all.

After appearing in 1983’s Scarface as Gina Montana, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio went on to achieve massive success in the ’80s – including being nominated for several awards. Gradually, though, her movie appearances slowed down, and she began to take on TV and stage roles instead. And even if the actress is now in her sixties, it seems that she’s barely aged a day.

Linda Kozlowski’s life was changed forever by 1986’s Crocodile Dundee. Not only did the flick establish her as a leading actress, but she also ended up marrying co-star Paul Hogan. Unfortunately, though, their union ended in divorce, and frustrated by the lack of serious roles available to her, the actress eventually left Hollywood behind as well. Today, Kozlowski is still every bit as gorgeous as in her heyday, and she credits her continued good looks to daily workouts.

Jennifer Grey, who shot to fame after 1987’s Dirty Dancing, blames plastic surgery for the decline of her career. “I went in the operating theater a celebrity and came out anonymous,” she admitted to the Daily Mirror in 2012. “I’ll always be this once-famous actress nobody recognizes... because of a nose job.” Recognizable or not, though, Grey does still act, having recently made appearances in Grey’s Anatomy and The Conners.

Lori Singer beat out loads of famous names, including Madonna and Jodie Foster, for the role of Ariel in Footloose. Unfortunately, though, her own stardom didn’t last quite as long as it did for many of her contemporaries. And while Singer does look older than she did back, she’s both an award-winning producer and champion cellist – meaning she almost certainly doesn’t care.