Top 5 Actresses

[Tzarinna]

1.Cate Blanchett,she's simple incredible.
2.Meryl Streep,creates amazing illusions
3.Diane Keaton,just fun to watch
4.Jodie Foster,grew up watching her.
5.Shirley Temple,she make me smile.

[jackassfan]

1, Meryl Streep
2, Natalie Portman
3, Kate Winslet
4, Emily Watson
5, Cate Blanchett

[tiamat1990]

Naomi Watts!!!
Meryl Streep
Annette Bening
Natalie Portman
Jennifer Connelly

Other really good actresses:
Cate Blanchett
Kate Winslet
Charlize Theron
Julie Andrews
I'm forgetting some I'm sure...

[Knerys]

In no particular order:

Rachel Weisz
Ann Brancroft
Meryl Streep
Rachel McAdams
Judi Dench

[tiamat1990]

Yes I knew it! Rachel Weisz, Judi Dench, Uma Thurman, Emma Thompson and Kathy Bates.

[Ramplate]

Meryl Streep
Elizabeth Taylor
Katherine Hepburn
Ingrid Bergman
Bette Davis

[FVD]

Ingrid Bergman
Katharine Hepburn
Meryl Streep
Cate Blanchett
Monica Bellucci

[chewie]

Grace Kelly
Bette Davis
Janet Leigh
Marilyn Monroe
Natalie Portman

[Messiah]

Susan Surandon (Can't believe she's not been mentioned)
Halle Berry
Charlize Theron
Gweneth Paltrow
Julia Roberts

[Ltrain]

Ok i think my list would go something like this.
Kathy Bates
Jodie foster
Meryl streep
Susan Surandon
Rachel Weisz

[Lynchfan2033]

i guess its a matter of figuring out if we want to do all time, or working right now. i do think its funny no mention of two time best actress winner Hillary Swank.. :D

on an alltime scale, it would be tough, i certainly have a hard time ranking them, but here some some

Katherine Hepburn - no doubt my #1
Meryl Streep - no denying what she has accomplished
Jodie Foster - almost always incredible
Cate Blanchett - her portrayal of my #1 is almost good enough to get on a list, not to mention a few other great roles.
Kate Winslet - have never been let down by any of her performances
Naomi Watts - her performance in Mullholland Dr alone could get her here. But she has impressed me, even in movies like the Ring, and the dreadful King Kong
Diane Ladd - very underrated, she has had many great performances with only a few accolaids
Ellen Burstyn - has been doing it, and doing it very well for a while.
Elizabeth Taylor - When she was on, she was fantastic
Marcia Gay Harden - everytime i see her i think she is gonna get a nomination
Holly Hunter - Don't know what it is about her I like, but I like her.
Diane Keaton - many great roles over the years
Kathy Bates - one of the most diverse actresses out there
Susan Surandon - always turns in a terrific performance
Frances McDormand - Definately needs to be mentioned
Annette Bening - usually always turns in a good performance
Lauren Bacall - classic was good, got even better over the years
Dianne Wiest - great actress
Piper Laurie - another great actress
Shirley McClaine - many great performances
Sissy Spacek - again many great performances

man i really could keep going with this, i haven't even gotten to classic actresses.. i guess there are just too many to chose, pick 5 from my list, and there you go

[spide-ed]

Jodie Foster
Meryly Streep
Julianne Moore
Kate Winslet

Jessica Alba ....haha no sorry, couldnt resist.

Finally Cate Blanchett.