Nurith NupurEllen Barkin
With squinty eyes and slightly off-kilter looks, actress Ellen Barkin often walked the line between steamy and comical. She had always housed a love for acting since her teenage years and decided to venture into the art after much contemplation. She studied acting religiously before foraying into acting. Unsure of because of her looks, Barkin did not realize that it would be the very thing that would launch her into the world of acting! Of course, once she got her big break in Diner, there was no going back for her. Her performances helped her win numerous awards over the course of years. From the unconscious young girl to a blooming beauty, Barkin always felt self-conscious of her looks – it wasn’t until her mid-30s that she began to feel comfortable with her looks.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Although acting wasn’t her first love in life, it’s clear to see that that’s what Jamie Lee Curtis was meant to do all along! With hits such as Halloween, True Lies, Trading Places, Freaky Friday, among many many others, she is a well-established and beloved actress in Hollywood. While studying at university, she was convinced to audition for the role of Nancy drew by a mate. While she didn’t get the role, it made her realize her latent interest in acting. She soon dropped out to pursue acting. And alongside gaining success and awards for her performances, Curtis has also penned several bestseller’s children’s books. talk about being accomplished, whew!
Cher
Establishing herself as powerhouse entertainer in a generally male-dominated hierarchy, Cher is a living legend in the industry. From Multi-million dollar record sales to award-winning performances in films, Cher is an entertainer through and through! Cher has had a long and illustrious career which is basically unrivaled save for a few. She is even hailed as the Queen of Pop for her contribution to the music industry and film industry alike. Although the even at the age of 71 she has no plans to slow down, she does have qualms about getting older. She stated, “I think Meryl [Streep] is doing it great … But I don’t like it. It’s getting in my way. I have a job to do, and it’s making my job harder…”
Ellen DeGeneres
Talk show host, comedienne, LGBT rights crusader, humanitarian….the list of titles for Ellen DeGeneres goes on and on! One of the first few females to publicly announce her lesbian orientation (and subsequent backlash by suburban moms), Ellen has risen above the controversies and continues to be a popular host of her self-titled talk show. In the same vein as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen too has amassed a multi-million dollar empire thanks to her talk show. She continues to be the most well-known comedienne ever and an active icon for LGBT rights. If you want a good gay/lesbian role model, she is it!
Joan Jett
Frontwoman for the band ‘The Runaways’, Joan Jett is considered a pioneer in the male-dominated music industry. She started performing with her band at the young age of 15 with her band of fellow female musicians. The young group was shunned by audiences and critics alike but went on to become a punk rock icon. Her shaggy hairdo and raggedy punk clothing made her a style icon as well as a rock influencer in an era where disco music was prevalent. The style and music helped revolutionize and define the rock and roll era.
Susan Lucci
Susan Lucci’s character of Erica Kane is lauded as the most popular character in the history of daytime television from many sources. Having a penchant for soap operas since childhood, when she landed a role on All My Children as Erica Kane, she never knew she would end up becoming the highest grossing soap opera actress in history. She has collected numerous awards for her portrayal, which has spanned the course of several decades. Apart from acting in the soap opera, she has also acted in several movies and other series since the cancellation of the uber-popular show.