Top Highest-Grossing Film Actresses of All Time

Hollywood has long been a male-dominated industry, but the landscape is shifting. A study from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University reported that female characters made up 31% of lead roles in the top 100-grossing films in 2018 — a historic high.

Despite that progress, relatively few actresses appeared on lists of the highest-grossing movie stars overall. Below is a revised, clear, and SEO-optimized rundown of the highest-grossing female movie stars of all time, using worldwide box-office totals compiled from industry tracking sources.

31. Kate Winslet

Worldwide gross: $4.3 billion

Bottom Line: Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet made her film debut at 17 in Peter Jackson’s “Heavenly Creatures” (1994) and quickly rose to international fame. She starred in “Sense and Sensibility” and became a household name with “Titanic.” Winslet has also delivered acclaimed performances in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Revolutionary Road,” and “The Reader,” for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2009.

In Their Own Words: Kate Winslet

“My life has taken me down several different paths I never expected it to take me down. Not in a million years.”

30. Kristen Stewart

Worldwide gross: $4.63 billion

Bottom Line: Kristen Stewart

Beginning as a child actor, Kristen Stewart rose to global fame with “The Twilight Saga,” one of the most lucrative franchises in film history. She later appeared in “Snow White and the Huntsman,” pursued independent projects, and returned to blockbusters with “Charlie’s Angels” (2019). Stewart earned wide acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for portraying Princess Diana in “Spencer.”

In Their Own Words: Kristen Stewart

“The strangest part about being famous is you don’t get to give first impressions anymore. Everyone already has an impression of you before you meet them.”

29. Nicole Kidman

Worldwide gross: $5.22 billion

Bottom Line: Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman is both highly paid and highly decorated. Her filmography includes “Batman Forever,” “To Die For,” “Eyes Wide Shut,” and “The Hours,” for which she won the Oscar in 2003. She’s received multiple nominations for roles in “Moulin Rouge,” “Rabbit Hole,” “Lion,” and most recently for portraying Lucille Ball in “Being the Ricardos.”

In Their Own Words: Nicole Kidman

“I never read reviews at all. I’m proud of the work I did.”

28. Daisy Ridley

Worldwide gross: $5.4 billion

Bottom Line: Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley’s filmography is comparatively short, but her role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy — “The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi,” and “The Rise of Skywalker” — generated massive box-office returns. She has also appeared in “Murder on the Orient Express” and starred in the period drama “Ophelia.”

In Their Own Words: Daisy Ridley

“Your life goes on, and then your life goes on plus ‘Star Wars.’ It’s just been an incredible time.”

27. Brie Larson

Worldwide gross: $5.56 billion

Bottom Line: Brie Larson

Brie Larson first caught attention in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010) and earned critical praise for “Short Term 12.” Her breakthrough role in “Room” won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2015. Since then she’s appeared in big-budget films like “Kong: Skull Island” and joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the lead in “Captain Marvel” and a major presence in “Avengers: Endgame.”

In Their Own Words: Brie Larson

“I wasn’t perfect and didn’t have it together. I felt alone. So through acting, I decided to be a shape-shifter and with every role become the character instead of being myself.”

26. Charlize Theron

Worldwide gross: $5.6 billion

Bottom Line: Charlize Theron

After winning an Oscar for portraying serial killer Aileen Wuornos in “Monster” (2003), Charlize Theron has balanced acclaimed dramatic roles with action and blockbuster work, including “The Italian Job,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.” She received an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Megyn Kelly in “Bombshell.”

In Their Own Words: Charlize Theron

“You can never get to a place of comfort in this business. As soon as you hit that little cushy spot, somebody’s gonna kick you out. So I have a constant need to do it better.”

25. Sandra Bullock

Worldwide gross: $5.61 billion

Bottom Line: Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock broke out in the action thriller “Speed” (1994) and has remained a dependable box-office draw. Her credits include “While You Were Sleeping,” “A Time to Kill,” “Miss Congeniality,” “Ocean’s 8,” and an Oscar-winning turn in “The Blind Side.” She earned another Academy Award nomination for “Gravity,” which stands as her highest-grossing live-action film, and starred in Netflix’s “Bird Box.”

In Their Own Words: Sandra Bullock

“I’ve learned that success comes in a very prickly package. Whether you choose to accept it or not is up to you.”

24. Meryl Streep

Worldwide gross: $5.9 billion

Bottom Line: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of her generation, with a career spanning decades and countless awards. Her acclaimed films include “The Deer Hunter,” “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Sophie’s Choice,” and “Out of Africa.” She’s also appeared in commercially successful titles like “The Bridges of Madison County,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” and “Mamma Mia!”

In Their Own Words: Meryl Streep

“Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.”

The list continues with actresses who have achieved significant global box-office impact across franchises, auteur films, and voice roles. The totals above reflect worldwide grosses compiled from box-office tracking sources and illustrate how franchise participation — especially in major tentpole series like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and major animated franchises — has helped many women climb the highest-grossing ranks. These figures are subject to change as actors keep working and new releases add to their career totals.