# data[].attributes.headline
Famous Female Actresses that Paved the Way for Others

# data[].attributes.subject
Famous Female Actresses that Paved the Way for Others

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Getty Images

We're all about history and the people who made a difference in different fields, but we're much more interested in her story...at least this week.

With International Women's Day quickly approaching-it's on Friday, March 8-we've been taking a look back at some of the most iconic and influential women in Hollywood and there are a lot. We've managed to narrow it down to just under 50 fierce females who made history in the entertainment industry and they are so impressive.

Some risked their jobs to change the way the Hollywood studio system ran while others were trailblazers in front of the screen and were the first to win awards that men had been earning for years prior.

A few of these women set crazy award show records-we're looking at you Meryl Streep and Julia Louis-Dreyfus-while other stars took a step forward not only for women but for people of color through their groundbreaking wins like Hattie McDaniel who was the first black woman to win an Oscar for any acting category in 1940.

This is a woman who really should be remembered, because she was the first female to direct a film! Alice Guy-Blaché worked for Gaumont-Paris and began making films back in 1896, which is the same year she directed La Fée aux Choux ( The Cabbage Fairy), which is considered the first fiction film ever made. Despite it being a man's world, Guy-Blaché was the film guru of her time overseeing a reported 1,000 films between 1896 and 1922 as either director or producer.

Judy Garland is an icon and she has the history-making stats to prove it. In 1962, The Wizard of Oz actress was the first female (and the youngest honoree) to receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes. The year prior she became the first female winner for Album of the Year at the Grammys for her record Judy at Carnegie Hall, proving she really could do it all.

The Seinfeld alum has been making history in Hollywood for years beginning with her time on Saturday Night Live, when she became the youngest female to ever star on the comedy series. Since then, she's gone on to TV glory becoming the most decorated Emmys winner, male or female, with her unprecedented 11 total wins. In 2017, she broke another Emmys record with her sixth win for her performance as President Selina Meyer on Veep, which makes her the only star with that many wins for one single role.

In 1980, Sherry Lansing made history in the business side of Hollywood when she became the first female president of 20th Century Fox. In 1992, she became the first female studio head following her acceptance of the chairmanship of Paramount Pictures' Motion Picture Group AKA becoming the CEO of Paramount Pictures. She is also the first female movie head to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mary Pickford was a fierce female in a male dominated world back in the early 1900s. She co-founded the United Artists when she was only 27 years old and she also co-founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She was known as "America's Sweetheart" of the silent era, but she always got what she deserved earning a reported $1 million per year as an actor and producer beginning in 1919 until she retired.

As one of the most iconic actresses of all time it's no surprise that Katharine Hepburn is an Oscar-winning title holder. In addition to being known for sporting trousers when women were exclusively wearing dresses, she has more Best Actress Oscars than any other actress to date. She has won four Academy Awards for films including, Morning Glory, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter and On Golden Pond.

Dorthy Arzner is one of the most influential female film directors in history. She directed 20 films during her career (between the 1920s and 1940s) and became the first female member of the Directors Guild of America. She is also credited with inventing the boom microphone, which is still used on sets today.

Costume designers today have Edith Head to look to for inspiration and career goals. Back in 1924 she was hired at Paramount and went on to earn 35 Oscar nominations, designing costumes for more than 1,000 films and won eight Oscars by the end of her career. She also outfitted the biggest stars of the time and became the first female head designer at a major studio.

Lucille Ball is one of the most iconic TV actors and comedians to ever work in Hollywood and she was also a legendary businesswoman. In 1962, she became the first woman to head a major Hollywood studio after buying out her ex-husband Desi Arnaz from their company Desilu Productions. Before she became her own boss, in 1951, the I Love Lucy star made TV history when she co-hosted the Emmys alongside her then-husband, Arnaz, which was a first for females at the award show.

The first Grammy Awards took place in 1958 and Ella Fitzgerald pretty much stole the show. She won both Best Vocal Performance, Female and Best Jazz Performance, Individual, which made her the first woman to win multiple Grammys. The next year, Fitzgerald became the first woman to take the Grammys stage when she performed in honor of the second Grammy Awards for the taped televised event called NBC Sunday Showcase. In 1966, she was the first woman to receive the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Even though their has been a Best Actress award since the beginning of the Academy Awards, people tend to forget the star who paved the way for the women who came after her by winning this honor at the inaugural show. So, who won it back in 1929? Janet Gaynor! The actress won for her roles in 7th Heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise, because at the time nominees were voted on based on all of their work during the specific time period.

Julia Phillips might've been partners with her then-husband Michael Phillips when she won the Oscar for Best Picture for her producing work on The Sting, but she made history on her own. She was the first woman to win this award in 1974 and two years later she created another hit with Taxi Driver, which earned another Best Picture nomination in 1977.

Carole King didn't just give us the amazing theme song for Gilmore Girls, she paved the way for female musicians with her groundbreaking wins at the Grammys over the years. She was the first woman to win Song of the Year for "You've Got a Friend" in 1971, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. That same year she became the first woman to win multiple general fields at the music award show with a win for Record of the Year with "It's Too Late," Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year for Tapestry.

Game shows traditionally have male hosts, but that wasn't the case for Arlene Francis who became the first woman to host one back in 1949. She hosted Your Big Moment from 1949 to 1952 and then served as a panelist on CBS's What's My Line? for its 25-year run.

In 2015, both Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, which was the first time in Emmy history that two African American actresses were nominated in a lead actress category. When Davis won for her role on How to Get Away With Murder, she became the first black female to win this massive category and her speech was unforgettable.

Wonder Woman is all about girl power and women saving the day, which is why it was a very big deal that Patty Jenkins had the biggest opening weekend ever for a movie directed by a woman with its $103.3 million in 2017. She returns for the sequel as writer, director and producer, so perhaps she'll break her own record when it comes out in 2020.

It took more than seven decades, but in 2002, Halle Berry became the first African American woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars for her role as Leticia in Monster's Ball and she made sure to thank all of the powerful women of color who surrounded her, came before her and those who would now be able to win the honor of Best Actress in the future.

The Murder She Wrote star has been a TV staple forever and acting since the 1940s, so it seems appropriate that she be the first woman to host the Emmy Awards by herself, which happened in 1993.

Astrud Gilberto broke the mold when she became the first woman to win Record of the Year at the Grammys in 1964. She won with Stan Getz for "The Girl From Ipanema."

The View co-host has a long history of hosting gigs and two of them definitely reshaped the award show landscape. In 1992, the Sister Act star hosted the Grammy Awards and became the first woman to do so. She then hosted the Oscars in 1994 for the first time and again made history as the first solo female to helm that award show. She went on to host the Oscars three more times, which makes sense since she is an EGOT, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony in her career.

There were a lot of firsts in the music industry, and one of the most significant is when country singer and songwriter Bobbie Gentry won Best New Artist in 1967. She was the first woman to get this award and the next solo woman to do so was Carly Simon in 1971.

Animated movies are loved by people of all ages, but did you know that it wasn't until 2011 that a woman solely directed one? It's true! With Kung Fu Panda 2, Jennifer Yuh Nelson became the first woman to direct an animated feature from a major Hollywood studio on her own. She was also the head of story for the original Kung Fu Panda and co-directed the third installment of the franchise.

The one and only Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and as the Queen of Soul she totally deserved it.

Karen Arthur has 45 directing credits to her name including work on Hart to Hart and Cagney and Lacey, which is what she's best known for. In 1985, she earned the Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for Cagney and Lacey's episode titled "Heat," making her the first woman to win that category and it took 10 more years for another woman to win again.

Despite the fact that a lot of moments in Hollywood had women playing catch up, when it comes to the Emmys, they were actually the first ones billed. Well, Shirley Dinsdale Layburn was at least when she was given the first-ever Emmy handed out at the award show in 1949. This also made her the first woman to win an Emmy, which she did for Most Outstanding Personality for her work as a ventriloquist and TV and radio personality...while she was just a college student.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Who Run the World? See All the Women Who've Made Hollywood Herstory - E! Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Getty Images We're all about history and the people who made a difference in different fields, but we're much more interested in her story...at least this week. With International Women's Day quickly approaching-it's on Friday, March 8-we've been taking a look back at some of the most iconic and influential women in Hollywood and there are a lot.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Joan of Arc knew nothing but war. Her country of France had been fighting England for about 75 years when she was born around 1412. But when she was 16, even though she was poor and living at a time when women did not fight in the military-and certainly did not lead men-Joan came to believe that God had chosen her to lead her country to victory during what's now known as the Hundred Years War.

By 1428, England controlled much of France, and the French king no longer ruled. So Joan persuaded a local government leader to escort her through English-held territory to meet with and convince King Charles VII to let her lead his armies and help him regain the throne. Legend has it that Joan knew details about the king that no one else did, and he came to believe her claim that God had chosen her to lead.

The king ordered the army to take back the city of Orléans, accompanied by 17-year-old Joan. She cropped her hair short like a man's, donned a suit of white armor, and successfully helped French troops to victory in March 1429, even after being wounded in battle. King Charles then took back his crown a few months later. At the ceremony, Joan was at his side.

A few months later, though, Joan was captured in battle and held captive for more than a year. She was accused of witchcraft and the crime of dressing as a man. Not wanting to threaten his newly returned crown, the king didn't come to Joan's aid, and in 1431, when she was just 19, she was burned at the stake.

But beloved by France, she was officially cleared of her crimes 20 years later and became a Catholic saint in 1920. Today Joan of Arc remains the patron saint of France and a symbol of national pride.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The teenage girl who helped lead a French army to victory

# data[].attributes.body
Lesia Ukrainka is the real name of Larisa Petrovna Kosach-Kvitka-Ukrainian writer, translator, cultural figure.
She wrote in the genres of poetry, lyric poetry, epic, drama, prose, journalism. She also worked in the field of folklore (220 folk melodies recorded in her voice) and took an active part in the Ukrainian national movement.
Matsibora Bohdana, Ukraine

# data[].attributes.headline
Jamala is a Ukrainian singer of the Crimean Tatar and Armenian origin, People's Artist of Ukraine, the winner of the 8th International Contest "New Wave" and the 61st Eurovision Song Contest. Performs songs in jazz, soul, funk, folk, pop and electro styles, as well as takes part in opera performances and shows.

# data[].attributes.subject
Jamala is a Ukrainian singer of the Crimean Tatar and Armenian origin, People's Artist of Ukraine, the winner of the 8th International Contest "New Wave" and the 61st Eurovision Song Contest. Performs songs in jazz, soul, funk, folk, pop and electro styles, as well as takes part in opera performances and shows.

# data[].attributes.body
Matsibora Bogdana, Ukrai

# data[].attributes.headline
Angelina Jolie is an Academy Award-winning actress who became popular after playing the title role in the "Lara Croft" blockbuster movies, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Wanted (2008), Salt (2010) and Maleficent (2014). Off-screen, Jolie has become prominently involved in international charity projects, especially those involving refugees. She often appears on many "most beautiful women" lists, and she has a personal life that is avidly covered by the tabloid press.

# data[].attributes.subject
Angelina Jolie is an Academy Award-winning actress who became popular after playing the title role in the "Lara Croft" blockbuster movies, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Wanted (2008), Salt (2010) and Maleficent (2014). Off-screen, Jolie has become prominently involved in international charity projects, especially those involving refugees. She often appears on many "most beautiful women" lists, and she has a personal life that is avidly covered by the tabloid press.

# data[].attributes.body
Sofi Ghevondyan.Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Beyoncé. is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of the R&B girl-group Destiny's Child. Managed by her father, Mathew Knowles, the group became one of the world's best-selling girl groups in history. Their hiatus saw Beyoncé's theatrical film debut in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) and the release of her debut album, Dangerously in Love (2003). The album established her as a solo artist worldwide, earned five Grammy Awards, and featured the Billboard Hot 100 number one singles "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy".

# data[].attributes.subject
Beyoncé. is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of the R&B girl-group Destiny's Child. Managed by her father, Mathew Knowles, the group became one of the world's best-selling girl groups in history. Their hiatus saw Beyoncé's theatrical film debut in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) and the release of her debut album, Dangerously in Love (2003). The album established her as a solo artist worldwide, earned five Grammy Awards, and featured the Billboard Hot 100 number one singles "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy".

# data[].attributes.body
Sofi Ghevondyan.Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger,spurring the Montgomery boycott and other effors to end segregation.

# data[].attributes.subject
Civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger,spurring the Montgomery boycott and other effors to end segregation.

# data[].attributes.body
Diana Ayvazyan,Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
English author Virginia Woolf wrote modernist classics including "Mrs. Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse," as well as pioneering feminist texts,"A Room of One's Own" and "Three Guineas".

# data[].attributes.subject
English author Virginia Woolf wrote modernist classics including "Mrs. Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse," as well as pioneering feminist texts,"A Room of One's Own" and "Three Guineas".

# data[].attributes.body
Diana Ayvazyan,Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Princess Diana was Princess of Wales while married to Prince Charles.One of the most adored members of the British royal family.She died in a 1997 car crash

# data[].attributes.subject
Princess Diana was Princess of Wales while married to Prince Charles.One of the most adored members of the British royal family.She died in a 1997 car crash

# data[].attributes.body
Diana Ayvazyan,Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Angela Merkel is a German politician who has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005,the first woman to hold this office.She is also the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union,a post she has been holding sice 2000.

# data[].attributes.subject
Angela Merkel is a German politician who has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005,the first woman to hold this office.She is also the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union,a post she has been holding sice 2000.

# data[].attributes.body
Diana Ayvazyan,Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Grace Kelly                      Was an American actress who became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III.Grace Kelly remained in the public eye for most of her life. Her on-screen beauty, self-confidence and mystery enchanted the world, and her serenity and poise as a princess piqued the media's attention.

# data[].attributes.subject
Grace Kelly                      Was an American actress who became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III.Grace Kelly remained in the public eye for most of her life. Her on-screen beauty, self-confidence and mystery enchanted the world, and her serenity and poise as a princess piqued the media's attention.

# data[].attributes.body
Arpine Zohrabyan,Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Margaret Thatcher         Was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990.She was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century and the first woman to have been appointed.

# data[].attributes.subject
Margaret Thatcher         Was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990.She was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century and the first woman to have been appointed.

# data[].attributes.body
Arpine Zohrabyan,Armenia

# data[].attributes.body
Boudicca was an inspirational leader of the Britons. She led several tribes in revolt against the Roman occupation. Initially successful, her army of 100000 sacked Colchester and then London. Her army was later defeated.
Filya Geikyan, Armenia.

# data[].attributes.headline
Queen Victoria                        Was queen of United Kindgom of Great Britain ang Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. On 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India.

# data[].attributes.subject
Queen Victoria                        Was queen of United Kindgom of Great Britain ang Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. On 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India.

# data[].attributes.body
Arpine Zohrabyan          Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Joan of Arc                      Is considered a heroine of France for her role during the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years' War and was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint.Joan of Arc has remained a popular figure in literature, painting, sculpture.

# data[].attributes.subject
Joan of Arc                      Is considered a heroine of France for her role during the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years' War and was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint.Joan of Arc has remained a popular figure in literature, painting, sculpture.

# data[].attributes.body
Arpine Zohrabyan
Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Coco Chanel is a French fashion designer. One of the most innovative fashion designers, Coco Chanel was instrumental in defining feminine style and dress during the 20th Century. Her ideas were revolutionary; in particular she often took traditionally male clothes and redesigned them for the benefit of women.

# data[].attributes.subject
Coco Chanel is a French fashion designer. One of the most innovative fashion designers, Coco Chanel was instrumental in defining feminine style and dress during the 20th Century. Her ideas were revolutionary; in particular she often took traditionally male clothes and redesigned them for the benefit of women.

# data[].attributes.body
Emmy Sargsyan, Armenia

# data[].attributes.body
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most devoted followers. She stood near Jesus at his crucifixion and was the first to see his resurrection.
Filya Geikyan, Armenia.

# data[].attributes.body
Cleopatra is the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. She sought to depend Egypt from the expanding Roman Empire. She formed relationships with two of Rome's most powerful leaders, Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar.
Filya Geikyan, Armenia

# data[].attributes.body
Albanian nun and charity worker.She devote her life to the service of the poor .Through her Missionary of Charities organisation, she personally cared for thousands of sick and dying people in Calcutta. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979.
Emmy Sargsan, Armenia

# data[].attributes.headline
Elizabeth I  Queen of England during a time of great economic, she saw England cemented as a Protestant country. During her reign, she witnessed the defeat of the Spanish Armada leaving Britain to later become one of the world’s dominant superpowers.

# data[].attributes.subject
Elizabeth I  Queen of England during a time of great economic, she saw England cemented as a Protestant country. During her reign, she witnessed the defeat of the Spanish Armada leaving Britain to later become one of the world’s dominant superpowers.

# data[].attributes.body
Emmy Sargsyan, Armenia

# data[].attributes.body
Looking for famous women who changed the world.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the first known female writers. Much of her poetry has been lost but her immense reputation has remained. Plato referred to Sappho as one of the great 10 poets.

# data[].attributes.body
Polish-born French physicist and chemist best known for her contributions to radioactivity.
(The students of DDMN Primary sch. in Greece