Hollywood’s funniest Actresses
I stumbled across a blog post by Miranda on Cinematic Passions where she wrote about Entertainment Weekly’s article on the 25 funniest actresses in Hollywood. When I looked at the article there I realized that I only new about 2 out of the 25. So, now I am making my own list of the 10 funniest actresses of today (classic actresses are a whole other post).
I have to admit that when I think about comedies, I think about men (Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria and the likes).
Ellen Page - Even though I have only seen her in one comedy (Juno), she impressed me enough to make it onto the list.
Renée Zellweger – I can laugh about her as Bridget Jones every single time I watch it (it’s been a few). She is also funny in Down with Love, Chicago, Me, Myself and Irene and Nurse Betty.
Reese Witherspoon – I probably shouldn’t admit it, but I love her in Legally Blonde!
Emma Thomson – more known for her dramas, she can be very funny (Much Ado About Nothing, Harry Potter). I am sure this woman can play any role you throw at her anyway…
Jennifer Aniston – She really makes me laugh (apart from Friends, she is funny in Along Came Polly, Bruce Almighty).
Shirley Henderson – She might not be a big Hollywood star but she is incredibly funny! (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Harry Potter)
Julia Roberts – (Pretty Woman, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Hook, America’s Sweethearts, Ocean’s Twelve…)
Zooey Deschanel - I love her in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Almost Famous
Cameron Diaz – even though I am not a big Cameron-fan, I have to admit that she is very funny in Shrek (voice), My Best Friend’s Wedding and There’s Something about Mary.
Drew Barrymore – she appears in a lot of comedies but she is normally the “cute” one, rather than the “funny” one.
Other funny actresses:
I thought about adding Meryl Streep - but even when she is in comedies, she brings drama into them (i.e. The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!)
Jamie Lee Curtis, Maggie Smith, Blythe Danner
I miss Whoopy Goldberg and Bette Midler, make me laugh again 
The Conclusion: I am sorry to say that there are no real comediennes in Hollywood. At least not in films I watch (If you like American Pie and similar films you might disagree with this statement). The actresses I listed are all funny or appear in comedies but they are, mostly, not the main character and their funniness comes more from the amusing story. Legally Blonde is the wonderful exception here. It seems strange that there is such a big gap between male and female comedians. What are your thoughts?
Tags: Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Emma Thomson, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Renée Zellweger, Shirley Henderson, Zooey Deschanel
April 20th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I’ve always wondered why women comedians are so much rarer than male. I’m sure it starts with some ill-formed social constructions, but as the world progresses, these old notions erode away. Even still, I consider myself a fan of most comedians and have a hard time thinking of any females. I cant’ help but wonder if I am contributing to the problem, or if it is simply out of my hands. Of course, here I’m talking more about stand-up comedians rather than actresses.
I’m still not positive why it’s unbalanced in this way. Perhaps a male dominated entertainment industry feels threatened by a woman who can make others laugh, and hence, tends to produce stories that favor male funnymen. Zooey Deschanel was in Yes Man and Elf, but in each instance the majority of the jokes were produced by the male leads. It kind of sucks, but I think we’re on the verge of a change.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:04 am
David – Cool, market niche!
I was wondering weather girls just don’t really like to make fun of themselves in public…because they want to appear pretty. But as far as I know, most comedies are written by men, so they don’t want the women to be funny…its tricky…
I don’t know anything about stand-up comedians…I dont watch TV…
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:43 am
Very good list Vanessa, my list probably would have been the same. Ellen Page was wonderful in Juno and should get more comedy roles suited for her talent. Along Came Polly was also funny and definitely showed Aniston’s love for comedy
May 5th, 2009 at 12:48 am
I think women on film are generally a lot less funny than men. Maybe that’s controversial, or sexist- but I believe it to be true. It’s something I’ve been meaning to write a blog about.
I do however agree about Ellen Page – she was absolutely wonderful and hilarious in Juno.
May 10th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Women can be funny, but since the primary film audience today is young men, there are relatively few comedic vehicles that are female-oriented, and those that are tend to be inane “rom-coms” that are more silly than sophisticated.
It wasn’t always thus. Between the world wars (1920s and ’30s), when moviegoing was designed for general audiences (no TV in those days, and radio didn’t reach its heyday until the mid-thirties), there were plenty of wonderful women who excelled at comedy. In the 1920s, there were Clara Bow, Marion Davies and the less remembered Constance Talmadge and Colleen Moore; all were big stars. The thirties, and the arrival of sound, produced Carole Lombard — still arguably the lady by whom all comic actresses are still measured — along with Myrna Loy, Claudette Colbert, Jean Harlow and others.
I’m certain many actresses today have the comedic talent of a Loy or Lombard, but sophisticated comedy is not really marketable today. Watch “My Man Godfrey” or “Libeled Lady,” two of the best of the ’30s, to get a feel for what I mean.
May 10th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Thanks Vincent! I absolutely agree…in the early years of cinema, there were really great comediennes but as I said, this blog post is about todays actresses. I will try to check out those movies you recommended though